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Reigning Champ Puts Capco Dragster in Eighth Consecutive Final Round
EPPING, N.H. – Steve Torrence continued to set records Sunday, driving his Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster into the final round for the eighth straight event, repeating as champion at the NHRA New England Nationals and becoming the first driver, regardless of category, to secure a starting spot in the 2019 playoffs.
In winning for the seventh time this season and for the 26th time in the last 56 tour events, the 36-year-old Texan extended his advantage over second place Doug Kalitta to 477 points with just five races remaining before the points are adjusted for the Countdown to the Mello Yello Championship.
“I want to give all the glory to God and these Capco boys,” said a beaming Torrence. “We had some struggles in qualifying (leading to a No. 9 start, his poorest since he was 14th last February at Phoenix) but (crew chief) Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana and the boys got it figured out in time to go racing.”
In fact, after a best run of only 4.170 seconds in qualifying, which shut him out of qualifying bonus points for just the second time this year, Torrence was quickest in every round Sunday and his 3.756 in a first round conquest of rookie Austin Prock stood as the quickest of the entire event.
“That’s a great team,” Torrence said of the Mike Green-led John Force Racing unit that supports Prock, “but my guys are pretty good, too.”
After dispatching Terry McMillen in the second round and Richie Crampton in the semifinals, he outran close friend Scott Palmer, one of his boyhood racing heroes, in the final round to extend his record in two-car races the last two seasons to 80-18 (81.6%).
When racing resumes in two weeks with the start of the grueling Western Swing featuring three races in three weeks at Denver, Colo., Sonoma, Calif. and Seattle, Wash., Torrence will start 23 rounds ahead of both Kalitta and Antron Brown. That advantage will shrink to a paltry 20 points to start the Countdown.
In winning for the 34th time in his pro career, the cancer and heart attack survivor moved into a tie with Cory McClenathan for eighth place on the NHRA’s all-time Top Fuel list. Next up that imposing ladder is “Big Daddy” Don Garlits with 35 wins.
The only Top Fuel driver to race in more consecutive final round appearances is eight-time champion Tony Schumacher who, in 2008, put the U.S. Army dragster in the money round 11 consecutive times.
CAPCO CONTRACTORS race summary:
Seventh annual NHRA New England Nationals
Qualify – Steve Torrence, No. 9 at 4.170 seconds, 218.72 miles per hour.
Round 1 – S. Torrence, 3.756 seconds, 328.62 mph, def. Austin Prock, 3.843, 323.19 mph.
Round 2 – S. Torrence, 3.883 seconds, 323.81 mph, def. Terry McMillen, 4.328, 217.25 mph.
Semifinals – S. Torrence, 3.832 seconds, 323.35 mph, def. Richie Crampton, 4.062, 292.20 mph.
FINAL – Steve Torrence, 3.861 seconds, 321.58 mph, def. Scott Palmer, 4.014, 251.25 mph.
2019 NHRA MELLO YELLO POINTS
TOP FUEL
(After 13 of 18 races leading into the Countdown to the Mello Yello Championship)
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 1278
2. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster 799
3. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 791
4. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Advance Auto Parts dragster 777
5. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 732
6. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 730
7. Leah Pritchett, Danville, Ind., Mopar Dodge dragster 690
8. Richie Crampton, Brownsburg, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster 612
9. Terry McMillen, Elkhart, Ind., Amalie Intimigator dragster 576
10. Scott Palmer, Cassville, Mo., Magic Dry Organic dragster 564
12. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 493
NEXT RACE:
40th annual Dodge NHRA Mile-High Nationals
July 19-21, 2019
Bandimere Speedway
Denver, COLO
EPPING, N.H. – Steve Torrence continued to set records Sunday, driving his Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster into the final round for the eighth straight event, repeating as champion at the NHRA New England Nationals and becoming the first driver, regardless of category, to secure a starting spot in the 2019 playoffs.
In winning for the seventh time this season and for the 26th time in the last 56 tour events, the 36-year-old Texan extended his advantage over second place Doug Kalitta to 477 points with just five races remaining before the points are adjusted for the Countdown to the Mello Yello Championship.
“I want to give all the glory to God and these Capco boys,” said a beaming Torrence. “We had some struggles in qualifying (leading to a No. 9 start, his poorest since he was 14th last February at Phoenix) but (crew chief) Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana and the boys got it figured out in time to go racing.”
In fact, after a best run of only 4.170 seconds in qualifying, which shut him out of qualifying bonus points for just the second time this year, Torrence was quickest in every round Sunday and his 3.756 in a first round conquest of rookie Austin Prock stood as the quickest of the entire event.
“That’s a great team,” Torrence said of the Mike Green-led John Force Racing unit that supports Prock, “but my guys are pretty good, too.”
After dispatching Terry McMillen in the second round and Richie Crampton in the semifinals, he outran close friend Scott Palmer, one of his boyhood racing heroes, in the final round to extend his record in two-car races the last two seasons to 80-18 (81.6%).
When racing resumes in two weeks with the start of the grueling Western Swing featuring three races in three weeks at Denver, Colo., Sonoma, Calif. and Seattle, Wash., Torrence will start 23 rounds ahead of both Kalitta and Antron Brown. That advantage will shrink to a paltry 20 points to start the Countdown.
In winning for the 34th time in his pro career, the cancer and heart attack survivor moved into a tie with Cory McClenathan for eighth place on the NHRA’s all-time Top Fuel list. Next up that imposing ladder is “Big Daddy” Don Garlits with 35 wins.
The only Top Fuel driver to race in more consecutive final round appearances is eight-time champion Tony Schumacher who, in 2008, put the U.S. Army dragster in the money round 11 consecutive times.
CAPCO CONTRACTORS race summary:
Seventh annual NHRA New England Nationals
Qualify – Steve Torrence, No. 9 at 4.170 seconds, 218.72 miles per hour.
Round 1 – S. Torrence, 3.756 seconds, 328.62 mph, def. Austin Prock, 3.843, 323.19 mph.
Round 2 – S. Torrence, 3.883 seconds, 323.81 mph, def. Terry McMillen, 4.328, 217.25 mph.
Semifinals – S. Torrence, 3.832 seconds, 323.35 mph, def. Richie Crampton, 4.062, 292.20 mph.
FINAL – Steve Torrence, 3.861 seconds, 321.58 mph, def. Scott Palmer, 4.014, 251.25 mph.
2019 NHRA MELLO YELLO POINTS
TOP FUEL
(After 13 of 18 races leading into the Countdown to the Mello Yello Championship)
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 1278
2. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster 799
3. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 791
4. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Advance Auto Parts dragster 777
5. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 732
6. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 730
7. Leah Pritchett, Danville, Ind., Mopar Dodge dragster 690
8. Richie Crampton, Brownsburg, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster 612
9. Terry McMillen, Elkhart, Ind., Amalie Intimigator dragster 576
10. Scott Palmer, Cassville, Mo., Magic Dry Organic dragster 564
12. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 493
NEXT RACE:
40th annual Dodge NHRA Mile-High Nationals
July 19-21, 2019
Bandimere Speedway
Denver, COLO
