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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORRENCE TARGETS HOUSTON FRUSTRATION
Three-Time Reigning World Champ Hopes to End Spring Nationals Victory Drought
HOUSTON, Texas – Since establishing himself as the dominant driver of a new
drag racing era, winner of three consecutive Top Fuel World Championships and 33 of
the last 81 races he has run on the NHRA Camping World tour, Texan Steve Torrence
has been pretty adept at checking off the boxes on his competitive “to do” list.
Winning the world’s biggest drag race, the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis?
Check. The sport’s last big bonus race, the Traxxas Nitro Shootout? Check. The
season-opening Winternationals? Check. The season-ending Auto Club Finals?
Check. Sweeping the six races in the Countdown to the Championship? Check.
Winning in his home state? Check. Winning four-wide? Check.
Nevertheless, as the tour returns this week to traditional two-wide competition in
the 34th annual Mopar Express Lane Spring Nationals, there remains one glaring
omission from that list of racing accomplishments and it is hoisting an iconic “Wally”
trophy at Houston Raceway Park, one of the two tracks he calls “home.”
In six of its last nine appearances at HRP, Torrence’s Capco Contractors dragster
has been fully capable of helping him achieve his goal. Three times he’s been the No. 1
qualifier; three times he’s reached the finals, most recently last fall when he lost in the
final round of the COVID-19-postponed Spring Nationals to former series champion
Tony Schumacher by .002 of a second. That’s an almost indescernible two thousandths
of a second at more than 300 miles per hour.
He first reached the final round of the Spring Nationals in 2016 when he lost to
Doug Kalitta on a hole shot, 3.810 seconds to the winner’s slightly slower 3.813. A year
later, his 3.789 lost to Leah Pruett’s 3.781. Then, last year, after qualifying No. 1,
beating former world champs Shawn Langdon and Antron Brown and forging a .016 of a
second starting line advantage against Schumacher, his 3.687 wasn’t quite good
enough to beat a 3.669.
Now he’s ready to try again with a Capco hybrid that’s raced in the final in three
of four events this season.
“We have a a lot of friends and family who come to the Houston race,” Torrence
said, “along with a lot of the Capco employees who make it possible for us to do what
we love. Taya Kyle and the folks at the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation usually have a
presence, too. You really want to do well for all of them, so that just adds to the
frustration, I think. We know we have a car that can win here. We just have to get the
job done.”
Looking Back
Steve Torrence at the Mopar Express Lane Spring Nationals
YearQualifying Position/Racing Result
2010 Houston6. Lost to Morgan Lucas
2011 Houston15. Lost to Spencer Massey
2012 Houston 2. Beat T.J. Zizzo, Shawn Langdon; lost to Antron Brown
2013 Houston8. Lost to Morgan Lucas
2014 Houston1. Beat Terry McMillen, Brittany Force; lost to Khalid alBalooshi
2015 Houston11. Beat J.R. Todd; lost to Clay Millican
2016 Houston1. Beat Rob Passey, Tony Schumacher, Brown; lost to Doug Kalitta
2017 Houston4. Beat Shawn Reed, Troy Coughlin Jr., Clay Millican; lost to Leah Pruett
2018 Houston9. Beat Scott Palmer; lost to Leah Pritchett
2019 Houston2. Beat Kebin Kinsley, Austin Prock; lost to Antron Brown
2020 Houston1. Bye, beat Shawn Langdon, Antron Brown; lost to Tony Schumacher
Steve’s quickest time: 3.672 seconds, Oct. 24, 2020
Steve’s fastest speed: 330.07 mph, Oct. 25, 2020
Track records – 3.661 seconds by Brittany Force, April 12, 2019; 332.18 mph by Brittany Force, April 12,
2019.
* * * *
Steve Torrence this season
Date/Site Qualifying Position/Racing Result
March 14 at Gainesville, FL1. Beat Joe Morrison; lost to Josh Hart.
April 18 at Las Vegas, NV2. WINNER over Doug Kalitta, (Clay Millican and Antron Brown)
May 2 at Atlanta, GA2. Beat Buddy Hull, Justin Ashley, Shawn Langdon; lost to Antron Brown
May 16 at Charlotte, NC2. WINNER over Brittany Force, Antron Brown and Josh Hart
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points
(After 4 of 21 scheduled events)
TOP FUEL
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster408
2. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster332
3. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif. Monster Energy/FLAV-R-PAC dragster274
4. Shawn Langdon, Indianapolis, DHL/Kalitta Air dragster248
5. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., Burnyzz/Technet dragster245
6. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster215
7. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mac Tools dragster197
8. Justin Ashley, Plainview, N.Y., Strutmasters/GuardLab dragster194
9. Leah Pruett, Avon, Ind., Whisps Cheese Crisps dragster 176
10. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster164
* * * *
Looking Ahead
2021 NHRA Camping World Tour
4-23Mopar Express Lane Spring NationalsHouston, TX
6-13NHRA New England NationalsEpping, NH
6-27Summit Racing Equipment NationalsNorwalk, OH
7-18Dodge Mile-High NationalsDenver, CO
7-25NHRA Sonoma NationalsSonoma, CA
8-01Lucas Oil Winternationals Pomona, CA
For more information, Contact: Dave Densmore - [email protected] / (214) 244-0008
8-15Menard’s NationalsTopeka, KS
8-22 Lucas Oil NationalsBrainerd, MN
9-05Dodge SRT U.S. NationalsIndianapolis, IN
-www.torrenceracing.com-
TORRENCE TARGETS HOUSTON FRUSTRATION
Three-Time Reigning World Champ Hopes to End Spring Nationals Victory Drought
HOUSTON, Texas – Since establishing himself as the dominant driver of a new
drag racing era, winner of three consecutive Top Fuel World Championships and 33 of
the last 81 races he has run on the NHRA Camping World tour, Texan Steve Torrence
has been pretty adept at checking off the boxes on his competitive “to do” list.
