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TORRENCE STARTS POMONA FROM NO. 1
Four-Time Champion Sends Capco Contractors Dragster After First 2023 Win

March 29, 2023 -- Although he and his team still are working through weaknesses exposed by a more powerful engine combination, Steve Torrence starts this week’s 63rd annual Lucas Oil Winternationals at Pomona Raceway from atop the Camping World point standings, a position with which he is exceedingly familiar.

At the wheel of a CAPCO Contractors dragster in which he once swept all the races in the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship (2018), the talented Texan has occupied the No. 1 position after more than 60 percent of the races contested over the last seven seasons (77 of 128).

Nevertheless, his latest ascension to No. 1 is something of an anomaly considering he is winless on the year and that, just last week, he rode out one of the biggest engine explosions of his pro career, one that ended his bid for a 54th tour victory in the semifinals of the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Phoenix.

“We’re making more power than we ever have,” Torrence said after Phoenix, “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.”

Despite a five-year domination of Top Fuel that included 43 wins and four consecutive championships, Torrence and his crew chiefs, Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana Jr., opted for big changes last season in response to the performance gains made by rival Brittany Force.

Fourteen months later, while there still is work to be done, they are pleased with their progress and, despite some unanticipated glitches, Torrence remains confident of his team’s ability to compete for the championship even on what Lagana has characterized as the most competitive stage in Top Fuel history.

Evidence of that perceived parity in the sport’s signature category is the fact that 13 of the drivers racing this weekend have won multiple times on the Camping World tour and five are past World Champions (Torrence, Force, Shawn Langdon, Antron Brown and Tony Schumacher). 

“There are no freebies out there,” Torrence said.  “Whoever you roll up against can take you out on any given day, but I still like where I’m sitting.  My guys are the best and if I can do my job, we’re gonna be around at the end.”

Qualifying begins with a single nitro session at 5:30 p.m., Texas time, on Friday.  Saturday’s schedule will feature the second Mission Foods 2Fast/2 Tasty Challenge with Torrence and the CAPCO Boys squaring off against Justin Ashley and the Phillips Connect team in one semifinal and Leah Pruett opposing Shawn Langdon in the other starting at 2:50 p.m., Texas time.  Final nitro qualifying runs begin at 5:30 p.m., Texas time, with the final round of 2Fast/2Tasty at the conclusion of that session. 

Racing in the Mission Challenge for the second straight week, Torrence will be trying to earn his first bonus points.



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