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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Torrence Still the Man to Beat
MELLO YELLO CHAMP DEFENDS TITLE IN DODGE NATIONALS
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Despite first round losses in two of the first four races in the Countdown to the Championship, it would be difficult to find anyone willing to bet against Steve Torrence and his Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster this week as the Mello Yello tour moves to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the 19th annual Dodge NHRA Nationals.
After all, despite early exits at Reading, Pa., and Dallas, Texas, Torrence still leads the point standings entering this, the season’s next-to-last event.
Add the fact that he is the reigning series champion, that he has won this race two of the last three years and that he is the track record-holder at 333.33 miles per hour and it’s easy to see why so many people still consider him the odds-on favorite.
That said, the 36-year-old cancer survivor is well aware that he is in a battle this time around, unlike 2018 when he became the first driver in history, regardless of category, to sweep all six NHRA playoff races.
Among those still in the mix is the champ’s dad, Billy Torrence, who will send a second Capco dragster to the starting line for Friday’s first qualifying session trailing his son by only 71 points on the strength of victories at St. Louis and Dallas that have established him as one of the hottest drivers in the Countdown.
“It looks like it’s going to come down to the last race (the Auto Club Finals, Nov. 15-17, at Pomona, Calif.),” acknowledged the point leader, “but if we go out and execute our plan, we’re gonna be hard to beat. These Capco Boys are battle-hardened. We’ve been through the good and the bad in the Countdown. We know how quickly things can change and how important it is to keep your head in the game.
“Our plan is not to get ahead of ourselves,” said the 36-time tour winner, the only driver to have won NHRA championships in both the Alcohol and Fuel divisions. “One round at a time. Do whatever it takes to get the job done.”
Backed by the talented tuning tandem of Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana Jr. and a crew of self-proclaimed “outlaws and misfits” that rarely makes mistakes, Torrence has become Top Fuel racing’s new Terminator. Over the last three seasons, he’s hoisted the “Wally” 28 times and won 80 percent of his matches (169-42) while claiming three consecutive regular season championships.
Nevertheless, despite that success and the inevitable comparison to the sport’s past stars, the Kilgore College graduate has managed to remain remarkably grounded.
“Very seldom do I win races,” he said. “It’s the team behind me and the race car I’m in. I just try not to screw it up. It’s like any other team sport. Success depends on everyone doing his job to the best of his ability.
“I feel blessed and humbled just to have this opportunity,” he said, “but since I have it, I want to make the most of it. Our goal the rest of the way is simple. If we win the last two races, everything else will take care of itself.”
So far, so good…. (A season summary)
DateSiteResult DetailPoints
Feb. 10Pomona, CA1. Beat Steve Faria, bye, Mike Salinas; lost to Doug Kalitta. 2nd
Feb. 24Phoenix, AZ14. Lost to Antron Brown4th
March 10Gainesville, FL3. Beat Dom Lagana; lost to Doug Kalitta3rd
April 7Las Vegas, NV2. Lost in 2nd Quad3rd
April 14Houston, TX2. Beat Kebin Kinsley, Austin Prock; lost to Antron Brown3rd
April 28Charlotte, NC6. WINNER over Clay Millican (Terry McMillen, Leah Pritchett)1st
May 5Atlanta, GA2. Beat Luigi Novelli, Scott Palmer, Shawn Reed 1st
and Brittany Force
May 19Richmond, VA4. Beat Todd Paton, Scott Palmer, Billy Torrence 1st
and Antron Brown
June 2Chicago, IL3. Beat Terry McMillen, Richie Crampton, Antron Brown 1st
and Mike Salinas
June 9Topeka, KS1. Beat Terry Totten, bye, Antron Brown and Billy Torrence1st
June 16Bristol, TN3. Beat Pat Dakin, Clay Millican, Don Lagana; lost to Mike Salinas1st
June 23Norwalk, OH5. Beat Jordan Vandergriff, Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force 1st
and Pat Dakin
July 7Epping, NH9. Beat Austin Prock, Terry McMillen, Richie Crampton 1st
and Scott Palmer
July 21Denver, CO1. Bye, beat Richie Crampton, Brittany Force and Clay Millican1st
July 28Sonoma, CA2. Beat Steve Chrisman, Richie Crampton; lost to Billy Torrence1st
August 4Seattle, WA3. Beat Steve Chrisman, Antron Brown, Shawn Reed; lost to Austin1st
Prock
August 18Brainerd, MN2. Beat Cameron Ferre; lost to Doug Kalitta1st
Sept. 2Indianapolis, IN3. Beat Terry McMillen; lost to Antron Brown1st
Sept. 15Reading, PA8. Lost to Clay Millican3rd
Sept. 29St. Louis, MO5. Beat Scott Palmer, Pat Dakin, Mike Salinas; lost to Billy Torrence2nd
Oct. 14Charlotte, NC1. Beat Lex Joon, Clay Millican, Justin Ashley and Doug Kalitta1st
Oct. 20Dallas, Texas4. Lost to Shawn Reed.1st
2019 NHRA MELLO YELLO POINTS
TOP FUEL
(After 4 of 6 races in the Countdown to the Championship)
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster2394
2. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster2361
3. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Advance Auto Parts dragster2348
4. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster2323
5. Leah Pritchett, Danville, Ind., Mopar Dodge dragster 2290
6. Austin Prock, Indianapolis, Ind., Montana Brand dragster2278
7. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 2266
8. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster2247
9. Richie Crampton, Brownsburg, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster2228
10. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster2210
* * * *
The Champ at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
Last year at the Dodge NHRA Nationals: As the No. 2 qualifier, Steve beat Shawn Reed, his dad, Billy Torrence, Richie Crampton and Leah Pritchett to win the fall race for the second time in three years.
