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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORRENCE COMES SO CLOSE AT ATLANTA
Runner-Up to Antron Brown in 38th and Last Lucas Oil Southern Nationals
ATLANTA, Ga. – Trying to become the last Top Fuel winner at historic Atlanta Dragway, three-time reigning World Champion Steve Torrence came ever so close Sunday before dropping a narrow final round decision to close friend Antron Brown in the 38th Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals.
Despite the loss, the talented Texan still will be the point leader when racing resumes two weeks hence (May 14-16) in the 11th NGK/NTK 4Wide Nationals at ZMax Dragway in Charlotte, N.C.
FINAL ROUND RESULTS
Top Fuel – Antron Brown, 3.752 seconds, 325.22 mph, def. Steve Torrence, Capco Contractors dragster, 3.794 seconds, 323.81 mph.
Funny Car –Bob Tasca III, 4.004, 326.48 mph, def. John Force, 4.015, 321.81 mph.
Pro Stock – Greg Anderson, 6.568, 209.04 mph, def. Vincent Nobile, 6.598, 208.78 mph.
“I won my first professional race at Atlanta in 2012 and I really wanted to win the last one,” said the 38-year-old cancer survivor, “but we just didn’t get it done today.
“I don’t like to lose to anyone,” Torrence admitted, “but it doesn’t sting quite as bad when it’s my brother and when it’s a great race like that one. That team’s worked really hard and I’m sure this isn’t going to be the last time we line up beside them in a final round this year.”
The No. 2 qualifier behind dad and Capco Contractors teammate Billy Torrence, the man who has dominated the Top Fuel class the last five seasons seemed to have things well in hand after dispatching Justin Ashley in the quarterfinals, just one round after the 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year had posted quick time of eliminations.
Things began to turn in the semifinals, however, when a loss of traction slowed the Capco dragster to from the 3.769 and 3.772 second pace at which it began eliminations to only 4.009 seconds in a victory over the DHL dragster of Shawn Langdon. Meanwhile, Brown was using a great 3.786 second run to slip past Brittany Force in the other semifinal.
Torrence will lead Brown by just 28 points when qualifying begins at Charlotte in a race the Capco driver won the last three times it was contested.
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points
(After 3 of 21 scheduled events)
TOP FUEL
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster286
2. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster258
3. Shawn Langdon, Indianapolis, DHL/Kalitta Air dragster221
4. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster179
5. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif. Monster Energy/FLAV-R-PAC dragster173
6. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., Burnyzz/Technet dragster168
7. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mac Tools dragster160
8. Justin Ashley, Plainview, N.Y., Strutmasters/GuardLab dragster158
9. Leah Pruett, Avon, Ind., Whisps Cheese Crisps dragster 139
10.Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster137
* * * *
CAPCO CONTRACTORS race summary
38th Lucas Oil Southern Nationals
Qualifying – Steve Torrence, No. 2 at 3.817 seconds, 323.66 miles per hour.
Qualifying bonus points – 5 (3 for quick time in Q1; 2 for second quick time in Q2)
Round 1 – S. Torrence, 3.769 seconds, 327.03 mph, def. Buddy Hull, 4.005, 290.88 mph.
Round 2 – S. Torrence, 3.772 seconds, 324.67 mph, def. Justin Ashley, 3.791, 321.50 mph.
Semifinals – S. Torrence, 4.009 seconds, 244.52 mph, def. Shawn Langdon, 4.342, 193.71 mph.
FINAL – Steve Torrence, 3.794, 323.81 mph, lost to Antron Brown, 3.752, 325.22 mph.
Qualifying – Billy Torrence, No. 1 at 3.815 seconds, 323.43 miles per hour.
Qualifying bonus points: 3 (for quick time in Q2)
Round 1 – B. Torrence, 3.784 seconds, 326.32 mph, advanced on bye run.
Round 2 – B. Torrence, 3.820 seconds, 322.50 mph, lost to Antron Brown, 3.811, 321.42 mph.
* * * *
Next Scheduled CAMPING WORLD TOUR Event:
11th NGK/NTK 4Wide Nationals
May 15, 2021
ZMax Dragway
Charlotte, N.C.
