Torrence Out Early in Pomona

Four-time World Champion Steve Torrence couldn’t capitalize on a strong qualifying performance at the wheel of his CAPCO Contractors Top Fuel Toyota and was upset in the first round of Sunday’s 65th annual Lucas Oil Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

A 55-time winner on the Mission Foods tour, the 41-year-old Texan earned three qualifying bonus points on the way to claiming the No. 4 starting position with a solid 3.665 at a career best finish line speed of 337.50 miles per hour.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t duplicate those numbers in Sunday’s first round match with Jasmine Salinas, losing on a rare foul start.

The former Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion (2005) also failed to advance in the Right Trailers All-Star Callout on Friday.  The unique Top Fuel bonus race was to have been run earlier this month in Florida, but weather problems forced its postponement and relocation after Torrence had “called out” Tony Stewart as his first-round opponent.

In their rescheduled duel, Stewart was just a tick better, winning the round with a time of 3.714 seconds at 329.75 mph.  Torrence trailed at 3.727, 330.88 mph.