TORRENCE OUT EARLY AT EPPING
Four-Time Reigning Top Fuel Champ Can’t Capitalize on Track Record
EPPING, N.H. – Four-time reigning Camping World Top Fuel Champion Steve Torrence couldn’t capitalize on the track record he set during qualifying Friday at New England Dragway, losing to Scott Farley in the opening round of Sunday’s ninth NHRA New England Nationals when his Capco Contractors dragster was unable to recover from a loss of traction.
FINAL ROUND RESULTS
Top Fuel – Mike Salinas, Scrappers Racing dragster, 3.729, 330.80 mph, def. Justin Ashley, Phillips Connect/Vita C dragster, 3.782, 315.78 mph.
Funny Car – Matt Hagan, Dodge Power Brokers Charger, 3.922, 327.98 mph, def. Robert Hight, Auto Club Chevy Camaro, 6.252, 110.15 mph.
Pro Stock – Erica Enders, Elite Motorsports Camaro, 6.547, 211.00 mph, def. Aaron Stanfield, Janac Brothers Camaro, 6.553, 212.13 mph.
Farley, who had not previously won a round of racing on the pro tour, stopped the 1000-foot timers in 4.062 seconds, the quickest run of his career. Torrence, who qualified No. 1 at a record-setting 3.664 seconds, slowed to only 5.816 seconds in the first round at a finish line speed of only 148.35 miles per hour, negating an enormous starting line advantage (.261 of a second).Top Fuel – Mike Salinas, Scrappers Racing dragster, 3.729, 330.80 mph, def. Justin Ashley, Phillips Connect/Vita C dragster, 3.782, 315.78 mph.
Funny Car – Matt Hagan, Dodge Power Brokers Charger, 3.922, 327.98 mph, def. Robert Hight, Auto Club Chevy Camaro, 6.252, 110.15 mph.
Pro Stock – Erica Enders, Elite Motorsports Camaro, 6.547, 211.00 mph, def. Aaron Stanfield, Janac Brothers Camaro, 6.553, 212.13 mph.
“Good for those guys,” said an obviously disappointed Torrence, “not so good for us Capco Boys. “That’s why we don’t run these things on paper I guess. Obviously, we should have won that round, but anything can happen in this sport and usually does. We’ll just look at the data and get ready to get after it again on Father’s Day (at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn.).”
The loss brought an end to Team Capco’s three-race winning streak at New England Dragway which began with back-to-back wins for the younger Torrence in 2018 and 2019 and continued with dad Billy Torrence’s victory in 2021. It also dropped the 39-year-old reigning champ from second to third in season points in his ongoing bid to become just the fourth pro driver in NHRA history after John Force, Tony Schumacher and Bob Glidden to win as many as five consecutive series titles.
A 51-time winner on the pro tour and a former Lucas Oil Series Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion (2005), Torrence has yet to win a race in 2022. It’s the first time since 2015 that he has gone more than seven events without a tour victory.
“We’re halfway to the Countdown and sitting third in points,” Torrence said. “Like I said, we’ll just keep trying every week to put ourselves in position to win. It’ll happen. There are a lot of good cars out there but I wouldn’t trade my seat in this Capco car for anything. There’s still a lot of racing to do and it’s gettin’ exciting now.”
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points:
TOP FUEL (After 8 of 16 events leading into the Countdown to the Championship)
1. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Flav-R-Pac/Monster Energy dragster 668
2. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 638
3. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 569
4. Justin Ashley, Farmingdale, N.Y., Phillips Connect/Vita C dragster 561
5. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 425
6. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 396
7. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers dragster 381
8. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools/Toyota dragster 373
9. Shawn Langdon, Indianapolis, Ind., DHL/CMR Roofing/Toyota dragster 341
10. Tony Schumacher, Lakeway, Texas, Maynard Family/SCAG/Okuma dragster 329
TOP FUEL (After 8 of 16 events leading into the Countdown to the Championship)
1. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Flav-R-Pac/Monster Energy dragster 668
2. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 638
3. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 569
4. Justin Ashley, Farmingdale, N.Y., Phillips Connect/Vita C dragster 561
5. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 425
6. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 396
7. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers dragster 381
8. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools/Toyota dragster 373
9. Shawn Langdon, Indianapolis, Ind., DHL/CMR Roofing/Toyota dragster 341
10. Tony Schumacher, Lakeway, Texas, Maynard Family/SCAG/Okuma dragster 329
CAPCO CONTRACTORS race summary:
Ninth NHRA New England Nationals
Qualifying – Steve Torrence, No. 1 at 3.664 seconds, 329.50 miles per hour.
Qualifying bonus points – 7 total; 6 for quickest in Q1 and Q3, 1 for third quickest in Q2,
Round 1 – S. Torrence, 5.816, 148.35 mph, lost to Scott Farley, 4.062, 244.87 mph.
Ninth NHRA New England Nationals
Qualifying – Steve Torrence, No. 1 at 3.664 seconds, 329.50 miles per hour.
Qualifying bonus points – 7 total; 6 for quickest in Q1 and Q3, 1 for third quickest in Q2,
Round 1 – S. Torrence, 5.816, 148.35 mph, lost to Scott Farley, 4.062, 244.87 mph.
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Next Scheduled CAMPING WORLD TOUR Event:
21st NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
June 17-19, 2022
Bristol Dragway
Bristol, Tenn.
21st NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
June 17-19, 2022
Bristol Dragway
Bristol, Tenn.
About Capco Contractors Inc.:
Capco Contractors, Inc. is a family owned-and-operated construction company specializing in the oil and gas industries. A proud American company based in Texas with clients around the world, Capco was founded in 1995 by Billy Torrence and initially operated from a small office and one job-site trailer with a staff of only 12 employees. From those humble beginnings, Capco Contactors, Inc. has developed into a full-service pipeline company, capable of all aspects of pipeline work including site work, creation of compressor stations, mainline pipeline construction and pipeline integrity projects. It employs more than 200 people with main offices in Henderson, Texas.