TORRENCE COMES SO CLOSE AT ATLANTA
Runner-Up to Antron Brown in 38th and Last Lucas Oil Southern Nationals
ATLANTA, Ga. – Trying to become the last Top Fuel winner at historic Atlanta Dragway, three-time reigning World Champion Steve Torrence came ever so close Sunday before dropping a narrow final round decision to close friend Antron Brown in the 38th Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals.
Despite the loss, the talented Texan still will be the point leader when racing resumes two weeks hence (May 14-16) in the 11th NGK/NTK 4Wide Nationals at ZMax Dragway in Charlotte, N.C.
FINAL ROUND RESULTS
Top Fuel – Antron Brown, 3.752 seconds, 325.22 mph, def. Steve Torrence, Capco Contractors dragster, 3.794 seconds, 323.81 mph.
Funny Car –Bob Tasca III, 4.004, 326.48 mph, def. John Force, 4.015, 321.81 mph.
Pro Stock – Greg Anderson, 6.568, 209.04 mph, def. Vincent Nobile, 6.598, 208.78 mph.
“I won my first professional race at Atlanta in 2012 and I really wanted to win the last one,” said the 38-year-old cancer survivor, “but we just didn’t get it done today.
“I don’t like to lose to anyone,” Torrence admitted, “but it doesn’t sting quite as bad when it’s my brother and when it’s a great race like that one. That team’s worked really hard and I’m sure this isn’t going to be the last time we line up beside them in a final round this year.”
The No. 2 qualifier behind dad and Capco Contractors teammate Billy Torrence, the man who has dominated the Top Fuel class the last five seasons seemed to have things well in hand after dispatching Justin Ashley in the quarterfinals, just one round after the 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year had posted quick time of eliminations.
Things began to turn in the semifinals, however, when a loss of traction slowed the Capco dragster to from the 3.769 and 3.772 second pace at which it began eliminations to only 4.009 seconds in a victory over the DHL dragster of Shawn Langdon. Meanwhile, Brown was using a great 3.786 second run to slip past Brittany Force in the other semifinal.
Torrence will lead Brown by just 28 points when qualifying begins at Charlotte in a race the Capco driver won the last three times it was contested.
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points
(After 3 of 21 scheduled events)
TOP FUEL
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster286
2. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster258
3. Shawn Langdon, Indianapolis, DHL/Kalitta Air dragster221
4. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster179
5. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif. Monster Energy/FLAV-R-PAC dragster173
6. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., Burnyzz/Technet dragster168
7. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mac Tools dragster160
8. Justin Ashley, Plainview, N.Y., Strutmasters/GuardLab dragster158
9. Leah Pruett, Avon, Ind., Whisps Cheese Crisps dragster 139
10.Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster137
* * * *
CAPCO CONTRACTORS race summary
38th Lucas Oil Southern Nationals
Qualifying – Steve Torrence, No. 2 at 3.817 seconds, 323.66 miles per hour.
Qualifying bonus points – 5 (3 for quick time in Q1; 2 for second quick time in Q2)
Round 1 – S. Torrence, 3.769 seconds, 327.03 mph, def. Buddy Hull, 4.005, 290.88 mph.
Round 2 – S. Torrence, 3.772 seconds, 324.67 mph, def. Justin Ashley, 3.791, 321.50 mph.
Semifinals – S. Torrence, 4.009 seconds, 244.52 mph, def. Shawn Langdon, 4.342, 193.71 mph.
FINAL – Steve Torrence, 3.794, 323.81 mph, lost to Antron Brown, 3.752, 325.22 mph.
Qualifying – Billy Torrence, No. 1 at 3.815 seconds, 323.43 miles per hour.
Qualifying bonus points: 3 (for quick time in Q2)
Round 1 – B. Torrence, 3.784 seconds, 326.32 mph, advanced on bye run.
Round 2 – B. Torrence, 3.820 seconds, 322.50 mph, lost to Antron Brown, 3.811, 321.42 mph.
* * * *
Next Scheduled CAMPING WORLD TOUR Event:
11th NGK/NTK 4Wide Nationals
May 15, 2021
ZMax Dragway
Charlotte, N.C.
