FINALLY: 4-time Prime Gas champ Steve Torrence earns 1st NHRA win of 2022; see nice VIDEOS
NHRA MEDIA RELEASE
BRAINERD, Minn. – 4-time defending Prime Gas world champion Steve Torrence drove to his first victory of the season, defending his occasion win at Brainerd Worldwide Raceway on Sunday on the fortieth annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.
Humorous Automotive’s Bob Tasca III additionally received on the fifteenth of twenty-two races through the 2022 NHRA Tenting World Drag Racing Collection season in entrance of one other huge crowd in Brainerd.
**********
IN TOP FUEL: Going through off with eight-time world champ Tony Schumacher within the ultimate spherical, Torrence picked up his 52nd profession victory – however first since final November on the Auto Membership NHRA Finals – with a run of three.866-seconds at 322.04 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors dragster.
Torrence improved to 5-0 towards Schumacher in eliminations this 12 months, additionally choosing up his first win in 4 ultimate spherical appearances in 2022.
On a difficult day, Torrence took out a number of standouts, together with Mike Salinas, Topeka winner Antron Brown and factors chief Brittany Pressure earlier than going through off with Schumacher.
Torrence needed to be on his recreation towards Brown and Pressure, pedaling his dragster in each rounds to advance and in the end choose up a much-needed and rewarding victory as he prepares to start the hunt for a fifth straight world title.
“Whenever you’ve had the success and the dominance we’ve had, it’s troublesome to not have that. You simply must grit it and dig by means of it,” Torrence stated. “(However) these Capco boys, they’re unhealthy to the bone. We’ve proven it time and time once more.
“We didn’t overlook the right way to win however, dang, it positive felt prefer it. I’ve all the boldness and the religion on the earth on this crew as a result of that automotive is all the time unhealthy to the bone. Possibly we’re getting our stuff collectively on the proper time as a result of we’re charging for that (fifth world title).
“A day like at present is one you’re most pleased with a driver. On days like at present when the automotive doesn’t do fairly what it’s speculated to do, you must earn your preserve as a driver. It’s wins like this you’ll all the time cherish and keep in mind as a driver.”
Schumacher superior to his second ultimate prior to now three races and the 156th in his standout profession because of spherical wins towards Doug Kalitta, Josh Hart, and Justin Ashley. Brittany Pressure maintained the factors lead within the class and it now stands at 94 factors over Salinas. Torrence moved as much as third in Prime Gas factors with the win.
**********
IN FUNNY CAR: Tasca continued his unimaginable run this summer time, successful his second straight race and third prior to now 4 occasions. He was the one driver in each nitro classes to make clear runs on each go Sunday, ending it off with a stellar go of three.945 at 329.42 in his 11,000-horsepower Motorcraft/Fast Lane Ford Mustang towards defending world champ Ron Capps within the ultimate spherical.
Whereas most groups struggled through the second and third rounds, Tasca solely appeared to get higher, making 4 three-second runs throughout eliminations to knock off Dale Creasy Jr., Chad Inexperienced, and factors chief Robert Hight to achieve the ultimate spherical.
Tasca, who has now superior to the ultimate spherical in 5 of the previous six races, adopted with one other nice efficiency towards Capps to win for the primary time in Brainerd. With the Countdown to the Championship (six-race playoffs) approaching, Tasca and his crew look like peaking on the excellent time.
“I’ve stated this many instances however what we’ve accomplished these days has been superb,” Tasca stated. “We’ve not backed into any win and carried out at a excessive degree all through. That is unimaginable execution by the crew, and I imply each single particular person. This crew has carried out flawlessly. The bundle we now have is not like something I’ve ever had in my driving profession. (My crew) all the time has a solution and when that occurs, as a driver you simply must exit and do your job.
“All weekend, I used to be combating the automotive down the observe. It was spinning and transferring round. For those who let it get out of the groove, it’s going to spin the tires. Holding it within the heart of the groove is crucial, particularly at present. I’m so pleased with what we’ve accomplished. We now have quite a lot of unfinished enterprise forward of us and we’re all chasing the identical trophy on the finish of the 12 months.”
Capps reached his one hundred and thirty fifth profession ultimate spherical by getting wins towards longtime rival John Pressure, Bobby Bode, and Alexis DeJoria, staying third in factors. Hight stored a snug factors lead over Matt Hagan, whereas Tasca moved as much as fourth in factors with one race left within the common season.
The NHRA Tenting World Drag Racing Collection returns to motion with the distinguished Dodge Energy Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals on Aug. 31-Sept. 5 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
And this is a wild video left over from Saturday’s qualifying:
**********
FINISHING ORDER:
TOP FUEL: 1. Steve Torrence; 2. Tony Schumacher; 3. Justin Ashley; 4. Brittany Pressure; 5. Shawn Langdon; 6. Billy Torrence; 7. Antron Brown; 8. Josh Hart; 9. Clay Millican; 10. Krista Baldwin; 11. Leah Pruett; 12. Austin Prock; 13. Mike Salinas; 14. Doug Kalitta; 15. Scott Farley.
FUNNY CAR: 1. Bob Tasca III; 2. Ron Capps; 3. Alexis DeJoria; 4. Robert Hight; 5. Chad Inexperienced; 6. J.R. Todd; 7. Matt Hagan; 8. Bobby Bode; 9. Cruz Pedregon; 10. Dale Creasy Jr.; 11. John Pressure; 12. Steven Densham; 13. Blake Alexander; 14. Jim Campbell; 15. Tim Wilkerson.
**********
FINAL RESULTS:
TOP FUEL: Steve Torrence, 3.866 seconds, 322.04 mph def. Tony Schumacher, 3.942 seconds, 286.50 mph.