Last spring at the Denso Spark Plugs Four-Wide Nationals: After qualifying second, Steve advanced out of the first quad but couldn’t survive the second in a race he had won the year before.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 20/3/3/2 (11/2/2/0 at Dodge Nationals)
Steve’s quickest time at The Strip at LVMS: 3.694 seconds, Oct. 27, 2017
Steve’s fastest speed at The Strip at LVMS: 333.33 mph, Oct. 27, 2018.
Steve’s won-lost record at The Strip at LVMS: 24-17 (14-9 in the Dodge Nationals)
Steve’s best moment(s) at The Strip at LVMS: In 2016, as the No. 2 qualifier in the Dodge Nationals, Steve beat Richie Crampton, Doug Kalitta, Leah Pritchett and J.R. Todd to earn his very first victory in a Countdown race; the first time the Denso Spark Plug Nationals was contested as a four-wide event in 2018, Steve started fifth before beating Tony Schumacher, Doug Kalitta and Antron Brown in the final quad; last fall, from a No. 2 start, his win in the Dodge Nationals was his fifth en route to a six race sweep of the playoffs.
Track records: 3.673 seconds by Tony Schumacher, Oct. 27, 2017; 333.33 mph by Steve Torrence, Oct. 27, 2018.
Looking Ahead
2019 Countdown to the Championship
Nov. 17 55th Auto Club NHRA FinalsPomona, Calif.
2020 Mello Yello Series
Feb. 960th Lucas Oil NHRA WinternationalsPomona, Calif.
Feb. 2336th Magic Dry NHRA Arizona NationalsPhoenix, Ariz.
March 1551st Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals Gainesville, Fla.
April 521st DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide NationalsLas Vegas, Nev.
April 1933rd Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationalsHouston, Texas
Torrence Still the Man to Beat
MELLO YELLO CHAMP DEFENDS TITLE IN DODGE NATIONALS
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Despite first round losses in two of the first four races in the Countdown to the Championship, it would be difficult to find anyone willing to bet against Steve Torrence and his Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster this week as the Mello Yello tour moves to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the 19th annual Dodge NHRA Nationals.
After all, despite early exits at Reading, Pa., and Dallas, Texas, Torrence still leads the point standings entering this, the season’s next-to-last event.
Add the fact that he is the reigning series champion, that he has won this race two of the last three years and that he is the track record-holder at 333.33 miles per hour and it’s easy to see why so many people still consider him the odds-on favorite.
That said, the 36-year-old cancer survivor is well aware that he is in a battle this time around, unlike 2018 when he became the first driver in history, regardless of category, to sweep all six NHRA playoff races.
Among those still in the mix is the champ’s dad, Billy Torrence, who will send a second Capco dragster to the starting line for Friday’s first qualifying session trailing his son by only 71 points on the strength of victories at St. Louis and Dallas that have established him as one of the hottest drivers in the Countdown.
“It looks like it’s going to come down to the last race (the Auto Club Finals, Nov. 15-17, at Pomona, Calif.),” acknowledged the point leader, “but if we go out and execute our plan, we’re gonna be hard to beat. These Capco Boys are battle-hardened. We’ve been through the good and the bad in the Countdown. We know how quickly things can change and how important it is to keep your head in the game.
“Our plan is not to get ahead of ourselves,” said the 36-time tour winner, the only driver to have won NHRA championships in both the Alcohol and Fuel divisions. “One round at a time. Do whatever it takes to get the job done.”
Backed by the talented tuning tandem of Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana Jr. and a crew of self-proclaimed “outlaws and misfits” that rarely makes mistakes, Torrence has become Top Fuel racing’s new Terminator. Over the last three seasons, he’s hoisted the “Wally” 28 times and won 80 percent of his matches (169-42) while claiming three consecutive regular season championships.
Nevertheless, despite that success and the inevitable comparison to the sport’s past stars, the Kilgore College graduate has managed to remain remarkably grounded.
“Very seldom do I win races,” he said. “It’s the team behind me and the race car I’m in. I just try not to screw it up. It’s like any other team sport. Success depends on everyone doing his job to the best of his ability.
“I feel blessed and humbled just to have this opportunity,” he said, “but since I have it, I want to make the most of it. Our goal the rest of the way is simple. If we win the last two races, everything else will take care of itself.”
