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For Immediate Release
Contact: Joe Sherk, jlsherk@aol.com/360-981-4806, mobile

 

ENGINE WOES SEND TORRENCE TO THE SIDELINES IN TOPEKA

May 20, 2012 -- Steve Torrence’s string of good performances came to a flaming halt on Sunday in the second round of the Summernationals at Heartland Park Topeka.

An engine explosion triggered a fire and Torrence took a brief, wild ride sideways before he could get it stopped.  David Grubnic drove to the easy win. 

“It was going good until it quit,” quipped Torrence.  “I felt the tires lose traction and the then the motor let go. There were a lot of flames.  I was just driving it.  It’s too bad that it happened.”

Crew chief Richard Hogan said a broken connecting rod was the part likely responsible for the malfunction.

Torrence did begin the day with a win over Hillary Will, 3.776 seconds at 326.79 mph to 3.932 at 298.27.

“All in all, it was still a pretty good weekend,” he said.  “The car ran well in the first round – it was third-quickest – and we continued to qualify well.  We will be ready for the next race at English Town (N.J., June 1-3).

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