Reigning Champion Regains Point Lead as Countdown Moves to Texas

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Not even Mother Nature could slow down Steve Torrence at zMAX Dragway where the reigning NHRA Top Fuel Champion won for the fourth time in two years in Monday’s rain-delayed 12^th annual NTK Carolina Nationals.

Torrence and his Capco Contractors dragster showed no ill effects from a 24-hour delay in the start of final eliminations brought on by torrential rains that persisted throughout Sunday despite the best efforts of NHRA’s Safety Safari to maintain the integrity of the all-cconcrete racing surface.

In running his winning streak to 14-straight rounds and improving his record at zMAX over the last three years to 18-1, Torrence put just a sliver of distance between himself and veteran Doug Kalitta, whom he defeated in the final when he coupled a sensational .031 reaction time to a track time of 3.772 seconds.

The win was the ninth of the year for the 36-year-old Texan, his 20^th in the last two seasons and his 28^th over three years, all of them in Capco-backed dragsters tuned by Richard Hogan and prepared by a crew led by Bobby Lagana Jr.

When racing begins this Friday in the 34^th annual AAA Texas Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex, Torrence will lead Kalitta by 30 points.  He entered the Carolina Nationals two points behind but made up that difference with his fourth No. 1 qualifying effort of the season.  En route, he picked up eight qualifying bonus points, running his total for the season to a category leading 105.

Meanwhile, Billy Torrence, whom the media continues to characterize as the sport’s “best part-time pro,” moved from ninth to sixth in points despite a narrow second round loss Brittany Force.  He’ll start this week 150 points off his son’s lead.

“To race Doug Kalitta (in the final), that’s always special,” Torrence said. “That guy is a legend, the winningest guy to never win a championship.  I have a whole lot of respect for him. I really look up to him as a driver (because) he’s always consistent, whether his car’s running good or running bad.

“A few years ago, I’d a probably went up there and choked just thinking about who was in the other lane,” he admitted.  “I would have let that really affect me and get into my head, but with the success we’ve had, you build confidence in yourself, you trust in the team and the good Lord and you just go out and do the best you can.

“I knew we had a car that would run with them and if I did my job, we could be right with him on the Tree (the NHRA’s iconic Christmas Tree starting system).

“You just gotta kinda block out who that guy is (in the other lane) whether its Doug Kalitta or Tony Schumacher or Antron Brown, whoever.  You can’t let what or who is in the other lane influence you and that was what I was able to do (today even knowing you have) one of the best ever right there beside you.”

Despite another spectacular season, Torrence knows that there still is work to be done if he and his team are to lock up a second straight title.

“I think we need to win two more races to be pretty solid to win this thing again,” he said.  “The points-and-a-half at Pomona is really gonna make it interesting.  We’ve got some momentum, but we know that this is drag racing and you’re only as good as your last run.”

-www.torrenceracing.com-

2019 NHRA MELLO YELLO POINTS

TOP FUEL

(After the third of six races comprising the NHRA Countdown to the Championship) 

1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster               2356
2. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster               2326
3. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Advance Auto Parts dragster 2264
4. Leah Pritchett, Danville, Ind., Mopar Dodge dragster               2231
5. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster               2227
6. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster               2206     
7. Austin Prock, Indianapolis, Ind., Montana Brand dragster 2204
8. Richie Crampton, Brownsburg, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster                             2196
9. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster                             2194
10. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster                             2178

NEXT RACE: 

34^th annual AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals

Oct. 18-20, 2019

Texas Motorplex

Dallas, Texas

 CAPCO CONTRACTORS race summary:

12^th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals

Qualify – Steve Torrence, No. 1 at 3.711 seconds, 326.16 miles per hour.

Round 1 – S. Torrence, 3.741 seconds, 327.82 mph, def. Lex Joon, no time

Round 2 – S. Torrence, 3.742 seconds, 329.37 mph, def. Clay Millican, 4.170, 216.58 mph.

Semifinals – S. Torrence, 3.788 seconds, 324.12 mph, def. Justin Ashley, 4.088, 210.77 mph.

FINAL – Steve Torrence, 3.772 seconds, 323.19 mph, def. Doug Kalitta, 4.090, 274.27 mph.

Qualify – Billy Torrence, No 6 at 3.755 seconds, 325.92 miles per hour.

Round 2 – B. Torrence, 3.780 seconds, 327.03 mph, def. Pat Dakin, 14.784, 34.62 mph.

Round 2 – B. Torrence, 3.737 seconds, 326.48 mph, lost to Brittany Force, 3.747, 328.78 mph.