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Torrence Gives as Good as He Gets
MELLO YELLO CHAMP A WINNER OF 24 OF LAST 55 RACES
NORWALK, Ohio – Three years ago, on the eve of the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, Steve Torrence suffered a heart attack that forced him to withdraw from the event.
It was the worst thing that could have happened, not to him, perhaps, because it was only a minor episode from which he quickly recovered, but certainly to those against whom he was competing for the Mello Yello championship.
Reminded of the tentativeness of the human condition, a reality to which he first was introduced during his battle with Hodgkins lymphoma, the 36-year-old Texan resolved to live every day as if it was his last.
The laser focus that grew out of that epiphany paved the way to a third place finish in 2016. A year later, he won eight of 24 races including the Summit Nationals and moved up to second and a year ago, he won it all as the first driver in any category to sweep the six races in the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship.
Now, as the preeminent driver for the most dominant team in the world’s premier straight-line category, he’ll spend his weekend doling out figurative heart attacks instead of dealing with real ones.
Having won 24 of the last 55 races in which he has driven the Capco Contractors dragster including five of the last six, Torrence is the new face of dominance in a Top Fuel category that for 14 years, from 2004 through 2017, was monopolized by cars tuned, owned or managed by either Don Schumacher or Alan Johnson.
Significantly, he broke that stranglehold with a business model that focuses more heavily on people than on parts.
“We buy all our parts off the shelf,” Torrence said. “They’re great parts but everybody’s probably running just about the exact same thing with just a different stamp on it. For us, (winning and losing) is all about the Capco boys that put these things together and (crew chiefs) Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana (Jr.), who do the tuning. I can’t give them enough credit. They just pay such attention to detail.
“A great car will make you a better driver,” he observed. “When you go up there knowing that every round you have a car that can go low, that gives you a lot of confidence. Right now, we’re definitely hitting on all eight. We just have to keep it going.”
Despite a final round loss last week at Bristol, Tenn., a defeat that ended his five-race winning streak, Torrence returns to Ohio leading second place Doug Kalitta by 339 points and last week’s Top Fuel winner, Mike Salinas, by 357.
He’ll be rejoined by his dad, Billy, who, despite an abbreviated schedule, is just outside the Top 10 in a second Torrence Racing dragster. A winner earlier this year at Phoenix, Ariz., the founder of Capco Contractors, a Texas-based oil and gas pipeline construction and maintenance business, is trying to become the first part-time pro to make the playoffs.
2019 NHRA MELLO YELLO POINTS
TOP FUEL
(After 11 of 18 races leading into the Countdown to the Mello Yello Championship)
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 1048
2. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster 709
3. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 691
4. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 676
5. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Advance Auto Parts dragster 663
6. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 611
7. Leah Pritchett, Danville, Ind., Mopar Dodge dragster 571
8. Richie Crampton, Brownsburg, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster 499
9. Austin Prock, Indianapolis, Ind., Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 486
10. Terry McMillen, Elkhart, Ind., Amalie Intimigator dragster 470
11. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 440
* * * *
Looking Ahead
July 7 +7TH NHRA New England Nationals Epping, N.H.
July 21 40th Dodge Mile-High Nationals Denver, Colo.
July 28 31st NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, Calif.
August 4 31st Cat Spot NHRA Northwest Nationals Seattle, Wash.
August 18 38th Lucas Oil Nationals Brainerd, Minn.
+Indicates events won by Steve Torrence in 2018
So far, so good…. (A season summary)
Date Site Qualifying position and race detail Points
Feb. 10 Pomona, CA 1. Beat Steve Faria, bye, Mike Salinas; lost to Doug Kalitta. 2nd
Feb. 24 Phoenix, AZ 14. Lost to Antron Brown 4th
March 10 Gainesville, FL 3. Beat Dom Lagana; lost to Doug Kalitta 3rd
April 7 Las Vegas, NV 2. Lost in 2nd Quad 3rd
April 14 Houston, TX 2. Beat Kebin Kinsley, Austin Prock; lost to Antron Brown 3rd
April 28 Charlotte, NC 6. WINNER over Clay Millican (Terry McMillen, Leah Pritchett) 1st
May 5 Atlanta, GA 2. Beat Luigi Novelli, Scott Palmer, Shawn Reed 1st
and Brittany Force
May 19 Richmond, VA 4. Beat Todd Paton, Scott Palmer, Billy Torrence 1st
and Antron Brown
June 2 Chicago, IL 3. Beat Terry McMillen, Richie Crampton, Antron Brown 1st
and Mike Salinas
June 9 Topeka, KS 1. Beat Terry Totten, bye, Antron Brown and Billy Torrence 1st
June 16 Bristol, TN 3. Beat Pat Dakin, Clay Millican, Don Lagana; lost to Mike Salinas 1st
The Champ at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park:
Last year at the Summit Nationals: After qualifying No. 3, Steve beat Chris Karamesines and Mike Salinas ahead of a semifinal loss to Terry McMillen.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 8/2/1/1
Steve’s quickest time at Summit Motorsports Park: 3.715, June 23, 2017
Steve’s fastest speed at Summit Motorsports Park: 331.45 mph, June 25, 2017
Steve’s won-lost record at Summit Motorsports Park: 12-7
Steve’s best moment(s) at Summit Motorsports Park: In 20167, one year after missing the race because of a health issue, Steve qualified third en route to his first victory at Norwalk, beating Troy Coughlin Jr., Clay Millican, Brittany Force and Doug Kalitta.
Track records: 3.709 seconds by Doug Kalitta, June 23, 2017; 332.51 mph by Larry Dixon, July 5, 2015.
