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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORRENCE BACK ON TOP AT ARIZONA NATIONALS
Two-Time Mello Yello Champ Beats Dad Billy, Point Leader Kalitta for Title
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Steve Torrence took the first big step toward winning his third consecutive NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel championship Sunday when he drove his new look Capco Contractors dragster to an impressive victory in the 36th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
The 36-year-old Texan, who sat out the season-opening Lucas Oil Winternationals at Pomona, Calif., survived a semifinal showdown with his dad, defending Arizona Nationals champion Billy Torrence, before beating point leader Doug Kalitta for Torrence Racing’s third straight victory at Wild Horse Pass.
Significantly, it was the cancer and heart attack survivor’s 37th career victory, his 29th in his last 68 starts and the team’s 34th win in the last 69 NHRA events dating back to 2017. Billy Torrence, whose resume includes a pair of Super Comp victories in the national series, won five times in Top Fuel in 2018 and 2019.
“It felt good to be back in the car,” Torrence said. “There’s always more work to be done and more history to be made, but I am blessed with what we have been able to accomplish the past few seasons.
“Two championships would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Richard Hogan, Bobby Lagana Jr., Gary Pritchett and all the rest of these bad-to-the-bone Capco Boys along with favorable blessings from the Lord.”
Since he missed the opener, Torrence started the race outside the Top 10 for the first time since June, 2013. He finished the day in fifth place, 91 points behind Kalitta.
“Well, just because we missed (a race) doesn’t mean we forgot how to do it,” he joked. “It’s a long season and we know how the system works but our philosophy hasn’t changed. We still want to win every race. There’s always room for improvement.”
The No. 2 qualifier at 3.671 seconds, Torrence took out journeyman Jim Maroney in round one and former world champion Shawn Langdon in round two to set up the latest episode of an ongoing family feud that has its roots in sportsman racing.
After losing the last two duels to his dad, the younger Torrence regained Monday bragging rights at Capco, the Texas-based oil and gas pipeline construction company at which both father and son work during the week, with a narrow 3.698-3.699 victory.
MELLO YELLO CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (after two of 18 regular season events)
1. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster212
2. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Monster/Flav-R-Pak dragster153
3. Leah Pruett, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., MOPAR dragster137
4. Austin Prock, Avon, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster131
5. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster121
6. Justin Ashley, Plainview, N.Y., Strutmasters dragster108
7. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster103
8. Shawn Langdon, Danville, Ind., Global Electronic Technology dragster 91
9. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 85
10. Shawn Reed, Lake Tapps, Wash., Hughes Oilfield Supply dragster 83
11. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 75
* * * *
CAPCO CONTRACTORS race summary:
36th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals:
Qualify – Steve Torrence, No. 2 at 3.671 seconds, 326.48 miles per hour
Qualifying bonus points – 1 for third quickest time in Q1, 3 for quickest time in Q2
Round 1 – S. Torrence, 3.717 seconds, 325.69 mph, def. Jim Maroney, 4.436, 190.35 mph.
Round 2 – S. Torrence, 4.570 seconds, 203.32 mph, def. Shawn Langdon, 5.170, 216.72 mph.
Semifinals – S. Torrence, 3.698 seconds, 329.58 mph, def. Billy Torrence, 3.699, 329.91 mph.
FINAL – Steve Torrence, 3.679 seconds, 321.27 mph, def. Doug Kalitta, 4.052, 218.70 mph.
Qualify – Billy Torrence, No. 6 at 3.713 seconds, 328.14 miles per hour.
Qualifying bonus points – 1 for third quickest time in Q3
Round 1 – B. Torrence, 3.683 seconds, 322.73 mph, def. Austin Prock, 9.008, 80.06 mph.
Round 2 – B. Torrence, 3.703 seconds, 328.78 mph, def. Leah Pruett, 3.688, 324.20 mph.
Semifinals – B. Torrence, 3.699 seconds, 329.91 mph, lost to Steve Torrence, 3.698, 329.58 mph,
* * * *
NEXT RACE:
51st annual Amalie Gatornationals
March 13-15, 2020
Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla.
