Torrence Back in the Saddle at Indy
After a 2024 Runner-Up, Texan Aiming to Go a Step Further at U.S. Nationals
The demands of a successful oil pipeline business and a growing family have limited the number of pro tour appearances made this year by four-time Top Fuel World Champion Steve Torrence, but they have not diminished the innate need for speed that this week brings the talented Texan back to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park for the 71st NHRA U.S. Nationals.
Although he missed the three most recent events in the Mission Foods Series, Torrence returns to one of his favorite venues in a CAPCO Contractors Toyota in which he fully expects to contend for the championship on Monday.
“It’s Indy,” he said. “It’s the biggest race on the planet. How can you not be fired up when you’re competing against the best of the best? We’ve got a good race car and we’ve had a lot of (Indy) success, so we’re excited about getting after ‘em again.”
The 42-year-old has indeed had success at IRP, enough in fact to make up a career for most of those in the sport.
He and his CAPCO boys have raced in the final round of “The Big Go” seven of the last 12 years; three of the last four. In addition to Top Fuel wins in 2017 and 2021, he was the Top Alcohol Dragster winner in 2005 and has won three other events at IRP.
He prevailed in the final Traxxas Nitro Shootout in 2017, becoming the last Top Fuel driver to double-up as winner of a bonus race and a national event on the same race weekend; won the one-off Dodge Nationals contested during a COVID-shortened 2020 season and hoisted the trophy at the first NHRA All-Star Callout in 2022 after it was moved from Gainesville, Fla., due to weather.
Nevertheless, it is not just past IRP success that has stirred Torrence’s competitive juices. The 56-time tour winner is climbing back into a race car that his dad, Billy, took to the semifinals two weeks ago at Brainerd, Minn., the same car in which he himself won at Bristol, Tenn., last May.
Owner of the longest active winning streak in Top Fuel, one now spanning 12 seasons, Torrence will begin his pursuit of another U.S. Nationals title in a single nitro qualifying session at 6:30 p.m., Texas time, Friday. Qualifying continues with sessions at 11:30 a.m. and 2:15. p.m., Texas time, on Saturday and concludes with two more at 11 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. Sunday. Eliminations commence at 9 a.m., Texas time, Monday.
