TORRENCE TRIES TO BUILD ON POINT LEAD
Four-Time Champ After Third Victory in NHRA New England Nationals
EPPING, N.H. – In the 49 years that the NHRA has crowned its series champions based on accumulative points, only two pro drivers have claimed titles without winning a single tour event.
Rob Bruins earned the 1979 Top Fuel championship on the strength of runner-up finishes in three of 10 events while Eddie Krawiec rode four final round appearances to the 2008 Pro Stock Motorcycle title.
Team CAPCO at the New England Nationals
STEVE TORRENCE
Total appearances: 9
Final rounds: 3
Victories: 2 (2018, 2019)
No. 1 qualifier: 1 (2022)
Won-Lost record: 14-7
Noteworthy: Steve is the track record holder at 3.664 seconds, a mark he established in qualifying No. 1 a year ago.
Quickest time: 3.664 seconds, June 3, 2022
Fastest speed: 331.20 mph, June 4, 2017
Track records – 3.664 seconds by Steve Torrence, June 3, 2022; 334.90 mph by Brittany Force, June 4, 2022.
STEVE TORRENCE
Total appearances: 9
Final rounds: 3
Victories: 2 (2018, 2019)
No. 1 qualifier: 1 (2022)
Won-Lost record: 14-7
Noteworthy: Steve is the track record holder at 3.664 seconds, a mark he established in qualifying No. 1 a year ago.
Quickest time: 3.664 seconds, June 3, 2022
Fastest speed: 331.20 mph, June 4, 2017
Track records – 3.664 seconds by Steve Torrence, June 3, 2022; 334.90 mph by Brittany Force, June 4, 2022.
Steve Torrence has no intention of joining that fraternity but, entering this week’s 10th NHRA New England Nationals, seventh race on this year’s Camping World tour, the four-time champ has proven that even in this highly-competitive era, such an achievement still might be possible.
Although he is winless on the season, the 40-year-old Texan has led the Top Fuel point standings after all but one race this year with a display of consistency that has made his CAPCO Contractors team the standard by which all others are measured.
As a result, when racing commences with qualifying Friday at New England Dragway, the 53-time tour winner will be among the Top Fuel favorites in an event he won back-to-back in 2018 and 2019. Significantly, even though he hasn’t hoisted a winner’s trophy in eight months, Torrence believes he and his team are very close.
“Even though they’ve shut us out of the winners’ circle so far, these bad-to-the-bone CAPCO boys have kept us in the hunt,” said the only driver to have won NHRA series titles in both the Top Alcohol (2005) and Top Fuel divisions.
“We know how to win, but it’s a lot harder with so many good teams out there,” he said. “We just have to keep going rounds and putting ourselves in position and eventually, everything’ will come together. I have all the faith in the world in these CAPCO boys.”
Although he was upended by little known rookie Scott Farley in last year’s first round, Torrence returns to New England’s premier drag racing venue with a lot of confidence.
Photos by Mark Rebilas
Left photo: Four-time world champ Steve Torrence signing autographs at Toyota driver function. Torrence will drive his Top Fuel Toyota in pursuit of his first win of the season this week at Epping, N.H.
Right photo: Two-time New England Nationals Top Fuel champ Steve Torrence will get support from daughter Haven Charli this week when he drives the CAPCO Contractors Top Fuel Toyota in the 10th NHRA New England Nationals at Epping, N.H.
The CAPCO boys readying their Top Fuel Toyota for driver Steve Torrence earlier this year at Charlotte, N.C. They’ll be back in action this weekend in the 10th NHRA New England Nationals at Epping, N.H.
He is, after all, the track record holder at 3.664 seconds, a mark he established in qualifying No. 1 a year ago. Furthermore, in addition to his victories, a currently inactive Billy Torrence won in his only appearance in the New England Nationals in 2021, giving Team Capco three wins in the last four races contested on the all-concrete surface.
Qualifying begins with a single nitro session at 5 p.m., Texas time, on Friday. Qualifying continues Saturday with nitro sessions at 1 and 4:30 p.m., Texas time. Eliminations begin at 10 a.m., Texas time, on Sunday.
