BILLY TORRENCE WINS AT READING
Despite Semifinal Exit, Steve Torrence Remains Atop Point Standings
In narrowly defeating Force, who was the No. 1 qualifier for the seventh straight Camping World tour event, the 63-year-old founder and CEO of Capco Contractors, Inc., assured that his son, three-time reigning World Champion Steve Torrence, will start this week’s 13th Dewalt Carolina Nationals as the Top Fuel point leader.
Photos by Mark Rebilas
Billy Torrence drove his Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster to a tour victory in Reading, Pa., Sunday that propelled him to third place in driver points after the first of seven races in the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship.
Photos by Mark Rebilas
Billy Torrence hoists the trophy after giving Team Capco its 10th win in 14 NHRA events this season and moving up to third place in Top Fuel points behind his son and three-time reigning World Champion Steve Torrence.
Although Billy Torrence gave all the Sunday credit to his crew while insisting that he is “just trying not to be the weak link,” Sunday’s performance vaulted him from the No. 7 spot he occupied at the start of the Countdown, to No. 3, the position in which he finished a year ago.
It was the 10th win in 14 races this season for Team Capco, the second for Billy and a team anchored by crew chief Jason McCulloch that missed four races during the regular season.
“Now I’m gonna be looking over both shoulders,” said the point leader, “over one for Brittany and Grubby (Force’s crew chief, David Grubnic) and over the other for my old man. I thought the two of us might get to duke it out again in an all-Capco final, but Justin did a great job in the semis. can’t wait to get started in Charlotte.”
It was a sweep of the Northeast for Billy Torrence, whose other victory this season came three months ago at Epping, N.H., where he beat Mike Salinas in the final round. Until Sunday, he hadn’t won a single round of racing in two previous appearances at Maple Grove Raceway.
FINAL ROUND RESULTS
Top Fuel – Billy Torrence, Capco Contractors dragster, 3.720, 326.08 mph, def. Justin Ashley, Strutmasters dragster, 3.784, 313.22 mph.
Funny Car – Tommy Johnson Jr., Mopar Dodge Charger, 3.926, 330.23 mph, def. John Force, PEAK Chevy Camaro, 3.946, 328.54 mph.
Pro Stock – Greg Anderson, HendricksCars.com Chevy Camaro, 6.578, 208.30 mph, def. Erica Enders, Melling Chevy Camaro, 6.604, 206.73 mph.
Top Fuel – Billy Torrence, Capco Contractors dragster, 3.720, 326.08 mph, def. Justin Ashley, Strutmasters dragster, 3.784, 313.22 mph.
Funny Car – Tommy Johnson Jr., Mopar Dodge Charger, 3.926, 330.23 mph, def. John Force, PEAK Chevy Camaro, 3.946, 328.54 mph.
Pro Stock – Greg Anderson, HendricksCars.com Chevy Camaro, 6.578, 208.30 mph, def. Erica Enders, Melling Chevy Camaro, 6.604, 206.73 mph.
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points
TOP FUEL
(After one of seven races in the 2021 Countdown to the Championship)
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 2179
2. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., FLAV-R-PAC/ Monster Energy dragster 2167
3. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 2137
4. Justin Ashley, Plainview, N.Y., Strutmasters/GuardLab dragster 2124
5. Leah Pruett, Avon, Ind., Sparkling Ice Spiked Seltzer dragster 2113
6. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 2103
6. Shawn Langdon, Indianapolis, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster 2102
8. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 2078
9. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 2067
10. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mac Tools/Mobil 1 dragster 2031
CAPCO CONTRACTORS race summary
36th Mopar Express Lane Nationals
Qualifying – Steve Torrence, No. 2 at 3.692 seconds, 327.19 miles per hour.
Qualifying bonus points – 2 for second quick time in Q1.
Round 1 – S. Torrence, 3.716, 328.22 mph, def. Joe Morrison, 6.108, 103.62 mph.
Round 2 – S. Torrence, 3.718, 327.43 mph, advanced on an earned bye run.
Semifinals – S. Torrence, 4.162, 245.85 mph, lost to Justin Ashley, 4.084, 298.67 mph
Qualifying – Billy Torrence, No. 4 at 3.699 seconds, 327.98 miles per hour.
Qualifying bonus points – 3 total; 2 for second quick time in Q2; 1 for third quick in Q3
Round 1 – B. Torrence, 3.721, 328.78 mph, def. Josh Hart, 3.781, 292.84 mph.
Round 2 – B. Torrence, 3.719, 329.18 mph, def. Shawn Langdon, 3.797, 302.89 mph.
Semifinals – B. Torrence, 3.725, 328.46 mph, def. Brittany Force, 3.777, 318.84 mph.
FINAL – Billy Torrence, 3.720, 326.08 mph, def. Justin Ashley, 3.784, 313.22 mph.
Next Scheduled CAMPING WORLD TOUR Event:
13th Dewalt NHRA Carolina Nationals
Sept. 19, 2021
ZMax Dragway
Charlotte, N.C.
