FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Torrence Playing the Mental Game
MELLO YELLO CHAMP DEFENDS TITLE AT HOME TRACK
DALLAS, Texas – If Steve Torrence is to successfully defend his Top Fuel title in this week’s 34th annual AAA Texas Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex and take another step toward a second consecutive Mello Yello Championship, he knows he’ll need more than just a fast race car.
The 36-year-old Texan, who was born, raised and still lives in Kilgore, has retained Richard Hogan, Bobby Lagana Jr. and a battle-hardened crew of self-proclaimed “outlaws and misfits” to put a Capco Contractors dragster beneath him capable of turning on the win light every time he hits the throttle.
What Torrence contributes is confidence, competitiveness, the experience born of three years of contesting the championship from the top of the driver standings and a laser focus that has produced reaction times like the .031 he delivered in last week’s final against veteran Doug Kalitta.
Having won 20 races in the last two seasons, the cancer survivor is understandably confident, but not overly so.
“The goal,” he said, “is simple: win the next round and then the round after that and so on. Small steps, one after another, eventually leading to the prize, which this week is to get the ‘Capco Boys’ another cowboy hat,” a reference to the race specific bonus presented by the track.
“It’s way too early to worry about points,” he said after regaining the point lead, “(because) if you even remotely start looking at them, you can allow it to get in your head and you don’t want that for this race or the last two.
“As a team and as a driver, we do the best we can to just concentrate on the task at hand,” he emphasized. “At the Motorplex, we need to go out and qualify well on Friday, just like we did last week at Charlotte, and if we do that, it gives us a chance to work on a race day setup and then we’re back to it, one round at a time.”
It’s a strategy that has delivered 28 victories over the last three years to a team that unapologetically admits that it buys all of its equipment “off the shelf,” relying on superior assembly and application to make the difference.
The same specifics apply to the second Capco dragster driven by 61-year-old Billy Torrence, the founder and CEO of Capco and the winner of three races this season including the AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals last month at St. Louis.
As an accomplished sportsman racer with two NHRA national event victories to his credit in Super Comp, the elder Torrence taught his son the basics of the sport and a lot more.
“The thing he’s taught me is work ethic,” Torrence said of his dad. “All the big teams have the funding. They have the parts, the pieces, the people but, sometimes, you’ve just got to work harder than the next guy to get where you want to be and I think that’s what every one of the guys on our two teams strive to do.
“I think that when you have that mentality and people around you see it, it becomes contagious,” Torrence explained. “Dealing with the thousands of employees he’s had over the last 25 years at Capco and elsewhere, my dad learned what elevates people and what motivates people and he’s brought that to our race teams.”
Torrence’s 20 wins over two consecutive seasons earned him a spot in another of NHRA’s most exclusive clubs. He is only the fourth pro driver to accomplish that feat, joining Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson, who won 27 times in 2003-04, John Force, a 22-time Funny Car winner in 1999 and 2000, and Tony Schumacher, who won 21 races in the 2007-08 campaigns.
The Champ at The Texas Motorplex (Steve Torrence at the AAA Fall Nationals):
Last year at the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals: A year after crashing his Capco Contractors dragster in the second round, Steve qualified No. 2 and beat Bill Litton, Blake Alexander, Tony Schumacher
and Terry McMillen to earn his first Top Fuel win on his home track.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 11/3/1/1
Steve’s quickest time at Texas Motorplex: 3.682 seconds, Oct. 13, 2017
Steve’s fastest speed at Texas Motorplex: 328.14 mph, Oct. 5, 2018
Steve’s won-lost record at Texas Motorplex: 14-10
Steve’s best moment(s) at Texas Motorplex: Runner-up in 2015 and 2016 and a semifinalist in
2017, Steve finally won a Top Fuel race on his home track in 2018 (see “Last year” above); He also won
twice at the Motorplex in 2005 on his way to winning the Top Alcohol Dragster national championship in the
Lucas Oil Series. He is the only driver to have won series championships in both the Fuel and Alcohol
categories.
