Torrence secures top spot with final qualifying run
BAYTOWN — Steve Torrence has proven he can win anywhere from the ladder.
The reigning four-time Top Fuel champion wants to push the Capco Contractors dragster to get to the finish line quickly, but maybe not too fast.
Last year’s SpringNationals champion powered his way to the top in his final qualifying run Saturday, bumping trackrecord holder Brittany Force from the No. 1 spot heading into Sunday’s eliminations, which start at 11 a.m.
Racing Force side-by-side, Torrence put together a run of 3.693 seconds at 323.66 miles per hour. It’s his first No. 1 qualifier of the year in race five of the 22race NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.
“I knew we could run well. I didn’t know it would be enough to go to the top,” Torrence said. “But to go low for the weekend and No. 1 qualifier is great.
“Typically, No. 1 qualifiers are not my favorite thing. I think those yellow hats are unlikely, so I gave that away as fast as possible.”
Based on their performances on Friday at Houston Raceway Park, Ron Capps remained No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car, rookie Camrie Caruso in Pro Stock, and Karen Stoffer in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
With Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana Jr. tuning the car, Torrence had a pair of big runs on the day. He got a confidence booster with his first pass, the low elapsed time of the round with track temperature at 124 degrees, and then stepped it up on his final attempt.
“We’ll see what we can do,” Torrence said. “I think Richard will have a good handle on the racetrack, and tomorrow it’s going to be up to anybody. But I think we have a good shot at it.”
Torrence, who picked up 11 victories in 20 races in 2021, has yet to win this season.
Capps is on a roll, piloting his NAPA Auto Parts Charger to a third No. 1 qualifier this season. His elapsed time of 3.864 seconds (326.16 mph) on Friday stood and he’s in position to win for the fifth time in Houston.
Getting the No. 1 qualifying spot was important because the top qualifier has a first-round bye, meaning one less round on race day.
“Typical Houston, Baytown, this is what this race is all about,” Capps said. “Every time I’ve won here, you literally feel like you have raced two or three races in one day.
“It takes everything out of you. I’ve never been so exhausted after a win after you win here. It’s the heat, it’s the humidity, it’s just a dog fight. And you really feel like you’ve done something special when you win here.”
Caruso was elated after securing her first No. 1 qualifying spot in only her fifth NHRA race, holding off four-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders. On Friday, Caruso covered the 1,000-foot distance in 6.547 seconds (209.39 mph) driving the Sand Haulers of America Chevrolet Camaro under crew chief Jim Yates.
“It means the world to me and my team and everybody who backs me,” Caruso said. “We’re excited to head into race day at No. 1. I would never thought we could have achieved such a cool thing so soon.”
Enders in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro remained in second place but did have low elapsed time (6.555) of the first of the day’s two qualifying sessions.