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TORRENCE RETAINS POINT LEAD
Four-Time Top Fuel World Champ Falls in Semis at NHRA Arizona Nationals

March 26, 2023 -- Steve Torrence had a blast Sunday in the final race at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.  Unfortunately, it was the literal and not the figurative kind, a massive engine explosion that ended his bid to put his CAPCO Contractors dragster in the Arizona Nationals winners’ circle for the third time in five years.

Despite the rare engine failure and a subsequent point deduction assessed by the NHRA, Torrence will move on to this week’s 63rd annual Lucas Oil Winternationals at Pomona, Calif., as the Top Fuel point leader, a position he has occupied with regularity over the last six seasons.

“We’re making more power than we ever have,” said the four-time former NHRA World Champion and 53-time tour winner, “and it looks like we found the next weakest link in the tune-up.  Glad to expose it this early in the season so we can address it.  These CAPCO boys are resilient.  They’ll get it sorted out.”

The No. 6 qualifier, Torrence took out Krista Baldwin in round one and handled Austin Prock in round two.

In the semifinalis, he was closing the gap between himself and No. 7 qualifier Justin Ashley when his car fireballed, slowing from a 331.85 mile-an-hour finish line speed in round two to just 305.84 mph.  Ashley won in 3.740 seconds.  Torrence was a couple ticks behind at 3.743.

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