Track records: 3.681 seconds by Britanny Force, Oct. 15, 2017; 330.55 mph by Antron Brown, Oct.
14, 2016.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Torrence Playing the Mental Game
MELLO YELLO CHAMP DEFENDS TITLE AT HOME TRACK
DALLAS, Texas – If Steve Torrence is to successfully defend his Top Fuel title in
this week’s 34th annual AAA Texas Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex and take
another step toward a second consecutive Mello Yello Championship, he knows he’ll
need more than just a fast race car.
The 36-year-old Texan, who was born, raised and still lives in Kilgore, has
retained Richard Hogan, Bobby Lagana Jr. and a battle-hardened crew of
self-proclaimed “outlaws and misfits” to put a Capco Contractors dragster beneath him
capable of turning on the win light every time he hits the throttle.
What Torrence contributes is confidence, competitiveness, the experience born
of three years of contesting the championship from the top of the driver standings and a
laser focus that has produced reaction times like the .031 he delivered in last week’s
final against veteran Doug Kalitta.
Having won 20 races in the last two seasons, the cancer survivor is
understandably confident, but not overly so.
“The goal,” he said, “is simple: win the next round and then the round after that
and so on. Small steps, one after another, eventually leading to the prize, which this
week is to get the ‘Capco Boys’ another cowboy hat,” a reference to the race specific
bonus presented by the track.
“It’s way too early to worry about points,” he said after regaining the point lead,
“(because) if you even remotely start looking at them, you can allow it to get in your
head and you don’t want that for this race or the last two.
“As a team and as a driver, we do the best we can to just concentrate on the task
at hand,” he emphasized. “At the Motorplex, we need to go out and qualify well on
Friday, just like we did last week at Charlotte, and if we do that, it gives us a chance to
work on a race day setup and then we’re back to it, one round at a time.”
It’s a strategy that has delivered 28 victories over the last three years to a team
that unapologetically admits that it buys all of its equipment “off the shelf,” relying on
superior assembly and application to make the difference.
The same specifics apply to the second Capco dragster driven by 61-year-old
For more information, Contact: Dave Densmore - [email protected] / (214) 244-0008
Billy Torrence, the founder and CEO of Capco and the winner of three races this season
including the AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals last month at St. Louis.
-more-
Dallas
2222
As an accomplished sportsman racer with two NHRA national event victories to
his credit in Super Comp, the elder Torrence taught his son the basics of the sport and a
lot more.
“The thing he’s taught me is work ethic,” Torrence said of his dad. “All the big
teams have the funding. They have the parts, the pieces, the people but, sometimes,
you’ve just got to work harder than the next guy to get where you want to be and I think
that’s what every one of the guys on our two teams strive to do.
“I think that when you have that mentality and people around you see it, it
becomes contagious,” Torrence explained. “Dealing with the thousands of employees
he’s had over the last 25 years at Capco and elsewhere, my dad learned what elevates
people and what motivates people and he’s brought that to our race teams.”
Torrence’s 20 wins over two consecutive seasons earned him a spot in another
of NHRA’s most exclusive clubs. He is only the fourth pro driver to accomplish that feat,
joining Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson, who won 27 times in 2003-04, John Force, a
22-time Funny Car winner in 1999 and 2000, and Tony Schumacher, who won 21 races
in the 2007-08 campaigns.