So far, so good…. (A season summary)
DateSiteResult DetailPoints
Feb. 10Pomona, CA1. Beat Steve Faria, bye, Mike Salinas; lost to Doug Kalitta. 2nd
Feb. 24Phoenix, AZ14. Lost to Antron Brown4th
March 10Gainesville, FL3. Beat Dom Lagana; lost to Doug Kalitta3rd
April 7Las Vegas, NV2. Lost in 2nd Quad3rd
April 14Houston, TX2. Beat Kebin Kinsley, Austin Prock; lost to Antron Brown3rd
April 28Charlotte, NC6. WINNER over Clay Millican (Terry McMillen, Leah Pritchett)1st
May 5Atlanta, GA2. Beat Luigi Novelli, Scott Palmer, Shawn Reed 1st
and Brittany Force
May 19Richmond, VA4. Beat Todd Paton, Scott Palmer, Billy Torrence 1st
and Antron Brown
June 2Chicago, IL3. Beat Terry McMillen, Richie Crampton, Antron Brown 1st
and Mike Salinas
June 9Topeka, KS1. Beat Terry Totten, bye, Antron Brown and Billy Torrence1st
June 16Bristol, TN3. Beat Pat Dakin, Clay Millican, Don Lagana; lost to Mike Salinas1st
June 23Norwalk, OH5. Beat Jordan Vandergriff, Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force 1st
and Pat Dakin
July 7Epping, NH9. Beat Austin Prock, Terry McMillen, Richie Crampton 1st
and Scott Palmer
July 21Denver, CO1. Bye, beat Richie Crampton, Brittany Force and Clay Millican1st
July 28Sonoma, CA2. Beat Steve Chrisman, Richie Crampton; lost to Billy Torrence1st
August 4Seattle, WA3. Beat Steve Chrisman, Antron Brown, Shawn Reed; lost to Austin1st
Prock
August 18Brainerd, MN2. Beat Cameron Ferre; lost to Doug Kalitta1st
Sept. 2Indianapolis, IN3. Beat Terry McMillen; lost to Antron Brown1st
Sept. 15Reading, PA8. Lost to Clay Millican3rd
Sept. 29St. Louis, MO5. Beat Scott Palmer, Pat Dakin, Mike Salinas; lost to Billy Torrence2nd
Oct. 14Charlotte, NC1. Beat Lex Joon, Clay Millican, Justin Ashley and Doug Kalitta1st
Oct. 20Dallas, Texas4. Lost to Shawn Reed.1st
2019 NHRA MELLO YELLO POINTS
TOP FUEL
(After 4 of 6 races in the Countdown to the Championship)
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster2394
2. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster2361
3. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Advance Auto Parts dragster2348
4. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster2323
5. Leah Pritchett, Danville, Ind., Mopar Dodge dragster 2290
6. Austin Prock, Indianapolis, Ind., Montana Brand dragster2278
7. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 2266
8. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster2247
9. Richie Crampton, Brownsburg, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster2228
10. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster2210
* * * *
The Champ at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
Last year at the Dodge NHRA Nationals: As the No. 2 qualifier, Steve beat Shawn Reed, his dad, Billy Torrence, Richie Crampton and Leah Pritchett to win the fall race for the second time in three years.
Last spring at the Denso Spark Plugs Four-Wide Nationals: After qualifying second, Steve advanced out of the first quad but couldn’t survive the second in a race he had won the year before.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 20/3/3/2 (11/2/2/0 at Dodge Nationals)
Steve’s quickest time at The Strip at LVMS: 3.694 seconds, Oct. 27, 2017
Steve’s fastest speed at The Strip at LVMS: 333.33 mph, Oct. 27, 2018.
Steve’s won-lost record at The Strip at LVMS: 24-17 (14-9 in the Dodge Nationals)
Steve’s best moment(s) at The Strip at LVMS: In 2016, as the No. 2 qualifier in the Dodge Nationals, Steve beat Richie Crampton, Doug Kalitta, Leah Pritchett and J.R. Todd to earn his very first victory in a Countdown race; the first time the Denso Spark Plug Nationals was contested as a four-wide event in 2018, Steve started fifth before beating Tony Schumacher, Doug Kalitta and Antron Brown in the final quad; last fall, from a No. 2 start, his win in the Dodge Nationals was his fifth en route to a six race sweep of the playoffs.
Track records: 3.673 seconds by Tony Schumacher, Oct. 27, 2017; 333.33 mph by Steve Torrence, Oct. 27, 2018.
Looking Ahead
2019 Countdown to the Championship
Nov. 17 55th Auto Club NHRA FinalsPomona, Calif.
2020 Mello Yello Series
Feb. 960th Lucas Oil NHRA WinternationalsPomona, Calif.
Feb. 2336th Magic Dry NHRA Arizona NationalsPhoenix, Ariz.
March 1551st Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals Gainesville, Fla.
April 521st DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide NationalsLas Vegas, Nev.
April 1933rd Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationalsHouston, Texas