FUNNY CAR: Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.945, 329.42 def. Ron Capps, Toyota Supra, 4.007, 327.66.
Prime Alcohol Dragster — Shawn Cowie, 5.218, 276.75 def. Matthew Cummings, 5.282, 267.27.
Prime Alcohol Humorous Automotive — Shane Westerfield, Chevy Camaro, 5.529, 265.53 def. Bob McCosh, Camaro, 6.117, 203.28.
Competitors Eliminator — Brett Speer, ’23-T Ford, 7.272, 180.67 def. Bruno Massel, Cobalt, 7.023, 195.17.
Tremendous Inventory — Mike Mans, Pontiac Firebird, 8.807, 138.61 def. Wyatt Wagner, Chevy Camaro, 9.697, 133.50.
Inventory Eliminator — Tracy Fairchild, AMX, 10.904, 110.79 def. Ron Feist, Ford Fairlane, Foul – Crimson Mild.
Tremendous Comp — Tony Leonard, Dragster, 8.903, 162.82 def. Craig Anderson, Dragster, 8.920, 188.12.
Tremendous Gasoline — Trevor Larson, Chevy Camaro, 9.890, 164.69 def. Kevin Dyck, Chevy Chevy Corvette, 9.881, 171.34.
Prime Sportsman introduced by Vortech Superchargers — Brian Antony, DodgeAvenger, 6.904, 199.79 def. Michael Chitty, Chevy Cavalier, 6.702, 196.59.
Prime Dragster introduced by Vortech Superchargers — Dylan Hough, Dragster, 6.823, 191.43 def. Anthony Bertozzi, Dragster, 7.197, 177.88.
Professional Modified — Rickie Smith, Ford Mustang, 5.791, 250.92 def. Doug Winters, Chevy Chevelle, 5.997, 240.34.
Mountain Motor Professional Inventory — JR Carr, Chevy Camaro, 6.345, 221.05 def. John DeFlorian Jr, Camaro, Broke.
Professional Mod Snowmobile — Robbie Lowe, Thunder Cat, 5.014, 134.52 def. Louie Wirbel, SRX, 5.081, 136.00.
D-Wagon Professional Mod Shootout — Kris Thorne, Chevy Camaro, 5.762, 250.88 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 6.864, 126.85.
**********
FINAL ROUND-BY-ROUND RESULTS:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Josh Hart, 3.710, 334.73 def. Scott Farley, 14.412, 36.59; Antron Brown, 3.688, 328.22 def. Clay Millican, 3.721, 327.51; Brittany Pressure, 3.646, 333.58 was unopposed; Justin Ashley, 3.720, 331.94 def. Krista Baldwin, 3.817, 319.52; Shawn Langdon, 3.760, 329.34 def. Leah Pruett, 3.822, 279.85; Steve Torrence, 3.755, 313.37 def. Mike Salinas, 5.286, 136.36; Tony Schumacher, 3.940, 292.27 def. Doug Kalitta, 5.349, 118.13; Billy Torrence, 4.050, 236.38 def. Austin Prock, 4.480, 237.21;
QUARTERFINALS — Schumacher, 4.227, 201.16 def. Hart, 10.848, 78.57; Pressure, 4.394, 255.63 def. B. Torrence, 4.586, 213.40; S. Torrence, 4.945, 255.19 def. Brown, 5.335, 247.25; Ashley, 3.726, 330.63 def. Langdon, 3.807, 324.44;
SEMIFINALS — S. Torrence, 5.400, 276.07 def. Pressure, 10.392, 66.09; Schumacher, 4.336, 226.32 def. Ashley, 4.936, 292.71;
FINAL — S. Torrence, 3.866, 322.04 def. Schumacher, 3.942, 286.50.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 9.940, 71.63 was unopposed; Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.891, 330.63 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 3.967, 327.43; Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.874, 329.02 def. Steven Densham, Mustang, Foul – Crimson Mild; Ron Capps, Toyota Supra, 3.931, 325.45 def. John Pressure, Camaro, 4.022, 284.99; Bobby Bode, Mustang, 3.931, 316.08 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.947, 322.65; Chad Inexperienced, Mustang, 3.975, 311.85 def. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 9.807, 99.47; J.R. Todd, Supra, 3.898, 327.90 def. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.637, 181.57; Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 3.967, 299.80 def. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 4.241, 295.21;
QUARTERFINALS — Capps, 8.539, 87.94 def. Bode, Broke; Tasca III, 3.945, 326.24 def. Inexperienced, 4.089, 284.15; Hight, 4.356, 284.27 def. Todd, 4.451, 221.16; DeJoria, 5.712, 229.31 def. Hagan, 6.187, 259.81;
SEMIFINALS — Capps, 3.955, 329.99 def. DeJoria, Foul – Crimson Mild; Tasca III, 3.926, 326.08 def. Hight, 4.646, 200.44;
FINAL — Tasca III, 3.945, 329.42 def. Capps, 4.007, 327.66.
**********
UPDATED POINT STANDINGS:
TOP FUEL: 1. Brittany Pressure, 1,206; 2. Mike Salinas, 1,112; 3. Steve Torrence, 1,076; 4. Justin Ashley, 1,070; 5. Josh Hart, 797; 6. (tie) Shawn Langdon, 761; Leah Pruett, 761; 8. Tony Schumacher, 703; 9. Doug Kalitta, 692; 10. Antron Brown, 668.
FUNNY CAR: 1. Robert Hight, 1,411; 2. Matt Hagan, 1,161; 3. Ron Capps, 1,105; 4. Bob Tasca III, 1,043; 5. John Pressure, 1,033; 6. J.R. Todd, 789; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 775; 8. Cruz Pedregon, 752; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 645; 10. Chad Inexperienced, 524.
