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

 

STEVE TORRENCE GOES TO SEMIFINALS AT MILE-HIGH NATIONALS

ChutesJuly 22, 2012 -- Steve Torrence’s streak of final-round appearances ended at two Sunday when he lost to Antron Brown in the semifinals of the Mile-High Nationals, but it did provide an otherwise excellent start for the first-year team’s introduction to NHRA’s Western Swing. 

It is safe to say Torrence and the Torrence Racing/Capco Contractors Inc. crew will be pleased to drive out of this oxygen-starved altitude and get back to sea level conditions at Sonoma, Calif., site of the Sonoma Nationals, Friday through Sunday, the second of three Swing races.

“Overall, we had a very successful weekend, considering we didn’t have data we needed to prepare the tune-ups because we didn’t race here before,” said Torrence.  “But Richard (Hogan, crew chief) was able to collect good data off our qualifying runs on Saturday . . . and we had a good race car for Sunday.”

When it got down to competing, Torrence and Hogan were prepared.  Paired against Shawn Langdon in the opening round, Torrence outran his rival – traveling the 1000-foot track in 4.006 seconds at 300.53 to get the win over a 4.213 at 256.21.

Up next was Doug Kalitta, who brought a 4-0 record against Torrence to the line . . . and saw it end when the Capco driver pulled away and lit the win light, 4.016 at 292.52 to a 4.05 at 289.26.

With another final round at stake, Torrence and Brown left the line at virtually the same time, “but the engine dropped a cylinder at the hit (of the throttle) and Antron started pulling away, so I shut it off,” Torrence recalled.

Brown had a solid 3.991-second lap at 306.33 to a 4.404 at 250.78 and moved to the final round, where he defeated Spencer Massey.

“We enjoyed the race here, but it will be good to get back to conditions we are much more familiar with,” added Torrence. 

The Swing’s final stop is in Seattle, Aug. 3-5

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