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TORRENCE OUT IN SEMIS AT N.E. NATIONALS
Four-Time Champ Back at Bristol Dragway Sunday for Thunder Valley Nationals

June 11, 2023 -- Steve Torrence took care of one of the 20-somethings who’ve been making his bid for a fifth Top Fuel world championship increasingly difficult, but he couldn’t get by the other Saturday at Bristol Dragway in the conclusion to an NHRA New England Nationals event that began eight days ago and 860 miles away in Epping, N.H.

Although he rallied from a dismal qualifying performance to beat third generation pro Austin Prock in the first round, the 40-year-old Texan fell just short in a semifinal showdown with 28-year-old Justin Ashley, who went on to beat Tony Schumacher in the final.

That result knocked Torrence out of the point lead for just the second time this year. He’ll try to climb back to the top on Sunday, on the same track, when he starts the 22nd NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals from the No. 3 qualifying position.

After beating Prock in the opening round, Torrence powered his CAPCO Contractors Toyota past close friend, No. 1 qualifier and three-time former series champ Antron Brown to reach the semifinals for the fifth time in seven starts this year.

"Those two guys have been making us look bad the last couple years,” Torrence said of Prock and Ashley.  “They’re both great at the starting line.  They make you bring you’re a game.  I thought it might be our day after we got past Prock, but credit to Justin.  He did his job and we just didn’t have quite enough.  Hopefully, we’ll get another shot at him (Sunday).”

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