As defined by Mirriam-Webster, an oasis, in addition to
being “a fertile or green area in an arid region” can be anything “that provides refuge,
relief or pleasant contrast.”
For four-time reigning Top
Fuel World Champion Steve
Torrence and his Capco
Contractors team, that oasis is
ZMax Dragway, site this week of
the 14
th
Betway Carolina Nationals,
second race in the NHRA’s
Countdown to the Championship.
Poised this year to become
just the fourth pro driver in NHRA
history to win as many as five straight series championships, Torrence is thirsting for the
kind of performance that could negate the 56-point deficit with which he will begin
qualifying on Friday.
Relief certainly could come on the all-concrete surface on which he has won six
times in his last nine appearances while compiling a 23-3 round record.
“The longer you’re on top, the harder it is to stay there,” Torrence said of his
situation, “but I’m a very competitive person and so are these Capco Boys. We’re a
little further down (in points) than we’d like to be but we’ve had a lot of success at
Charlotte and we’re coming in with a car that’s showing a lot more consistency.”
Further cause for optimism is the competitive return of the second Top Fuel
Toyota driven by Capco founder and CEO Billy Torrence, an eight-time pro tour winner
who sat out last week’s Countdown opener at Reading, Pa.
“It’s always better when my dad’s racing,” the younger Torrence said. “We’ve
been racing together since I was just a kid. It’s something we’ve always done as a
family. The only thing that’s changed is the size of the family. Now, in addition to my
dad and Momma Kay, we’ve got an extended family of Capco Boys plus (my wife)
Natalie and (daughter) Haven Charli.”
After winning 44 of 97 starts from 2017 through 2021, the younger Torrence has
put up far less spectacular numbers this year while crew chiefs Richard Hogan and
Bobby Lagana Jr. have worked to implement a new set-up designed to mollify the
performance advantage enjoyed by regular season champion Brittany Force.
“It was necessary,” the 39-year-old cancer survivor said of the change. “You
can’t sit still in this sport. You can’t rest on past results. You have to get quicker; you
have to get faster.”
Qualifying begins with a single nitro session at 6 p.m., Texas time, Friday
followed by sessions at 1:15 and 5 p.m., Texas time, Saturday. Sunday eliminations
begin at 11 a.m., Texas time.
FS1 television coverage will include qualifying highlights at 6 p.m., Texas time,
on Friday, and 1 p.m., Texas time, Sunday followed immediately by eliminations
beginning at 2 p.m., Texas time. Finals will re-air Sunday at 10 p.m., Texas time.
Torrence Racing PR
