Point Leader Tries to Reverse His Fortunes in Lucas Oil Nationals
BRAINERD, Minn. – With a second straight regular season championship clearly in sight, Steve Torrence turns his attention this week to one of the two tracks in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series on which he has neither qualified his Capco Contractors dragster No. 1 nor raced for a Top Fuel winner’s trophy.
Nevertheless, when qualifying begins Friday in the 37th Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, the 35-year-old Texan will enjoy a 161-point advantage over his nearest Top Fuel rival with just two race weekends remaining before the NHRA adjusts the point totals for the start of the six-race Countdown to the Championship.
“We feel pretty confident,” Torrence said of his bid to again get the No. 1 starting spot in the playoffs, “but that’s not our ultimate goal. It’s just a means to an end. We let the championship get away from us last year and there’s not a single person on this team who isn’t committed to closing the deal this time.”
Torrence dominated a year ago when he won a category best eight tour events plus the now defunct Traxxas Nitro Shootout.
Nevertheless, after crashing heavily at his home track (the Texas Motorplex outside Dallas) in the fourth race of the Countdown, the 21-time tour winner was unable to sustain his momentum in a back-up car that was identical in composition but certainly not in personality.
“You never can predict what is going to happen in this sport,” acknowledged the cancer and heart attack survivor. “You just have to stay focused and stay positive and trust your brothers on this race team.”
Although he’s never won at BIR, Torrence did drive his way into the semifinals just a year ago before losing to close friend Antron Brown, the same Antron Brown to whom he lost in the semifinals two weeks ago at Seattle, Wash., in an event in which he could have all but clinched the No. 1 seed.
“I knew he wouldn’t be down for long,” Torrence said of the three-time series champion who went on to win Seattle and end a season-long victory drought. “It probably won’t be the last time we race each other. I’m sure we’ll see those guys in the Countdown.
“We’ve had a bullseye on our backs all year and I’ve got no problem with that,” said the man who is trying to become the first in history to win NHRA championships in both the Fuel and Alcohol categories. He was the Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion in 2005.
“Every time we go up there we know we have to be at our best and that makes us focus,” Torrence said. “Our goal is the same as it always is. We plan to win this week and then repeat at Indy (in the 65th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend) but, to be honest, I can’t wait to start the Countdown.”
2018 NHRA MELLO YELLO POINTS
TOP FUEL
(NHRA Mello Yello points after 16 of 18 events leading up to the Countdown to the Mello Yello Championship)
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 1251
2. Tony Schumacher, Lakeway, Texas, U.S. Army dragster 1090
3. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 1084
4. Leah Pritchett, Danville, Ind., Sparkling Ice dragster 1083
5. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster 995
6. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 927
7. Terry McMillen, Elkhart, Ind., Amalie Oil dragster 759
8. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., PEAK/Monster dragster 731
9. Richie Crampton, Avon, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster 660
10. Scott Palmer, Cassville, Mo., Cat Spot dragster 649
STEVE at Brainerd International Raceway
Last year: As the No. 6 qualifier, Steve reached the semifinals, beating Luigi Novelli and Doug Kalitta before losing to Antron Brown.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 8/0/0/0
Steve’s quickest time at Brainerd International Raceway: 3.699 seconds, Aug. 20, 2016
Steve’s fastest speed at Brainerd International Raceway: 330.15 mph, Aug. 28, 2017
Steve’s won-lost record at Brainerd International Raceway: 7-8
Steve’s best moment(s) at Brainerd International Raceway: In his first start at BIR in 2008, Steve qualified second and beat Hillary Will and Morgan Lucas before losing to Cory McClenathan.
Track records: 3.640 seconds by Leah Pritchett, Aug. 18, 2017; 333.16 mph by Brittany Force, Aug. 18, 2017.
BRAINERD, Minn. – With a second straight regular season championship clearly in sight, Steve Torrence turns his attention this week to one of the two tracks in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series on which he has neither qualified his Capco Contractors dragster No. 1 nor raced for a Top Fuel winner’s trophy.
Nevertheless, when qualifying begins Friday in the 37th Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, the 35-year-old Texan will enjoy a 161-point advantage over his nearest Top Fuel rival with just two race weekends remaining before the NHRA adjusts the point totals for the start of the six-race Countdown to the Championship.
“We feel pretty confident,” Torrence said of his bid to again get the No. 1 starting spot in the playoffs, “but that’s not our ultimate goal. It’s just a means to an end. We let the championship get away from us last year and there’s not a single person on this team who isn’t committed to closing the deal this time.”
Torrence dominated a year ago when he won a category best eight tour events plus the now defunct Traxxas Nitro Shootout.
Nevertheless, after crashing heavily at his home track (the Texas Motorplex outside Dallas) in the fourth race of the Countdown, the 21-time tour winner was unable to sustain his momentum in a back-up car that was identical in composition but certainly not in personality.
“You never can predict what is going to happen in this sport,” acknowledged the cancer and heart attack survivor. “You just have to stay focused and stay positive and trust your brothers on this race team.”
Although he’s never won at BIR, Torrence did drive his way into the semifinals just a year ago before losing to close friend Antron Brown, the same Antron Brown to whom he lost in the semifinals two weeks ago at Seattle, Wash., in an event in which he could have all but clinched the No. 1 seed.
“I knew he wouldn’t be down for long,” Torrence said of the three-time series champion who went on to win Seattle and end a season-long victory drought. “It probably won’t be the last time we race each other. I’m sure we’ll see those guys in the Countdown.
“We’ve had a bullseye on our backs all year and I’ve got no problem with that,” said the man who is trying to become the first in history to win NHRA championships in both the Fuel and Alcohol categories. He was the Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion in 2005.
“Every time we go up there we know we have to be at our best and that makes us focus,” Torrence said. “Our goal is the same as it always is. We plan to win this week and then repeat at Indy (in the 65th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend) but, to be honest, I can’t wait to start the Countdown.”
2018 NHRA MELLO YELLO POINTS
TOP FUEL
(NHRA Mello Yello points after 16 of 18 events leading up to the Countdown to the Mello Yello Championship)
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 1251
2. Tony Schumacher, Lakeway, Texas, U.S. Army dragster 1090
3. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 1084
4. Leah Pritchett, Danville, Ind., Sparkling Ice dragster 1083
5. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster 995
6. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 927
7. Terry McMillen, Elkhart, Ind., Amalie Oil dragster 759
8. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., PEAK/Monster dragster 731
9. Richie Crampton, Avon, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster 660
10. Scott Palmer, Cassville, Mo., Cat Spot dragster 649
STEVE at Brainerd International Raceway
Last year: As the No. 6 qualifier, Steve reached the semifinals, beating Luigi Novelli and Doug Kalitta before losing to Antron Brown.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 8/0/0/0
Steve’s quickest time at Brainerd International Raceway: 3.699 seconds, Aug. 20, 2016
Steve’s fastest speed at Brainerd International Raceway: 330.15 mph, Aug. 28, 2017
Steve’s won-lost record at Brainerd International Raceway: 7-8
Steve’s best moment(s) at Brainerd International Raceway: In his first start at BIR in 2008, Steve qualified second and beat Hillary Will and Morgan Lucas before losing to Cory McClenathan.
Track records: 3.640 seconds by Leah Pritchett, Aug. 18, 2017; 333.16 mph by Brittany Force, Aug. 18, 2017.
