Sport’s Best Part-Time Pro Wins Season’s Second Father-Son Showdown

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – After an unexpected first round exit at the opening event in the Countdown to the Championship, Steve Torrence put his bid for a second straight Mello Yello Top Fuel title back on track Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway even though he was upstaged by his dad, Billy, in the final round of the AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals

Billy Torrence, right, beat son Steve in an all-Capco Contractors final round Sunday at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at St. Louis.

In just the third father-son final in NHRA Top Fuel history, Billy Torrence, considered by most to be the sport’s top part-time professional, beat his son and, in so doing, kept the reigning champion from regaining the point lead that has belonged to him and his Capco Contractors team for most of the last three seasons.

When the playoffs resume in two weeks at the 12^th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals at Charlotte, N.C., Steve Torrence will trail Doug Kalitta by a scant two points.  His dad, meanwhile, moved up from tenth to ninth as a first time Countdown qualifier.