THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR TORRENCE
Three-Time Reigning Champ Aims for Third Win in Four Years at Motorplex
While the Kilgore native was winning NHRA pro tour events at places like Englishtown, N.J., Seattle, Wash., and Bristol, Tenn., his record in his first seven Top Fuel appearances at the Texas Motorplex, site this week of the 36th annual Texas Fall Nationals, was a less-than stellar 2-7.
However, to the dismay of long-suffering rivals, that was “then.” The 38-year-old cancer survivor’s “now” has been considerably more productive and is one of the primary reasons he is in position to become just the seventh driver in NHRA pro drag racing history to win four consecutive series championships.
Photos by Mark Rebilas
Steve Torrence, center, accepts congratulations from fellow Texan and Texas Motorplex owner Billy Meyer after winning the 2018 Texas Fall Nationals. This week, Torrence will try to put his Capco Contractors dragster in the winners' circle for the third time in four years at the Motorplex.
In his last six starts on the all-concrete surface at the Motorplex, he has reached the final round four times, won twice and rung up a 16-4 match play record.
Moreover, in the one recent start in which he proved he still was human by bowing out in the first round (2019), dad Billy Torrence made sure a Capco Contractors dragster still made its way into the winners’ circle.
Last year, Team Capco got its third straight Fall Nationals victory in historic fashion when Steve beat Billy in an all-Torrence final round, 3.716 seconds at 328.78 miles per hour to 3.810 seconds at 323.43 mph.
Nevertheless, despite all that success, Torrence admits that racing at home isn’t all kittens and puppy dogs.
“We love being able to race in front of family and friends at the Motorplex,” Torrence said, “and we’ve been blessed to have had a lot of success. But this championship battle isn’t over. We’ve got the points lead, but there’s still a lot of racing to do. Our goal is to stay consistent and keep our focus and that’s always tougher when you’re racing at home.”
Torrence acknowledged that there are so many more demands on his time when he’s racing in Texas.
“Everybody wants you to know they’re pulling for you,” he said. “They all want to shake your hand and give you some words of encouragement. It’s a great problem to have, but it makes it harder to maintain focus. We just have to go out and do what we’ve been doing. It’s worked pretty good so far.”
The dog days of summer. World Champion Steve Torrence, right, and clutch specialist Gary Pritchett shared the St. Louis winners' circle with Fendi, the dog Pritchett shares with ex Leah Pruett, after Torrence won for the ninth time in 16 races this year in his Capco Contractors dragster. Torrence and Pritchett will be back in action this week at the Texas Motorplex where Torrence will try to win for the third time in four years.
When qualifying begins on Friday, Torrence will lead Motorplex track record-holder Brittany Force by 36 points, roughly two rounds. His dad is another 90 points back in third place, the same position in which he finished a year ago when the championship was decided conventionally – without a Countdown.
Although he is just one win away from joining another exclusive fraternity (one reserved for those pro drivers who have won 50 times on the national tour), Torrence said that singular achievement is not even part of the conversation this week.
Steve Torrence's all-conquering Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster bids for its 10th win of the season this week in the 36th Texas Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex.
“We’re just trying to win the Fall Nationals,” he said. “These Capco Boys are the best in the business and if I win one or 50 or 100 races, it’s not because of anything I’ve done. I just drive the best race car out there. That’s it. To me, 49 wins means that’s 49 times I didn’t screw up, because a lot of times I do.”
Not a lot of times lately, though.
Steve Torrence, right, and dad Billy faced off in all-Capco Contractors final round last year at the Texas Fall Nationals. This weekend they will try to run the team's Top Fuel winning streak to four straight at the Texas Motorplex as the younger Torrence continues to chase a fourth consecutive series title.
Looking Back:
Steve Torrence at the Fall Nationals
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2008 Dallas 7. Lost to Antron Brown
2009 Dallas 9. Lost to Brandon Bernstein
2010 Dallas 7. Beat David Grubnic; lost to Tony Schumacher
2011 Dallas 13. Lost to Brandon Bernstein
2012 Dallas 7. Lost to Spencer Massey
2013 Dallas 4. Lost to Tony Schumacher
2014 Dallas 5. Beat Khalid alBalooshi; lost to Shawn Langdon
2015 Dallas 5. Beat Larry Dixon, Shawn Langdon, Clay Millican; lost to Richie Crampton
2016 Dallas 7. Beat Clay Millican, Leah Pritchett, Shawn Langdon; lost Antron Brown
2017 Dallas 1. Beat Blake Alexander, Richie Crampton; lost to Brittany Force
2018 Dallas 2. Beat Bill Litton, Blake Alexander, Schumacher and Terry McMillen
2019 Dallas 4. Lost to Shawn Reed
2020 Dallas 1. Beat Cameron Ferre, bye, Shawn Langdon and Billy Torrence
Steve’s quickest time: 3.662 seconds, Oct. 17, 2020
Steve’s fastest speed: 329.18 mph, Oct. 18, 2019
Track records – 3.651 seconds by Brittany Force, Oct. 19, 2019; 334.07 mph by Austin Prock, Oct. 20, 2019
Steve Torrence this season
March 14/Gainesville, FL 1. Beat Joe Morrison; lost to Josh Hart.
April 18/Las Vegas, NV 2. Four-Wide WINNER over Doug Kalitta, Clay Millican and Antron Brown
May 2/Atlanta, GA 2. Beat Buddy Hull, Justin Ashley, Shawn Langdon; lost to Antron Brown
May 16/Charlotte, NC 2. Four-Wide WINNER over Brittany Force, Antron Brown and Josh Hart
May 23/Houston, TX 1. Beat Mitch King, bye, beat Clay Millican and Doug Kalitta.
June 13/Epping, N.H. 4. Beat Clay Millican, Leah Pruett; lost to Mike Salinas
June 27/Norwalk, OH 1. Beat Shawn Langdon, Leah Pruett, Austin Prock and Brittany Force
July 18/Denver, CO 2. Beat Rob Passey, bye, Mike Salinas and Joey Haas.
July 25/Sonoma, CA 2. Beat Cameron Ferre, Doug Kalitta, Antron Brown and Leah Pruett
Aug. 1/Pomona, CA 4. Lost to Antron Brown.
Aug. 15/Topeka, KS 4. Beat Leah Pruett, Justin Ashley; lost to Brittany Force
Aug. 22/Brainerd, MN 2. Beat Terry Totten, Justin Ashley, bye and Clay Millican
Sept. 5/Indianapolis, IN 2. Beat Antron Brown, Greg Carrillo, Billy Torrence and Brittany Force
Sept. 12/Reading, PA 2. Beat Joe Morrison, bye; lost to Justin Ashley.
Sept. 19/Charlotte, NC 5. Beat Doug Kalitta, Billy Torrence; lost to Brittany Force
Sept. 26 at St. Louis 3. Beat Shawn Langdon, Antron Brown, Josh Hart and Mike Salinas
Looking Ahead:
2021 NHRA Camping World Tour Countdown to the Championship
10-17 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, TN
10-31 Dodge SRT Nationals Las Vegas, NV
11-14 Auto Club Finals Pomona, CA
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points
(After three of seven events in the Countdown to the Championship)
TOP FUEL
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
