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For Immediate Release
Contact: Dave Densmore, denswood@aol.com / 214-244-0008, mobile

 

TORRENCE HOPING PARTS, PLAN PAY OFF IN STRETCH RUN
Capco Contractors Top Fuel Driver Looks to Reverse Fortunes at Maple Grove

October 2, 2014 -- If Steve Torrence is going to win this year’s Mello Yello Championship and become the first driver ever to win NHRA titles in the Top Fuel and the Top Alcohol categories, he is going to first have to reverse his fortunes in the closing playoff races, beginning with this week’s 30th annual NHRA Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.

            Competing against the mega teams funded by Don Schumacher, Connie Kalitta and Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani, Torrence’s family-backed team has operated at a disadvantage down the stretch due to both physical and mechanical fatigue.

            Last year, the 31-year-old Texan, the 2005 NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion, won only one round in the Countdown and, at Reading, failed to get his Capco Contractors dragster into the 16-car lineup. 

            The year before, he won just two rounds in six playoff events.  Significantly, he has won just 26.3 percent of his rounds in the next three races (5-12) but has won 48.3 percent in all the other Mello Yello tour events. 

            Nevertheless, his 0-2 record at Maple Grove is not as daunting for the Kilgore College (Texas) graduate as one might imagine.

            That’s because it was specifically for these next three events that Torrence and crew chief Richard Hogan put back a supply of proven and pristine parts and pieces. 

            “We held back some of our inventory, especially clutch discs and stuff we know runs well, for the Countdown,” Torrence said, “because (a lack of inventory is what) burned us the last couple years.  We learned from it.  Hopefully it’ll pay off.”

            Racing in the most competitive Top Fuel Countdown in history, Torrence has been as high as No. 2 in points.  He starts the Keystone Nationals in the No. 4 position, 71 points off of seven-time champion Tony Schumacher’s lead.

            “We went to the semis last week and lost two spots,” Torrence marveled.  “That’s how tough it is out here, but for us to be racing with the big dogs for the big prize, that’s very gratifying for a family operation and a great to credit to Hogan and all my guys. 

            “They’ve worked their tails off this year,” the avid outdoorsman said of his crew members, “and, so far, there hasn’t been much to show for it.  We’re gonna try to change that this week, though.”

            Indeed, Torrence is the only Top Fuel contender who has not won a race this season which makes his current standing all the more impressive. 

            Not that he hasn’t had his moments.  He reached the final round of the sport’s biggest race, the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, for the second consecutive year and has earned more qualifying bonus points this year than anyone but Doug Kalitta, the regular-season champion.

            He’s qualified No. 1, been quickest on race day, posted top speed of the meet three times and taken his Capco hybrid to the semifinals or beyond in nine of 21 events; twice in three Countdown starts (Charlotte and St. Louis).

            “We just need to close one of these deals,” Torrence said. 

 

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