TORRENCE TRIES TO EXTEND WIN STREAK
Team Capco Aims for Fourth Straight Top Fuel Title in NHRA Arizona Nationals
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Already off to a solid start, Steve Torrence’s “Drive for Five” tour should gain momentum this week with the 37th running of the NHRA Arizona Nationals, an event in which the Texan’s Capco Contractors team has celebrated a Top Fuel victory in each of its last three appearances at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
Nevertheless, extending that streak will be no easy task, not with an expanded field of hungry challengers and certainly not in the absence of the four-time champion’s familiar wing man, dad Billy, the 2019 Phoenix winner who won’t make his first 2022 appearance until the Camping World tour moves east to Gainesville, Fla. for next month’s 53rd annual Amalie Gatornationals.
Steve at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park
Total appearances: 11
Final rounds: 2
Tour victories: 2 (2018 and 2020)
No. 1 qualifier: 0
Won-Lost record: 16-8
Quickest time: 3.655 seconds, Feb. 23, 2018
Fastest speed: 331.45 mph, Feb. 23, 2018
Track records – 3.643 seconds by Brittany Force, Feb. 23, 2020; 337.92 mph by Brittany Force, Feb. 23, 2020.
To do so, the 51-time tour winner will have to fend off not only Brittany Force, who was second in points last year and who was the last driver other than Torrence to win the championship (2017), but also recent Rookie-of-the-Year designates Justin Ashley (2020) and Austin Prock (2019).
Those are the three drivers behind whom he will start Sunday’s eliminations, but they are not the only drivers who pose a threat to his impressive current reign as only the seventh to win as many as four straight NHRA championships.
“Off the top of my head, I could name 11 Top Fuel teams right now who easily could win this race other than us,” Torrence said. “There’s definitely guys coming after us. But that’s what makes it fun. It’s all about the competition.”
In addition to the aforementioned threesome, Torrence identified perennial bridesmaid Doug Kalitta, six-time former series champion Tony Schumacher, three-time former world champ Antron Brown, 2013 series champion Shawn Langdon, two-time Phoenix winner Leah Pruett, second year pro Josh Hart (a two-time winner in his rookie year), veteran Mike Salinas and six-time IHRA champ Clay Millican as the principal threats to his bid to become just the fourth in NHRA history with five straight pro titles.
Nevertheless, as the only driver to have swept the NHRA playoffs in any category (six wins in six starts to claim his first title in 2018), Torrence believes his own team is equal to whatever challenge it may face, a view supported by recent history.
With Richard Hogan, Bobby Lagana Jr. and a veteran crew of “Capco Boys” putting a car beneath him that has redefined consistency in an 11,000-horsepower race car, Torrence has won 81.5 percent of his Top Fuel matches since the start of the 2017 season (265-60) and last year enjoyed one of the most productive pro seasons in the sport’s history when he posted a 60-9 record.
“No matter how many races I wind up winning,” Torrence said, “it won’t be because of anything I’ve done. The Capco Boys do the work and I’m just the guy who’s lucky enough to drive the best race car out there.”
Despite his protestations, statistics would suggest that Torrence might be a little bit more than just a passenger in the Red Line Oil-protected Capco Contractors Toyota. Although he has won 46 of the last 104 races in which he has appeared, the 38-year-old cancer survivor won only seven of those races from the No. 1 starting position. By contrast, during his six-year dominance, Schumacher earned 18 of his 50 wins from the drag racing equivalent of the pole position.
Arizona Nationals qualifying begins with a single nitro session at p.m., Texas time, on Friday followed by sessions at 2:30 and 4:30 on Saturday. Sunday eliminations begin at 12 noon, Texas time. Television coverage on FS1 will include qualifying highlight shows at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Texas time, on Saturday and final eliminations from 6 until 9 p.m., Texas time, on Sunday.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships. Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more than a quarter of the company’s 2021 North American sales were electrified.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
Looking Back
Steve Torrence at the Arizona Nationals
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2010 Phoenix 8. Beat Terry McMillen, Tony Schumacher; lost to Cory McClenathan
2011 Phoenix 13. Beat Troy Buff, Brandon Bernstein; lost to Larry Dixon
2012 Phoenix 3. Beat Brandon Bernstein; lost to Clay Millican
2013 Phoenix DNQ
2014 Phoenix 3. Beat Troy Buff, Spencer Massey; lost to Brittany Force
2015 Phoenix 7. Lost to Brittany Force
2016 Phoenix 3. Lost to Terry McMillen
2017 Phoenix 4. Beat Steve Faria; lost to Shawn Reed
2018 Phoenix 2. Beat Steve Chrisman, Blake Alexander, Billy Torrence and Scott Palmer
2019 Phoenix *14. Lost to Antron Brown
2020 Phoenix 2. Beat Jim Maroney, Shawn Langdon, Billly Torrence and Doug Kalitta
2021 Phoenix Event Not Contested
*Event won by Capco Contractors teammate Billy Torrence
Steve Torrence This Season
2022 Pomona1 6. Beat Doug Foley, Mike Salinas; lost to Justin Ashley
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points
(After the first of 16 races leading into the Countdown to the Championship)
TOP FUEL
1. Justin Ashley, Farmingdale, N.Y., Phillips Connect/Vita C dragster 124
2. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 96
3. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., FLAV-R-PAC/Monster Energy dragster 82
4. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 74
5. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 61
6. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools/Lucas Oil dragster 53
Tony Schumacbher, Lakeway, Texas, Maynard Family/SCAG/Okuma dragster 53
8. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers/Technet dragster 52
9. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools/Toyota dragster 34
10. Leah Pruett, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Dodge Power Brokers dragster 33
Shawn Langdon, Danville, Ind., DHL/CMR Roofing/Toyota dragster 33
NHRA Pro Series
*Best single season winning percentages (nine or more starts)
Driver/Category Season Record Pct.