TORRENCE BACK ON TOP AT ARIZONA NATIONALS
Two-Time Mello Yello Champ Beats Dad Billy, Point Leader Kalitta for Title
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Steve Torrence took the first big step toward winning his third consecutive NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel championship Sunday when he drove his new look Capco Contractors dragster to an impressive victory in the 36th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
The 36-year-old Texan, who sat out the season-opening Lucas Oil Winternationals at Pomona, Calif., survived a semifinal showdown with his dad, defending Arizona Nationals champion Billy Torrence, before beating point leader Doug Kalitta for Torrence Racing’s third straight victory at Wild Horse Pass.
Significantly, it was the cancer and heart attack survivor’s 37th career victory, his 29th in his last 68 starts and the team’s 34th win in the last 69 NHRA events dating back to 2017. Billy Torrence, whose resume includes a pair of Super Comp victories in the national series, won five times in Top Fuel in 2018 and 2019.
“It felt good to be back in the car,” Torrence said. “There’s always more work to be done and more history to be made, but I am blessed with what we have been able to accomplish the past few seasons.
“Two championships would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Richard Hogan, Bobby Lagana Jr., Gary Pritchett and all the rest of these bad-to-the-bone Capco Boys along with favorable blessings from the Lord.”
Since he missed the opener, Torrence started the race outside the Top 10 for the first time since June, 2013. He finished the day in fifth place, 91 points behind Kalitta.
“Well, just because we missed (a race) doesn’t mean we forgot how to do it,” he joked. “It’s a long season and we know how the system works but our philosophy hasn’t changed. We still want to win every race. There’s always room for improvement.”
The No. 2 qualifier at 3.671 seconds, Torrence took out journeyman Jim Maroney in round one and former world champion Shawn Langdon in round two to set up the latest episode of an ongoing family feud that has its roots in sportsman racing.
After losing the last two duels to his dad, the younger Torrence regained Monday bragging rights at Capco, the Texas-based oil and gas pipeline construction company at which both father and son work during the week, with a narrow 3.698-3.699 victory.
MELLO YELLO CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (after two of 18 regular season events)
1. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster212
2. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Monster/Flav-R-Pak dragster153
3. Leah Pruett, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., MOPAR dragster137
4. Austin Prock, Avon, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster131
5. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster121
6. Justin Ashley, Plainview, N.Y., Strutmasters dragster108
7. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster103
8. Shawn Langdon, Danville, Ind., Global Electronic Technology dragster 91
9. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 85
10. Shawn Reed, Lake Tapps, Wash., Hughes Oilfield Supply dragster 83
11. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 75
* * * *
CAPCO CONTRACTORS race summary:
36th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals:
Qualify – Steve Torrence, No. 2 at 3.671 seconds, 326.48 miles per hour
Qualifying bonus points – 1 for third quickest time in Q1, 3 for quickest time in Q2
Round 1 – S. Torrence, 3.717 seconds, 325.69 mph, def. Jim Maroney, 4.436, 190.35 mph.
Round 2 – S. Torrence, 4.570 seconds, 203.32 mph, def. Shawn Langdon, 5.170, 216.72 mph.
Semifinals – S. Torrence, 3.698 seconds, 329.58 mph, def. Billy Torrence, 3.699, 329.91 mph.
FINAL – Steve Torrence, 3.679 seconds, 321.27 mph, def. Doug Kalitta, 4.052, 218.70 mph.
Qualify – Billy Torrence, No. 6 at 3.713 seconds, 328.14 miles per hour.
Qualifying bonus points – 1 for third quickest time in Q3
Round 1 – B. Torrence, 3.683 seconds, 322.73 mph, def. Austin Prock, 9.008, 80.06 mph.
Round 2 – B. Torrence, 3.703 seconds, 328.78 mph, def. Leah Pruett, 3.688, 324.20 mph.
Semifinals – B. Torrence, 3.699 seconds, 329.91 mph, lost to Steve Torrence, 3.698, 329.58 mph,
* * * *
NEXT RACE:
51st annual Amalie Gatornationals
March 13-15, 2020
Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla.