-www.torrenceracing.com-
The Champ at The Texas Motorplex (Steve Torrence at the AAA Fall Nationals):
Last year at the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals: A year after crashing his Capco Contractors
dragster in the second round, Steve qualified No. 2 and beat Bill Litton, Blake Alexander, Tony Schumacher
and Terry McMillen to earn his first Top Fuel win on his home track.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 11/3/1/1
Steve’s quickest time at Texas Motorplex: 3.682 seconds, Oct. 13, 2017
For more information, Contact: Dave Densmore - [email protected] / (214) 244-0008
Steve’s fastest speed at Texas Motorplex: 328.14 mph, Oct. 5, 2018
Steve’s won-lost record at Texas Motorplex: 14-10
Steve’s best moment(s) at Texas Motorplex: Runner-up in 2015 and 2016 and a semifinalist in
2017, Steve finally won a Top Fuel race on his home track in 2018 (see “Last year” above); He also won
twice at the Motorplex in 2005 on his way to winning the Top Alcohol Dragster national championship in the
Lucas Oil Series. He is the only driver to have won series championships in both the Fuel and Alcohol
categories.
Track records: 3.681 seconds by Britanny Force, Oct. 15, 2017; 330.55 mph by Antron Brown, Oct.
14, 2016.
So far, so good…. (A season summary)
DateSiteQualifying position and race 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 Torrence
1st
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 Millican
For more information, Contact: Dave Densmore - [email protected] / (214) 244-0008
1st
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. 13Charlotte, NC1. Beat Lex Joon, Clay Millican, Justin Ashley and Doug Kalitta
1st
* * * *
Looking Ahead
Countdown to the Championship
Nov. 3+19th Dodge NHRA NationalsLas Vegas, Nev.
Nov. 17+55th Auto Club NHRA FinalsPomona, Calif.
+Indicates events won by Steve Torrence in 2018
2019 NHRA MELLO YELLO POINTS
TOP FUEL
(After 3 of 6 races in the Countdown to the Championship)
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster2356
2. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster2326
3. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Advance Auto Parts dragster2264
4. Leah Pritchett, Danville, Ind., Mopar Dodge dragster2231
5. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 2227
6. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster2206
7. Austin Prock, Indianapolis, Ind., Montana Brand dragster2204
8. Richie Crampton, Brownsburg, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster2196
9. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster2194
10. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster2178
Torrence Playing the Mental Game
MELLO YELLO CHAMP DEFENDS TITLE AT HOME TRACK
DALLAS, Texas – If Steve Torrence is to successfully defend his Top Fuel title in this week’s 34th annual AAA Texas Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex and take another step toward a second consecutive Mello Yello Championship, he knows he’ll need more than just a fast race car.
The 36-year-old Texan, who was born, raised and still lives in Kilgore, has retained Richard Hogan, Bobby Lagana Jr. and a battle-hardened crew of self-proclaimed “outlaws and misfits” to put a Capco Contractors dragster beneath him capable of turning on the win light every time he hits the throttle.
What Torrence contributes is confidence, competitiveness, the experience born of three years of contesting the championship from the top of the driver standings and a laser focus that has produced reaction times like the .031 he delivered in last week’s final against veteran Doug Kalitta.
Having won 20 races in the last two seasons, the cancer survivor is understandably confident, but not overly so.
“The goal,” he said, “is simple: win the next round and then the round after that and so on. Small steps, one after another, eventually leading to the prize, which this week is to get the ‘Capco Boys’ another cowboy hat,” a reference to the race specific bonus presented by the track.
“It’s way too early to worry about points,” he said after regaining the point lead, “(because) if you even remotely start looking at them, you can allow it to get in your head and you don’t want that for this race or the last two.
“As a team and as a driver, we do the best we can to just concentrate on the task at hand,” he emphasized. “At the Motorplex, we need to go out and qualify well on Friday, just like we did last week at Charlotte, and if we do that, it gives us a chance to work on a race day setup and then we’re back to it, one round at a time.”
It’s a strategy that has delivered 28 victories over the last three years to a team that unapologetically admits that it buys all of its equipment “off the shelf,” relying on superior assembly and application to make the difference.
The same specifics apply to the second Capco dragster driven by 61-year-old Billy Torrence, the founder and CEO of Capco and the winner of three races this season including the AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals last month at St. Louis.
