TORRENCE AFTER SIXTH STRAIGHT ZMAX WIN
Capco Driver Trying to Sweep Charlotte Races for the Third Consecutive Time
After all, the three-time reigning NHRA Top Fuel champion has won five straight times on the all-concrete surface at Bruton Smith’s super track and this week could become the first pro driver in any of the NHRA car classes to win as many as six consecutive events at one venue.
Nevertheless, pitted right next to him is a driver easily could play the spoiler role: his dad, Billy Torrence, driver of a second black-and-red Capco dragster.
Photos by Mark Rebilas
Two of a kind. Steve Torrence, right, and dad Billy share the FOX TV spotlight. Between them, the two Capco Contractors drivers have won 10 of the 14 Camping World tour events contested thus far this season. They compete this week in the Dewalt Carolina Nationals at Charlotte.
In many ways, though, Torrence’s five straight ZMax victories already have placed him in a class of his own. That’s because the drivers with whom he currently shares the record, Hall of Famers Bob Glidden and John Force, won their five races in a single event contested at virtually the same time each year utilizing the sport’s traditional one-on-one, loser goes home format.
Glidden won five straight Pro Stock titles in the NHRA Springnationals at Columbus, Ohio (1979-1983) while Force hoisted the Funny Car trophy five straight years at the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla. (1992-1996). Torrence’s streak has been far more mix-and-match.
It began in the spring of 2018 when he won the NGK/NTK 4Wide Nationals and was extended later in the year when he won in standard two-car eliminations at the Carolina Nationals. The following year he again won both races, one in April, one in October, before this year winning the Carolina four-wide for the fourth consecutive time.
“That just shows the talent of (crew chief) Richard Hogan, Bobby Lagana and these Capco boys,” Torrence said. “To be able to make the right adjustments for differences in weather and surface conditions from April to September, especially when you’re going from four lanes to two and back again, is pretty amazing.”
Torrence’s ability to adapt as a driver has been equally impressive especially considering his initial disdain for four-wide racing.
“I’m competitive by nature,” the 48-time pro tour winner told Wes Buck, founder of Drag Illustrated magazine and host of a drag racing podcast. “Whether it’s going out and racing a Top Fuel car, racing Super Comp with my dad, playing golf with my buddies or flipping quarters, I want to win. Whatever it is. If we’re gonna color in the coloring book, I want to be the best. That’s what drives me and not only to win, but to be the best; not to just barely win or barely get by, but to make a statement.”
The 38-year-old Texan made just such a statement in 2018 when, a year after losing the championship on the last day of the season, he swept the six races in the Countdown, a feat unlikely to ever be duplicated. Now, three years later, he is focused on becoming just the seventh pro driver in NHRA history to win as many as four consecutive championships (after Don Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, Bob Glidden, Lee Shepherd, Force and Tony Schumacher).
With that goal in mind, he is hoping to put a little more daylight between himself and second place Brittany Force this week. The No. 1 qualifier at the last seven races, she starts the Carolina Nationals just 12 points behind thanks to an NHRA policy that “adjusts” the points prior to the start of the Countdown. In similar circumstances, it was Force who snatched the championship from Torrence’s grasp in 2017 after he led most of the way. He credits that experience for making him the racer he is today.
Steve Torrence shares a post-race moment with daughter Charli. Torrence this week is trying to win for the sixth straight time at ZMax Dragway in Charlotte as he pursues his fourth consecutive Camping World Top Fuel championship.
“You have to be mentally strong,” he said. “To have that kind of failure and to know you were that close and then accept the fact that it was just you not doing your job when you needed to perform, that’s the only way you can move forward.
“I took that whole next year and redirected my focus on not who I’m racing, not what they’re doing, not what their car did but only on what my car’s doing, what my guys are doing, and what I’m doing when I’m in the car. At the end of the day, that’s the only control I have,” he said.
While he acknowledges Force and her crew chief, David Grubnic, to be the biggest threat to his bid for a fourth straight title, Torrence doesn’t have to look far to find another formidable challenger.
Occupying the pit spot adjacent to his own is a second red-and-black dragster driven by his dad, Billy Torrence, founder and CEO of Capco Contractors, Inc., and winner of last week’s Mopar Express Lane Nationals at Reading, Pa. Although he sat out four races during the regular season, the elder Torrence currently is third in points, the same position in which he finished a year ago.
Between them, the Torrences have won 10 of 14 races this season and 48 of the last 92 events contested on the NHRA’s Camping World tour.
One nitro qualifying session is scheduled for 6:15 p.m., Texas time, Friday with additional sessions at 1:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m., Texas time, Saturday. Eliminations will begin at 9:30 a.m., Texas time, Sunday with coverage on FOX broadcast network.
