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

 

TORRENCE WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AT HOUSTON
Texan Among Top Fuel Favorites in 27th O’Reilly Spring Nationals

            April 23, 2014 -- Fueled by a spike in support from one particular segment of the student population at his alma mater, Texan Steve Torrence sends the Capco Contractors dragster after the Top Fuel championship this week in the first of two NHRA Mello Yello tour events contested in his home state.

            When the 31-year-old graduate of Kilgore College rolls to the line for Friday’s initial qualifying session in the 27th annual O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Royal Purple Raceway, he will do so with the avid backing of several members of the nationally-acclaimed Kilgore Rangerettes drill team for whom he provided a private lesson in drag racing basics on Tuesday.

            While an actual “home field advantage” in drag racing probably doesn’t exist, Torrence admits that it doesn’t hurt to have a little added incentive, especially when it is sharing a winners’ circle with a troupe of attractive young women. 

           Rangerettes “It was a fun deal,” Torrence said of the function he hosted in Kilgore, “but now it’s back to business.  We had a pretty good streak going until Charlotte (four consecutive semifinal appearances to start the season) and we need to get back to that level of performance this week.”

            A four-time NHRA tour winner in Top Fuel and the 2005 World Champion in Top Alcohol, Torrence is off to the best start of his pro career.  He rolls into the season’s sixth race third in points behind only current leader Doug Kalitta and 2012 champion Antron Brown.

            Nevertheless, he has yet to race for a title this year. 

           “That third round has been a problem for us for sure,” he said, “but as long as we keep putting ourselves in that position, they’re going to have to deal with us (in the race to the championship).”

           Although he never has won at Royal Purple Raceway, Torrence has run well enough to do so.  Former World Champ Larry Dixon is listed officially as the track record holder at the 1,000 foot distance at 3.772 seconds but Torrence actually equaled that time in 2012, losing the No. 1 qualifying position on the top speed tie-breaker before taking his car to the semifinals.

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