MELLO YELLO CHAMP A WINNER OF 24 OF LAST 55 RACES
NORWALK, Ohio – Three years ago, on the eve of the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, Steve Torrence suffered a heart attack that forced him to withdraw from the event.
It was the worst thing that could have happened, not to him, perhaps, because it was only a minor episode from which he quickly recovered, but certainly to those against whom he was competing for the Mello Yello championship.
Reminded of the tentativeness of the human condition, a reality to which he first was introduced during his battle with Hodgkins lymphoma, the 36-year-old Texan resolved to live every day as if it was his last.
The laser focus that grew out of that epiphany paved the way to a third place finish in 2016. A year later, he won eight of 24 races including the Summit Nationals and moved up to second and a year ago, he won it all as the first driver in any category to sweep the six races in the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship.
Now, as the preeminent driver for the most dominant team in the world’s premier straight-line category, he’ll spend his weekend doling out figurative heart attacks instead of dealing with real ones.
Having won 24 of the last 55 races in which he has driven the Capco Contractors dragster including five of the last six, Torrence is the new face of dominance in a Top Fuel category that for 14 years, from 2004 through 2017, was monopolized by cars tuned, owned or managed by either Don Schumacher or Alan Johnson.
Significantly, he broke that stranglehold with a business model that focuses more heavily on people than on parts.
“We buy all our parts off the shelf,” Torrence said. “They’re great parts but everybody’s probably running just about the exact same thing with just a different stamp on it. For us, (winning and losing) is all about the Capco boys that put these things together and (crew chiefs) Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana (Jr.), who do the tuning. I can’t give them enough credit. They just pay such attention to detail.
“A great car will make you a better driver,” he observed. “When you go up there knowing that every round you have a car that can go low, that gives you a lot of confidence. Right now, we’re definitely hitting on all eight. We just have to keep it going.”
Despite a final round loss last week at Bristol, Tenn., a defeat that ended his five-race winning streak, Torrence returns to Ohio leading second place Doug Kalitta by 339 points and last week’s Top Fuel winner, Mike Salinas, by 357.
He’ll be rejoined by his dad, Billy, who, despite an abbreviated schedule, is just outside the Top 10 in a second Torrence Racing dragster. A winner earlier this year at Phoenix, Ariz., the founder of Capco Contractors, a Texas-based oil and gas pipeline construction and maintenance business, is trying to become the first part-time pro to make the playoffs.
2019 NHRA MELLO YELLO POINTS
TOP FUEL
(After 11 of 18 races leading into the Countdown to the Mello Yello Championship)
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 1048
2. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster 709
3. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 691
4. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 676
5. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Advance Auto Parts dragster 663
6. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 611
7. Leah Pritchett, Danville, Ind., Mopar Dodge dragster 571
8. Richie Crampton, Brownsburg, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster 499
9. Austin Prock, Indianapolis, Ind., Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 486
10. Terry McMillen, Elkhart, Ind., Amalie Intimigator dragster 470
11. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 440
* * * *
Looking Ahead
July 7 +7TH NHRA New England Nationals Epping, N.H.
July 21 40th Dodge Mile-High Nationals Denver, Colo.
July 28 31st NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, Calif.
August 4 31st Cat Spot NHRA Northwest Nationals Seattle, Wash.
August 18 38th Lucas Oil Nationals Brainerd, Minn.
+Indicates events won by Steve Torrence in 2018
So far, so good…. (A season summary)
Date Site Qualifying position and race detail Points
Feb. 10 Pomona, CA 1. Beat Steve Faria, bye, Mike Salinas; lost to Doug Kalitta. 2nd
Feb. 24 Phoenix, AZ 14. Lost to Antron Brown 4th
March 10 Gainesville, FL 3. Beat Dom Lagana; lost to Doug Kalitta 3rd
April 7 Las Vegas, NV 2. Lost in 2nd Quad 3rd
April 14 Houston, TX 2. Beat Kebin Kinsley, Austin Prock; lost to Antron Brown 3rd
April 28 Charlotte, NC 6. WINNER over Clay Millican (Terry McMillen, Leah Pritchett) 1st
May 5 Atlanta, GA 2. Beat Luigi Novelli, Scott Palmer, Shawn Reed 1st
and Brittany Force
May 19 Richmond, VA 4. Beat Todd Paton, Scott Palmer, Billy Torrence 1st
and Antron Brown
June 2 Chicago, IL 3. Beat Terry McMillen, Richie Crampton, Antron Brown 1st
and Mike Salinas
June 9 Topeka, KS 1. Beat Terry Totten, bye, Antron Brown and Billy Torrence 1st
June 16 Bristol, TN 3. Beat Pat Dakin, Clay Millican, Don Lagana; lost to Mike Salinas 1st
The Champ at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park:
Last year at the Summit Nationals: After qualifying No. 3, Steve beat Chris Karamesines and Mike Salinas ahead of a semifinal loss to Terry McMillen.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 8/2/1/1
Steve’s quickest time at Summit Motorsports Park: 3.715, June 23, 2017
Steve’s fastest speed at Summit Motorsports Park: 331.45 mph, June 25, 2017
Steve’s won-lost record at Summit Motorsports Park: 12-7
Steve’s best moment(s) at Summit Motorsports Park: In 20167, one year after missing the race because of a health issue, Steve qualified third en route to his first victory at Norwalk, beating Troy Coughlin Jr., Clay Millican, Brittany Force and Doug Kalitta.
Track records: 3.709 seconds by Doug Kalitta, June 23, 2017; 332.51 mph by Larry Dixon, July 5, 2015.