Don Prudhomme, Funny Car 1976 30-1 96.8%
Bill Jenkins, Pro Stock 1972 28-1 96.5%
Ronnie Sox, Pro Stock 1971 32-2 94.1%
Bob Glidden, Pro Stock 1978 32-2 94.1%
Don Prudhomme, Funny Car 1975 26-2 92.8%
Bob Glidden, Pro Stock 1979 33-3 91.7%
John Force, Funny Car 1996 65-6 91.5%
Greg Anderson, Pro Stock 2004 76-8 90.4%
Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel 2008 76-9 89.4%
Darrell Alderman, Pro Stock 1991 59-7 89.3%
John Force, Funny Car 1993 56-7 88.8%
Lee Shepherd, Pro Stock 1980 31-4 88.5%
Ed McCulloch, Funny Car 1972 23-3 88.4%
Don Garlits, Top Fuel 1975 21-3 87.5%
Bob Glidden, Pro Stock 1987 42-6 87.5%
Steve Torrence, Top Fuel 2021 60-9 86.9%
Wally Booth, Pro Stock 1976 20-3 86.9%
Kenny Bernstein, Funny Car 1985 38-6 86.3%
John Force, Funny Car 1994 50-8 86.2%
Lee Shepherd, Pro Stock 1981 31-5 86.1%
*developed with the assistance of the guru of drag racing statistics, Bob Frey
*Best single season winning percentages (nine or more starts)
Driver/Category Season Record Pct.
Don Prudhomme, Funny Car 1976 30-1 96.8%
Bill Jenkins, Pro Stock 1972 28-1 96.5%
Ronnie Sox, Pro Stock 1971 32-2 94.1%
Bob Glidden, Pro Stock 1978 32-2 94.1%
Don Prudhomme, Funny Car 1975 26-2 92.8%
Bob Glidden, Pro Stock 1979 33-3 91.7%
John Force, Funny Car 1996 65-6 91.5%
Greg Anderson, Pro Stock 2004 76-8 90.4%
Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel 2008 76-9 89.4%
Darrell Alderman, Pro Stock 1991 59-7 89.3%
John Force, Funny Car 1993 56-7 88.8%
Lee Shepherd, Pro Stock 1980 31-4 88.5%
Ed McCulloch, Funny Car 1972 23-3 88.4%
Don Garlits, Top Fuel 1975 21-3 87.5%
Bob Glidden, Pro Stock 1987 42-6 87.5%
Steve Torrence, Top Fuel 2021 60-9 86.9%
Wally Booth, Pro Stock 1976 20-3 86.9%
Kenny Bernstein, Funny Car 1985 38-6 86.3%
John Force, Funny Car 1994 50-8 86.2%
Lee Shepherd, Pro Stock 1981 31-5 86.1%
*developed with the assistance of the guru of drag racing statistics, Bob Frey
Looking Ahead
2022 NHRA Camping World Tour
3-13 Amalie Oil Gatornationals Gainesville, FL
4-3 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Las Vegas, NV
4-24 NHRA Spring Nationals Houston, TX
5-1 NHRA 4Wide Nationals Charlotte, NC
5-15 NHRA Virginia Nationals Richmond, VA
6-5 NHRA New England Nationals Epping, NH
6-19 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, TN
6-26 Summit Racing Equipment Nationals Norwalk, OH
7-17 Dodge Mile-High Nationals Denver, CO
7-24 NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, CA
7-31 FLAV-R-PAC Nationals Seattle, WA
8-14 Menard’s Nationals Topeka, KS
8-21 Lucas Oil Nationals Brainerd, MN
9-5 Dodge U.S. Nationals Indianapolis, IN
Countdown to the Championship
9-18 Pep Boy Nationals Reading, PA
9-25 NHRA Carolina Nationals Charlotte, NC
10-2 NHRA Midwest Nationals St. Louis, MO
10-16 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Dallas, TX
10-30 Dodge Nationals Las Vegas, NV
11-13 Auto Club Finals Pomona, CA
2022 NHRA Camping World Tour
3-13 Amalie Oil Gatornationals Gainesville, FL
4-3 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Las Vegas, NV
4-24 NHRA Spring Nationals Houston, TX
5-1 NHRA 4Wide Nationals Charlotte, NC
5-15 NHRA Virginia Nationals Richmond, VA
6-5 NHRA New England Nationals Epping, NH
6-19 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, TN
6-26 Summit Racing Equipment Nationals Norwalk, OH
7-17 Dodge Mile-High Nationals Denver, CO
7-24 NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, CA
7-31 FLAV-R-PAC Nationals Seattle, WA
8-14 Menard’s Nationals Topeka, KS
8-21 Lucas Oil Nationals Brainerd, MN
9-5 Dodge U.S. Nationals Indianapolis, IN
Countdown to the Championship
9-18 Pep Boy Nationals Reading, PA
9-25 NHRA Carolina Nationals Charlotte, NC
10-2 NHRA Midwest Nationals St. Louis, MO
10-16 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Dallas, TX
10-30 Dodge Nationals Las Vegas, NV
11-13 Auto Club Finals Pomona, CA
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.