On TV (subject to change)
Qualifying highlights from 7:30-9 pm, ET, Friday on FS1. Final qualifying, 9-10 pm, ET, Saturday, FS1.
First round eliminations, 12:30 pm, ET, Sunday, FS1.
Final eliminations 7-9 pm, ET, Sunday on FS1
Looking Back
Steve Torrence at the New England Nationals
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2013 Epping 8. Lost to Clay Millican
2014 Epping 9. Lost to Tony Schumacher
2015 Epping 4. Lost to Dave Connolly
2016 Epping 2. Beat Smax Smith, bye, Doug Kalitta; lost to Antron Brown
2017 Epping 8. Beat Doug Kalitta; lost to Leah Pritchett
2018 Epping 3. Beat Dan Mercier, Shawn Reed, Tony Schumacher and Antron Brown
2019 Epping 9. Beat Austin Prock, Terry McMillen, Richie Crampton and Scott Palmer
2020 Epping Event Not Contested
2021 Epping 4. Beat Clay Millican, Leah Pruett; lost to Mike Salinas
2022 Epping 1. Lost to Scott Farley
Steve Torrence’s 2023 results
Event Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2023 Gainesville 2. Beat Scott Palmer, Tony Schumacher, Doug Kalitta; lost to Mike Salinas
2023 Phoenix 6. Beat Krista Baldwin, Austin Prock; lost to Justin Ashley
2023 Pomona1 6. Beat Josh Hart; lost to Austin Prock
2023 Las Vegas1 2. Runner-Up to Antron Brown (Brittany Force, Josh Hart)
2023 Charlotte1 4. Lost in final quad to Austin Prock, Leah Pruett, Josh Hart.
2023 Chicago 8. Lost to Leah Pruett
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR
Championship Points
(After six of 15 races setting the lineup for the Countdown to the Championship)
TOP FUEL
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, CAPCO Contractors dragster 437
2. Brittany Force, Aberdeen, N.C., Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac dragster 420
3. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 410
4. Justin Ashley, Farmingdale, N.Y., Phillips Connect dragster 406
5. Leah Pruett, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Dodge Direct Connection dragster 403
6. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 340
7. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 345
8. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers dragster 342
9. Shawn Langdon, Danville, Ind., CMR Roofing/Toyota dragster 296
10. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., MAC Tools/Toyota dragster 293
11. Clay Mllican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 273
12. Tony Schumacher, Lakeway, Texas, SCAG Power Equipment dragster 213
Looking Ahead
2023 NHRA Camping World Tour Steve-O’s Highlights
6-11 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, TN 2013 winner: r-u in 2019, 2021
6-25 Summit Racing Equipment Nationals Norwalk, OH 2017, 2019, 2021 winner
7-16 Dodge Mile-High Nationals Denver, CO 2015, 2019 and 2021 winner
7-23 FLAV-R-PAC Nationals Seattle, WA 2012 winner; 2019 runner-up
7-30 DENSO Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, CA 2017 and 2021 winner
8-13 Menard’s Nationals Topeka, KS 2019 winner; 2022 runner-up
8-20 Lucas Oil Nationals Brainerd, MN Won the last two years
9-4 Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals Indianapolis, IN 2017 and 2021 winner
Countdown to the Championship
9-17 Pep Boys Nationals Reading, PA 2018 winner
9-24 NHRA Carolina Nationals Charlotte, NC 2018, 2019 winner
10-1 NHRA Midwest Nationals St. Louis, MO 6 straight final rounds; wins in
2017, 2018, 2021, 2022
10-15 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Dallas, TX 2018, 2020 winner
10-29 NHRA Nevada Nationals Las Vegas, NV 2016, 2018, 2021 winner
11-12 In-N-Out World Finals Pomona, CA 2018, 2021 winner
Qualifying highlights from 7:30-9 pm, ET, Friday on FS1. Final qualifying, 9-10 pm, ET, Saturday, FS1.
First round eliminations, 12:30 pm, ET, Sunday, FS1.