Winning the world’s biggest drag race, the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis?
Check. The sport’s last big bonus race, the Traxxas Nitro Shootout? Check. The
season-opening Winternationals? Check. The season-ending Auto Club Finals?
Check. Sweeping the six races in the Countdown to the Championship? Check.
Winning in his home state? Check. Winning four-wide? Check.
Nevertheless, as the tour returns this week to traditional two-wide competition in
the 34th annual Mopar Express Lane Spring Nationals, there remains one glaring
omission from that list of racing accomplishments and it is hoisting an iconic “Wally”
trophy at Houston Raceway Park, one of the two tracks he calls “home.”
In six of its last nine appearances at HRP, Torrence’s Capco Contractors dragster
has been fully capable of helping him achieve his goal. Three times he’s been the No. 1
qualifier; three times he’s reached the finals, most recently last fall when he lost in the
final round of the COVID-19-postponed Spring Nationals to former series champion
Tony Schumacher by .002 of a second. That’s an almost indescernible two thousandths
of a second at more than 300 miles per hour.
He first reached the final round of the Spring Nationals in 2016 when he lost to
Doug Kalitta on a hole shot, 3.810 seconds to the winner’s slightly slower 3.813. A year
later, his 3.789 lost to Leah Pruett’s 3.781. Then, last year, after qualifying No. 1,
beating former world champs Shawn Langdon and Antron Brown and forging a .016 of a
second starting line advantage against Schumacher, his 3.687 wasn’t quite good
enough to beat a 3.669.
Now he’s ready to try again with a Capco hybrid that’s raced in the final in three
of four events this season.
“We have a a lot of friends and family who come to the Houston race,” Torrence
said, “along with a lot of the Capco employees who make it possible for us to do what
we love. Taya Kyle and the folks at the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation usually have a
presence, too. You really want to do well for all of them, so that just adds to the
frustration, I think. We know we have a car that can win here. We just have to get the
job done.”
Looking Back
Steve Torrence at the Mopar Express Lane Spring Nationals
YearQualifying Position/Racing Result
2010 Houston6. Lost to Morgan Lucas
2011 Houston15. Lost to Spencer Massey
2012 Houston 2. Beat T.J. Zizzo, Shawn Langdon; lost to Antron Brown
2013 Houston8. Lost to Morgan Lucas
2014 Houston1. Beat Terry McMillen, Brittany Force; lost to Khalid alBalooshi
2015 Houston11. Beat J.R. Todd; lost to Clay Millican
2016 Houston1. Beat Rob Passey, Tony Schumacher, Brown; lost to Doug Kalitta
2017 Houston4. Beat Shawn Reed, Troy Coughlin Jr., Clay Millican; lost to Leah Pruett
2018 Houston9. Beat Scott Palmer; lost to Leah Pritchett
2019 Houston2. Beat Kebin Kinsley, Austin Prock; lost to Antron Brown
2020 Houston1. Bye, beat Shawn Langdon, Antron Brown; lost to Tony Schumacher
Steve’s quickest time: 3.672 seconds, Oct. 24, 2020
Steve’s fastest speed: 330.07 mph, Oct. 25, 2020
Track records – 3.661 seconds by Brittany Force, April 12, 2019; 332.18 mph by Brittany Force, April 12,
2019.
* * * *
Steve Torrence this season
Date/Site Qualifying Position/Racing Result
March 14 at Gainesville, FL1. Beat Joe Morrison; lost to Josh Hart.
April 18 at Las Vegas, NV2. WINNER over Doug Kalitta, (Clay Millican and Antron Brown)
May 2 at Atlanta, GA2. Beat Buddy Hull, Justin Ashley, Shawn Langdon; lost to Antron Brown
May 16 at Charlotte, NC2. WINNER over Brittany Force, Antron Brown and Josh Hart
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points
(After 4 of 21 scheduled events)
TOP FUEL
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster408
2. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster332
3. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif. Monster Energy/FLAV-R-PAC dragster274
4. Shawn Langdon, Indianapolis, DHL/Kalitta Air dragster248
5. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., Burnyzz/Technet dragster245
6. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster215
7. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mac Tools dragster197
8. Justin Ashley, Plainview, N.Y., Strutmasters/GuardLab dragster194
9. Leah Pruett, Avon, Ind., Whisps Cheese Crisps dragster 176
10. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster164
* * * *
Looking Ahead
2021 NHRA Camping World Tour
4-23Mopar Express Lane Spring NationalsHouston, TX
6-13NHRA New England NationalsEpping, NH
6-27Summit Racing Equipment NationalsNorwalk, OH
7-18Dodge Mile-High NationalsDenver, CO
7-25NHRA Sonoma NationalsSonoma, CA
8-01Lucas Oil Winternationals Pomona, CA
For more information, Contact: Dave Densmore - [email protected] / (214) 244-0008
8-15Menard’s NationalsTopeka, KS
8-22 Lucas Oil NationalsBrainerd, MN
9-05Dodge SRT U.S. NationalsIndianapolis, IN
-www.torrenceracing.com-