As an accomplished sportsman racer with two NHRA national event victories to his credit in Super Comp, the elder Torrence taught his son the basics of the sport and a lot more.
“The thing he’s taught me is work ethic,” Torrence said of his dad. “All the big teams have the funding. They have the parts, the pieces, the people but, sometimes, you’ve just got to work harder than the next guy to get where you want to be and I think that’s what every one of the guys on our two teams strive to do.
“I think that when you have that mentality and people around you see it, it becomes contagious,” Torrence explained. “Dealing with the thousands of employees he’s had over the last 25 years at Capco and elsewhere, my dad learned what elevates people and what motivates people and he’s brought that to our race teams.”
Torrence’s 20 wins over two consecutive seasons earned him a spot in another of NHRA’s most exclusive clubs. He is only the fourth pro driver to accomplish that feat, joining Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson, who won 27 times in 2003-04, John Force, a 22-time Funny Car winner in 1999 and 2000, and Tony Schumacher, who won 21 races in the 2007-08 campaigns.
The Champ at The Texas Motorplex (Steve Torrence at the AAA Fall Nationals):
Last year at the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals: A year after crashing his Capco Contractors dragster in the second round, Steve qualified No. 2 and beat Bill Litton, Blake Alexander, Tony Schumacher
and Terry McMillen to earn his first Top Fuel win on his home track.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 11/3/1/1
Steve’s quickest time at Texas Motorplex: 3.682 seconds, Oct. 13, 2017
Steve’s fastest speed at Texas Motorplex: 328.14 mph, Oct. 5, 2018
Steve’s won-lost record at Texas Motorplex: 14-10
Steve’s best moment(s) at Texas Motorplex: Runner-up in 2015 and 2016 and a semifinalist in
2017, Steve finally won a Top Fuel race on his home track in 2018 (see “Last year” above); He also won
twice at the Motorplex in 2005 on his way to winning the Top Alcohol Dragster national championship in the
Lucas Oil Series. He is the only driver to have won series championships in both the Fuel and Alcohol
categories.
Track records: 3.681 seconds by Britanny Force, Oct. 15, 2017; 330.55 mph by Antron Brown, Oct.
14, 2016.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Torrence Playing the Mental Game
MELLO YELLO CHAMP DEFENDS TITLE AT HOME TRACK
DALLAS, Texas – If Steve Torrence is to successfully defend his Top Fuel title in
this week’s 34th annual AAA Texas Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex and take
another step toward a second consecutive Mello Yello Championship, he knows he’ll
need more than just a fast race car.
The 36-year-old Texan, who was born, raised and still lives in Kilgore, has
retained Richard Hogan, Bobby Lagana Jr. and a battle-hardened crew of
self-proclaimed “outlaws and misfits” to put a Capco Contractors dragster beneath him
capable of turning on the win light every time he hits the throttle.
What Torrence contributes is confidence, competitiveness, the experience born
of three years of contesting the championship from the top of the driver standings and a
laser focus that has produced reaction times like the .031 he delivered in last week’s
final against veteran Doug Kalitta.
Having won 20 races in the last two seasons, the cancer survivor is
understandably confident, but not overly so.
“The goal,” he said, “is simple: win the next round and then the round after that
and so on. Small steps, one after another, eventually leading to the prize, which this
week is to get the ‘Capco Boys’ another cowboy hat,” a reference to the race specific
bonus presented by the track.
“It’s way too early to worry about points,” he said after regaining the point lead,
“(because) if you even remotely start looking at them, you can allow it to get in your
head and you don’t want that for this race or the last two.
“As a team and as a driver, we do the best we can to just concentrate on the task
at hand,” he emphasized. “At the Motorplex, we need to go out and qualify well on
Friday, just like we did last week at Charlotte, and if we do that, it gives us a chance to
work on a race day setup and then we’re back to it, one round at a time.”