Final eliminations 7-9 pm, ET, Sunday on FS1
Looking Back
Steve Torrence at the New England Nationals
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2013 Epping 8. Lost to Clay Millican
2014 Epping 9. Lost to Tony Schumacher
2015 Epping 4. Lost to Dave Connolly
2016 Epping 2. Beat Smax Smith, bye, Doug Kalitta; lost to Antron Brown
2017 Epping 8. Beat Doug Kalitta; lost to Leah Pritchett
2018 Epping 3. Beat Dan Mercier, Shawn Reed, Tony Schumacher and Antron Brown
2019 Epping 9. Beat Austin Prock, Terry McMillen, Richie Crampton and Scott Palmer
2020 Epping Event Not Contested
2021 Epping 4. Beat Clay Millican, Leah Pruett; lost to Mike Salinas
2022 Epping 1. Lost to Scott Farley
Steve Torrence’s 2023 results
Event Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2023 Gainesville 2. Beat Scott Palmer, Tony Schumacher, Doug Kalitta; lost to Mike Salinas
2023 Phoenix 6. Beat Krista Baldwin, Austin Prock; lost to Justin Ashley
2023 Pomona1 6. Beat Josh Hart; lost to Austin Prock
2023 Las Vegas1 2. Runner-Up to Antron Brown (Brittany Force, Josh Hart)
2023 Charlotte1 4. Lost in final quad to Austin Prock, Leah Pruett, Josh Hart.
2023 Chicago 8. Lost to Leah Pruett
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR
Championship Points
(After six of 15 races setting the lineup for the Countdown to the Championship)
TOP FUEL
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, CAPCO Contractors dragster 437
2. Brittany Force, Aberdeen, N.C., Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac dragster 420
3. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 410
4. Justin Ashley, Farmingdale, N.Y., Phillips Connect dragster 406
5. Leah Pruett, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Dodge Direct Connection dragster 403
6. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 340
7. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 345
8. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers dragster 342
9. Shawn Langdon, Danville, Ind., CMR Roofing/Toyota dragster 296
10. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., MAC Tools/Toyota dragster 293
11. Clay Mllican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 273
12. Tony Schumacher, Lakeway, Texas, SCAG Power Equipment dragster 213
Looking Ahead
2023 NHRA Camping World Tour Steve-O’s Highlights
6-11 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, TN 2013 winner: r-u in 2019, 2021
6-25 Summit Racing Equipment Nationals Norwalk, OH 2017, 2019, 2021 winner
7-16 Dodge Mile-High Nationals Denver, CO 2015, 2019 and 2021 winner
7-23 FLAV-R-PAC Nationals Seattle, WA 2012 winner; 2019 runner-up
7-30 DENSO Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, CA 2017 and 2021 winner
8-13 Menard’s Nationals Topeka, KS 2019 winner; 2022 runner-up
8-20 Lucas Oil Nationals Brainerd, MN Won the last two years
9-4 Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals Indianapolis, IN 2017 and 2021 winner
Countdown to the Championship
9-17 Pep Boys Nationals Reading, PA 2018 winner
9-24 NHRA Carolina Nationals Charlotte, NC 2018, 2019 winner
10-1 NHRA Midwest Nationals St. Louis, MO 6 straight final rounds; wins in
2017, 2018, 2021, 2022
10-15 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Dallas, TX 2018, 2020 winner
10-29 NHRA Nevada Nationals Las Vegas, NV 2016, 2018, 2021 winner
11-12 In-N-Out World Finals Pomona, CA 2018, 2021 winner
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America (more than 39,000 of them in the U.S.). Over the past 65 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 45 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, the company’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.4 million cars and trucks (more than 2.1 million in the U.S.) in 2022, of which, nearly one quarter were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).
About CAPCO Contractors Inc.
Capco Contractors, Inc. is a family owned-and-operated construction company specializing in the oil and gas industries. A proud American company based in Texas with clients around the world, Capco was founded in 1995 by Billy Torrence and initially operated from a small office and one job-site trailer with a staff of only 12 employees. From those humble beginnings, Capco Contactors, Inc. has developed into a full-service pipeline company, capable of all aspects of pipeline work including site work, creation of compressor stations, mainline pipeline construction and pipeline integrity projects. It employs more than 200 people with main offices in Henderson, Texas.
