Torrence Aims to 'Go Big' at 'The Big Go'

On drag racing’s biggest stage, site of the sport’s most prestigious event, few drivers have enjoyed more spotlight moments than Steve Torrence, the 41-year-old four-time World Champion who aims to add to his resume this week when he sends his CAPCO Contractors dragster after the Top Fuel championship in the 70th annual Toyota U.S. Nationals.

Runner-up last year in the event characterized by most hard-core racers as “The Big Go,” Torrence is accustomed to success at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park where he has raced for the U.S. Nationals Top Fuel title six times in the last 12 years while compiling a 26-12 record.

However, the Texan’s Indy success extends beyond his pro career. In fact, the first time he raced at IRP, he won the 2005 U.S. Nationals in the Top Alcohol Dragster category, a victory that propelled him to a Lucas Oil Series championship and fueled his growing need for speed.

A member of drag racing’s 500 Club, reserved for pro drivers who have won at least that many competitive rounds, Torrence has celebrated six wins at IRP where, in addition to three U.S. Nationals titles, he won the final TRAXXAS Nitro Shootout in 2017, the Dodge Indy Nationals contested during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season and the first Pep Boys All-Star Call-Out in 2022.

And, while he welcomes Toyota’s sponsorship of the sport’s biggest race, Torrence insists that it’s not a big source of motivation for him and his CAPCO boys.

“Listen, anybody out here who’s driving a Toyota wants to win the Toyota U.S. Nationals, us included,” he said, “but you shouldn’t need any help getting fired up about this race. It’s the only one that’s a career-maker or a career-breaker. You can win everything else out there, you can win championships, you can set records but, if you don’t win Indy, it’s not gonna feel complete.”

Although he hadn’t qualified No. 1 at the U.S. Nationals until last year, the 55-time tour winner has started 10 of the last 11 renewals of drag racing’s most prestigious event from one of the top three positions.

“Everybody who’s anybody shows up at Indy,” Torrence said. “You take your best shot and everybody gives you theirs and when you’re the last one standing, you know you’ve really done something. No better feeling and once you have it, you want to have it again.”

While the younger Torrence has enjoyed multiple victories at the Nationals, dad Billy, driver of the second CAPCO Toyota, was denied by current point leader Doug Kalitta in his only trip to the final in 2019. However, like his son, he did win one of the COVID races in 2020.

Qualifying begins with a single nitro session at 7 p.m., Texas time, on Friday. Qualifying continues with sessions at 12 noon and 2:30 p.m., Texas time, Saturday and concludes with a pair of final opportunities at 1:20 and 4:35 p.m., Texas time, Sunday. Single elimination finals begin at 9 a.m. Monday.