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TORRENCE NO. 1 QUALIFIER AT EPPING
Four-Time Reigning Top Fuel Champ Sets New England Dragway Track Record
EPPING, N.H. – Four-time reigning Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence shattered the New England Dragway track record Friday, followed up with a solid 3.720 on Saturday and will start his Capco Contractors dragster from the No. 1 qualifying position Sunday in the ninth NHRA New England Nationals.
It will be the 33rd No. 1 start of the talented Texan’s pro career and his second this season but it’s the first time he has been atop the ladder entering the elimination phase at New England Dragway. He won the 2018 New England Nationals from the No. 3 starting position and won the following year from No. 9.
Torrence’s 3.664 second effort Friday broke the five-year-old track record of 3.673 seconds set by Leah Pruett and was the sixth quickest 1,000-foot time of his career. He’ll open Sunday’s eliminations against No. 16 qualifier Clay Millican.
Although he is winless in seven consecutive starts for the first time since 2015, the 51-time tour winner will begin Sunday’s event in second place in Camping World tour points behind only Brittany Force.
Significantly, he will be trying to extend his team’s New England winning streak to four straight races. After his wins in 2018 and 2019, dad Billy Torrence, who is not racing this weekend, raised the trophy in 2021. The New England Nationals was not contested in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
EPPING, N.H. – Qualifying results and first round pairings for Sunday’s ninth NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway:
TOP FUEL – 1. Steve Torrence, Capco Contractors dragster, 3.664, 329.50 mph, vs. 16. Clay Millican, 8.065, 77.34 mph
2. Brittany Force, 3.687, 334.32 mph, vs. 15. Joe Morrison, 5.988, 109.79 mph
3. Mike Salinas, 3.705, 328.06 mph, vs. 14. Scott Farley, 4.421, 188.57 mph
4. Doug Kalitta, 3.728, 329.50 mph, vs. 13. Cameron Ferre, 3.931, 314.75 mph
5. Josh Hart, 3.731, 328.94 mph, vs. 12. Shawn Langdon, 3.783, 325.45 mph
6. Tony Schumacher, 3.745, 307.94 mph, vs. 11. Leah Pruett, 3.780, 323.50 mph
7. Austin Prock, 3.749, 306.19 mph, vs. 10. Antron Brown, 3.777, 327.59 mph
8. Justin Ashley, 3.768, 326.08 mph, vs. 9. Dan Mercier, 3,775, 314.68 mph.
TOP FUEL – 1. Steve Torrence, Capco Contractors dragster, 3.664, 329.50 mph, vs. 16. Clay Millican, 8.065, 77.34 mph
2. Brittany Force, 3.687, 334.32 mph, vs. 15. Joe Morrison, 5.988, 109.79 mph
3. Mike Salinas, 3.705, 328.06 mph, vs. 14. Scott Farley, 4.421, 188.57 mph
4. Doug Kalitta, 3.728, 329.50 mph, vs. 13. Cameron Ferre, 3.931, 314.75 mph
5. Josh Hart, 3.731, 328.94 mph, vs. 12. Shawn Langdon, 3.783, 325.45 mph
6. Tony Schumacher, 3.745, 307.94 mph, vs. 11. Leah Pruett, 3.780, 323.50 mph
7. Austin Prock, 3.749, 306.19 mph, vs. 10. Antron Brown, 3.777, 327.59 mph
8. Justin Ashley, 3.768, 326.08 mph, vs. 9. Dan Mercier, 3,775, 314.68 mph.
