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For Immediate Release
Contact: Joe Sherk, jlsherk@aol.com/360-981-4806, mobile

 

STEVE TORRENCE WINS FIRST TOP FUEL RACE IN FIRST FINAL ROUND

May 6, 2012 -- “Our time to win a Top Fuel race will come,” Steve Torrence said Saturday night, “when the circumstances are right.”

Well, he didn’t wait long to find the perfect circumstances because on Sunday afternoon he defeated seven-time NHRA champion Tony Schumacher in the final round of the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.

It was a remarkable first victory for Torrence and the Torrence Racing/Capco Contractors Inc. team and came in only its 10th professional race and seventh of the season.  There was no surprise, either, because their performances have been improving at each race.

“This was one unbelievable weekend,” Torrence said.  “Richard Hogan (crew chief), Bryan Shipman and everyone on this whole team worked their tails off.  It was hot and the track was hot – but it was good.  It was a tricky situation and my guys prevailed and we got that win for Capco and Torrence Racing.  I could not be happier.”

“I never in my wildest dreams would have expected to be here as a family-owned, one-car team and come out here and run the way we are. 

Torrence was the number two qualifier – not far behind Schumacher – after his most consistent qualifying showing and Hogan followed it with another superb tuning effort.  He was right on in the finale.  Torrence’s 3.893 at 320.66 mph were more than enough because Schumacher’s car spun the tires and slowed to a 4.913 at 169.44.

“We set out this year to be competitive, be able to run well and do the best we possibly could,” commented Torrence.”   We brought the car out for three races last year and it ran fairly well.  And then we came out this year and ran well and we felt we had a competitive car.”

He was on his game at the starting line.  In the opening round, he left the first and stayed in front to eliminate J.R. Todd, 3.846 seconds at 320.58 mph to 3.859 at 319.67.  Up against Bob Vandergriff in the next round, Torrence had a large lead at the start and was unchallenged en route to a 3.848 at 320.58 to 3.884 at 320.43 win.

In the semifinals with Brandon Bernstein – and without a victory in nine previous attempts to reach the final round – Torrence was undaunted.  He left first again and lit the win light in 3.886 seconds at 316.97 mph with Bernstein close behind at 3.890 at 315.64.

“It was awesome to have my dad here with me this weekend and share that with him because I grew up wanting to drive a Top Fuel car as just a kid coming to the races.  Now I’m out here doing this -- winning races and living my dream because of him and because of all the guys that have worked their tails off every day at Capco Contractors.  They got us out here.”

Torrence also moved up into fifth place in Full Throttle point standings.

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