Steve Torrence and his Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster pursue their sixth straight win at ZMax Dragway in Charlotte this weekend.
Steve Torrence at the NHRA Carolina Nationals
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2010 Charlotte2 11. Beat T.J. Zizzo; lost to Brandon Bernstein
2011 Charlotte2 Did Not Compete
2012 Charlotte2 9. Lost to Bob Vandergriff Jr.
2013 Charlotte2 5. Lost to Pat Dakin
2014 Charlotte2 2. Beat Richie Crampton, Leah Pritchett; lost to Khalid alBalooshi
2015 Charlotte2 3. Beat Richie Crampton; lost to Antron Brown
2016 Charlotte2 4. Beat Scott Palmer; lost to Wayne Newby
2017 Charlotte2 2. Beat Terry Haddock; lost to Richie Crampton
2018 Charlotte2 2. Beat Chris Karamesines, Leah Pritchett, Tony Schumacher and Brittany Force
2019 Charlotte2 1. Beat Lex Joon, Clay Millican, Justin Ashley and Doug Kalitta
2020 Charlotte2 Event Not Contested
Steve’s quickest time: 3.683 seconds, May 14, 2021 * * * *
Steve’s fastest speed: 331.53 mph, April 29, 2018, and Oct. 12, 2018
Track records – 3.662 seconds by Brittany Force, May 14, 2021; 333.49 mph by Brittany Force, May 16, 2021
Steve Torrence at the NGK/NTK 4Wide Nationals
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2010 Charlotte1 7. Lost in first quad
2011 Charlotte1 7. Won first quad; lost in 2nd
2012 Charlotte1 1. Won first quad; lost in 2nd
2013 Charlotte1 6. Lost in first quad.
2014 Charlotte1 8. Lost in first quad.
2015 Charlotte1 12. Runner-Up to Antron Brown
2016 Charlotte1 1. Won first quad; lost in 2nd
2017 Charlotte1 4. WINNER over Tony Schumacher
2018 Charlotte1 4. WINNER over Doug Kalitta
2019 Charlotte1 6. WINNER over Clay Millican
2020 Charlotte1 Event Not Contested
2021 Charlotte1 2. WINNER over Brittany Force
Steve Torrence this season
March 14/Gainesville, FL 1. Beat Joe Morrison; lost to Josh Hart.
April 18/Las Vegas, NV 2. Four-Wide WINNER over Doug Kalitta, Clay Millican and Antron Brown
May 2/Atlanta, GA 2. Beat Buddy Hull, Justin Ashley, Shawn Langdon; lost to AntronBrown
May 16/Charlotte, NC 2. Four-Wide WINNER over Brittany Force, Antron Brown and Josh Hart
May 23/Houston, TX 1. Beat Mitch King, bye, beat Clay Millican and Doug Kalitta.
June 13/Epping, N.H. 4. Beat Clay Millican, Leah Pruett; lost to Mike Salinas
June 27/Norwalk, OH 1. Beat Shawn Langdon, Leah Pruett, Austin Prock and Brittany Force
July 18/Denver, CO 2. Beat Rob Passey, bye, Mike Salinas and Joey Haas.
July 25/Sonoma, CA 2. Beat Cameron Ferre, Doug Kalitta, Antron Brown and Leah Pruett
Aug. 1/Pomona, CA 4. Lost to Antron Brown.
Aug. 15/Topeka, KS 4. Beat Leah Pruett, Justin Ashley; lost to Brittany Force
Aug. 22/Brainerd, MN 2. Beat Terry Totten, Justin Ashley, bye and Clay Millican
Sept. 5/Indianapolis, IN 2. Beat Antron Brown, Greg Carrillo, Billy Torrence and Brittany Force
Sept. 12/Reading, PA 2. Beat Joe Morrison, bye; lost to Justin Ashley.
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points
(After the first of seven events in the Countdown to the Championship)
TOP FUEL
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 2179
2. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., FLAV-R-PAC/ Monster Energy dragster 2167
3. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 2137
4. Justin Ashley, Plainview, N.Y., Strutmasters/GuardLab dragster 2124
5. Leah Pruett, Avon, Ind., Sparkling Ice Spiked Seltzer dragster 2113
6. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 2103
6. Shawn Langdon, Indianapolis, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster 2102
8. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 2078
9. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 2067
10. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mac Tools/Mobil 1 dragster 2031
Looking Ahead
2021 NHRA Camping World Tour Countdown to the Championship
9-26 NHRA Midwest Nationals St. Louis, MO
10-10 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Dallas, TX
10-17 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, TN
10-31 Dodge SRT Nationals Las Vegas, NV
11-14 Auto Club Finals Pomona, CA
