Torrence Aims to Add to Epping Success

On an all-concrete track his CAPCO Contractors Toyota has negotiated more quickly than any other race car on the planet, four-time World Champion Steve Torrence tries this week to win the NHRA New England Nationals for the third time and, in so doing, extend the sport’s longest active Top Fuel winning streak.

The just-turned-42-year-old rancher and businessman has won at least one race in the NHRA’s Mission Foods Series in each of the last 10 seasons. 

Although he hasn’t won at New England Dragway since 2019, Torrence and his “CAPCO Boys” have advanced to the semifinals two of the last four years and, in 2022, lowered the track record to its current 3.664 seconds.

Before the former Top Alcohol Dragster world champion (2005) pursues his 56th pro tour victory, he first will try to win the Mission Foods 2Fast/2Tasty Challenge on Saturday. 

That “race within a race,” which awards both a cash bonus and bonus points applying toward the Countdown to the Championship, is contested in conjunction with Saturday qualifying at 13 of the 14 events in the NHRA’s regular season.

Torrence will line up opposite Tony Stewart in the first round of Saturday’s 2Fast/2Tasty with an opportunity to reverse the outcome of their semifinal duel two weeks ago at the Route 66 Nationals at Chicago.  The Texan last won a 2Fast/2Tasty Challenge in 2023.

Although his drag racing legacy already is secure, Torrence hasn’t won a tour event since last July when he beat Doug Kalitta and Shawn Langdon in the final two rounds at the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Seattle.  

His latest bid to end that victory drought will begin with nitro qualifying sessions at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., Texas time, on Friday.  Qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Texas time.  Eliminations begin Sunday at 10 a.m., Texas time.