It’s a strategy that has delivered 28 victories over the last three years to a team
that unapologetically admits that it buys all of its equipment “off the shelf,” relying on
superior assembly and application to make the difference.
The same specifics apply to the second Capco dragster driven by 61-year-old
For more information, Contact: Dave Densmore - [email protected] / (214) 244-0008
Billy Torrence, the founder and CEO of Capco and the winner of three races this season
including the AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals last month at St. Louis.
-more-
Dallas
2222
As an accomplished sportsman racer with two NHRA national event victories to
his credit in Super Comp, the elder Torrence taught his son the basics of the sport and a
lot more.
“The thing he’s taught me is work ethic,” Torrence said of his dad. “All the big
teams have the funding. They have the parts, the pieces, the people but, sometimes,
you’ve just got to work harder than the next guy to get where you want to be and I think
that’s what every one of the guys on our two teams strive to do.
“I think that when you have that mentality and people around you see it, it
becomes contagious,” Torrence explained. “Dealing with the thousands of employees
he’s had over the last 25 years at Capco and elsewhere, my dad learned what elevates
people and what motivates people and he’s brought that to our race teams.”
Torrence’s 20 wins over two consecutive seasons earned him a spot in another
of NHRA’s most exclusive clubs. He is only the fourth pro driver to accomplish that feat,
joining Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson, who won 27 times in 2003-04, John Force, a
22-time Funny Car winner in 1999 and 2000, and Tony Schumacher, who won 21 races
in the 2007-08 campaigns.
-www.torrenceracing.com-
The Champ at The Texas Motorplex (Steve Torrence at the AAA Fall Nationals):
Last year at the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals: A year after crashing his Capco Contractors
dragster in the second round, Steve qualified No. 2 and beat Bill Litton, Blake Alexander, Tony Schumacher
and Terry McMillen to earn his first Top Fuel win on his home track.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 11/3/1/1
Steve’s quickest time at Texas Motorplex: 3.682 seconds, Oct. 13, 2017
For more information, Contact: Dave Densmore - [email protected] / (214) 244-0008
Steve’s fastest speed at Texas Motorplex: 328.14 mph, Oct. 5, 2018
Steve’s won-lost record at Texas Motorplex: 14-10
Steve’s best moment(s) at Texas Motorplex: Runner-up in 2015 and 2016 and a semifinalist in
2017, Steve finally won a Top Fuel race on his home track in 2018 (see “Last year” above); He also won
twice at the Motorplex in 2005 on his way to winning the Top Alcohol Dragster national championship in the
Lucas Oil Series. He is the only driver to have won series championships in both the Fuel and Alcohol
categories.
Track records: 3.681 seconds by Britanny Force, Oct. 15, 2017; 330.55 mph by Antron Brown, Oct.
14, 2016.
So far, so good…. (A season summary)
DateSiteQualifying position and race 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 Torrence
1st
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 Millican
For more information, Contact: Dave Densmore - [email protected] / (214) 244-0008
1st
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. 13Charlotte, NC1. Beat Lex Joon, Clay Millican, Justin Ashley and Doug Kalitta
1st
* * * *
Looking Ahead
Countdown to the Championship
Nov. 3+19th Dodge NHRA NationalsLas Vegas, Nev.
Nov. 17+55th Auto Club NHRA FinalsPomona, Calif.
+Indicates events won by Steve Torrence in 2018
2019 NHRA MELLO YELLO POINTS
TOP FUEL
(After 3 of 6 races in the Countdown to the Championship)
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster2356
2. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster2326
3. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Advance Auto Parts dragster2264
4. Leah Pritchett, Danville, Ind., Mopar Dodge dragster2231
5. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 2227
6. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster2206
7. Austin Prock, Indianapolis, Ind., Montana Brand dragster2204
8. Richie Crampton, Brownsburg, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster2196
9. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster2194
10. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster2178
