TORRENCE WINS, REGAINS POINT LEAD (1 Viewer)

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TORRENCE WINS, REGAINS POINT LEAD
Texan Wins Third Midwest Nationals Top Fuel Title in Fifth Straight Final Round
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MADISON, Ill. (St. Louis) – Trying to become just the seventh driver in pro drag racing history to win as many as four consecutive NHRA series championships, Steve Torrence drove his Capco Contractors dragster past No. 1 qualifier Mike Salinas in the final round of Sunday’s 24th NHRA Midwest Nationals to regain the Top Fuel point lead with four playoff races remaining.

FINAL ROUND RESULTS
Top Fuel – Steve Torrence, Capco Contractors dragster, 3.736, 328.78 mph, def. Mike Salinas, Scrappers Racing dragster, 3.996, 226.70 mph.
Funny Car – Matt Hagan, New Holland Dodge Charger, 3.933, 333.49 mph, def. Bob Tasca III, Motorcraft Ford Mustang, 3.967, 329.99 mph.
Pro Stock – Erica Enders, Melling Performance Chevy Camaro, 6.572, 207.24 mph, def. Dallas Glenn, RAD Torque Systems Chevy Camaro, 6.583, 206.86 mph.
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Racing in his fifth straight final round at World Wide Technology Raceway, Torrence overcame a starting deficit to outpace Salinas, whose car lost traction halfway through the 1,000 foot sprint to the Top Fuel trophy.
It was the 49th tour victory for the 38-year-old Texan and it enabled him to leapfrog Brittany Force, who was ousted in the second round.
When qualifying begins Oct. 8 in the 36th annual Texas Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex, Torrence will lead Force by 36 points. He trailed the 2017 champion by 21 points entering the Midwest Nationals.

Photos by Mark Rebilas
Steve Torrence drove the Capco Contractors dragster to victory Sunday in the NHRA Midwest Nationals at St. Louis to regain the Top Fuel point lead midway through the Countdown to the Championship.
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Nevertheless, Torrence said that while it was good to regain the lead, there is way too much racing ahead for anyone to assume anything.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned the last five seasons,” he said, “it’s that you can’t get caught up in the points conversation. That’ll drive you a little crazy. The only time the points really matter is at Pomona in November. Right now, we just have to stay focused and do our jobs. If we do that, the points will take care of themselves.
“It’s not just me and Brittany out there,” Torrence continued. “You saw what Mike did this weekend. They ran great and he drove great. They’re going to have something to say about who wins before it’s all over. Antron (Brown) has kicked my butt more often than I want to remember and all these kids, Josh Hart and Justin (Ashley), they’re trying to make a name for themselves, so they’re always dangerous.
“Thankfully, I’ve got the best team in the business,” he said. “We’ve raced the Countdown together for a lot of years, so we know the drill. The only thing I need to know is that no matter what everyone else is doing around us, these Capco boys always send me to the line with a car that can win.”

Photos by Mark Rebilas
More hardware. Steve Torrence took the Top Fuel trophy at the Midwest Nationals at St. Louis Sunday and moved back into the point lead.
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In winning a Countdown race for the 10th time, Torrence joined Brown and Tony Schumacher as the only Top Fuel drivers with double digit playoff victories. His 10 Countdown race wins tie him for eighth overall with good friend and fellow Texan Erica Enders, with whom he shared Sunday’s winners’ circle.
Schumacher is among the drivers who has won four or more consecutive championships. The others are Don “the Snake” Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, Bob Glidden, Lee Shepherd and John Force.

CAPCO CONTRACTORS race summary
24th NHRA Midwest Nationals
Qualifying – Steve Torrence, No. 3 at 3.697 seconds, 329.75 miles per hour.
Qualifying bonus points – 4 total; 2 for second quick time in Q1 and Q3
Round 1 – S. Torrence, 3.669, 329.42 mph, def. Shawn Langdon, 3.762, 324.98 mph.
Round 2 – S. Torrence, 3.709, 331.36 mph, def. Antron Brown, 4.445, 190.35 mph.
Semifinals – S. Torrence, 3.767, 325.61 mph, def. Josh Hart, 3.965, 249.49 mph.
FINAL – Steve Torrence, 3.736, 328.78 mph, def. Mike Salinas, 3.996, 226.70 mph.
Qualifying – Billy Torrence, No. 5 at 3.717 seconds, 330.96 miles per hour.
Qualifying bonus points – 1 for third quick time in Q1.
Round 1 – B. Torrence, 3.748, 320.13 mph, def. Scott Palmer, 3.767, 323.68 mph.
Round 2 – B. Torrence, 6.575, 122.59 mph, lost to Leah Pruett, 3.769, 316.01 mph.

Next Scheduled CAMPING WORLD TOUR Event:
36th annual Texas Fall Nationals
Oct. 10, 2021
The Texas Motorplex
Dallas, Texas

NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points

TOP FUEL
(After three of seven races in the 2021 Countdown to the Championship)
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors d16ragster 2373
2. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., FLAV-R-PAC/ Monster Energy dragster 2337
3. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 2247
4. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 2239
5. Justin Ashley, Plainview, N.Y., Strutmasters/GuardLab dragster 2235
6. Leah Pruett, Avon, Ind., Sparkling Ice Spiked Seltzer dragster 2222
7. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 2188
8. Shawn Langdon, Indianapolis, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster 2164
9. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 2157
10. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mac Tools/Mobil 1 dragster 2096

Most Countdown Race Wins
18 by Eddie Krawiec, Pro Stock Motorcycle
16 by Andrew Hines, Pro Stock Motorcycle
14 by Antron Brown, Top Fuel
12 by Greg Anderson, Pro Stock
12 by Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel
12 by Robert Hight, Funny Car
12 by Matt Hagan, Funny Car
10 by Steve Torrence, Top Fuel
10 by Erica Enders, Pro Stock
9 by Jason Line, Pro Stock
9 by Matt Smith, Pro Stock Motorcycle