ENNIS, Texas – It appears that Steve Torrence has a love/hate relationship with the Texas Motorplex.

Torrence, who is a resident of Kilgore and driver of the Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit, loves the all-concrete drag racing facility, mainly because this place is considered his home track.

Steve Torrence. NHRA photo

However, the Texas Motorplex has not been very kind to the 35-year old cancer survivor and 2005 Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion.

At last year’s AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, this track played a key role in denying him the title that would have made him the first ever to win championships in both the Fuel and Alcohol divisions.

“We drive Top Fuel cars,” Torrence said.  “They catch on fire, they blow up, stuff falls off and you hit things.  It’s part of it.  We know the risk when we get in them.”

Last year after qualifying No. 1 and defeating Blake Alexander in the first round, Torrence crashed into the concrete wall after a tire blew out at 320 miles per hour at the end of a second round victory over Richie Crampton.

Torrence had to finish the race and season in a backup car and he lost the championship to Brittany Force at the final race in Ponoma.  Before the crash he had a 54-13 win-loss record in his primary car.  Afterwards, he was 2-3 in his backup dragster.

Steve Torrence. NHRA photo

“That was probably the best car I’ve ever had,” Torrence said.  “I felt like if that (crash) hadn’t happened, we probably would‘ve won (the Fall Nationals) last year.  So, yeah, we’d like to win at our hometown track but, more importantly, we’d just like to keep the momentum going in the Countdown.”

Prior to the race and accident at the Texas Motorplex, Torrence had dominated the regular season.  He won seven races, including the U.S. Nationals.  During the first two playoff races he went to the final round and was on track to score his first NHRA Top Fuel championship.

Fast-forward to this season and this weekend, Torrence is once again looking forward to a little redemption and improving on his 10-10 win/loss record at the Texas Motorplex.

“I’ve made a lot of laps there in every race car I’ve driven,” Torrence said, “But it’s a double-edged sword for us.”

Torrence added, “We get to see some people we don’t see too often and get to race with some friends that I grew up with in the Sportsman ranks so that’s pretty neat; something I always look forward to.  On the other hand, we’re at a point where you really need to stay focused on racing.”

Steve Torrence. NHRA photo

Torrence opened the 2018 NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs by scoring victories at Reading, Pa. and most recently at St. Louis.  He’s won seven races this season and this weekend he enters the race with a 70-point lead over Millican, who is a former seven-time IHRA Top Fuel champion.

“Those guys (Clay Millican and crew chief David Grubnic) have been bad ass all year,” Torrence said.  “This is going to be a really hard-fought championship but I couldn’t have a better group to be backing me up than these Capco boys.”

Torrence added, “He (Millican) has been in this situation many times before.  He has a good race car and he goes out there and pretty much does the same thing each time.  They have turned that car around where it is more consistent than what it was.  They are going to be a contender and they are going to be tough.”

Torrence, who has 23 career Top Fuel wins, is currently 10th on the all-time wins list.  In addition, he also has recorded victories this season at Phoenix, Las Vegas, Charlotte, Richmond and Epping.  He has notched 15 NHRA Top Fuel victories over the past two seasons, twice as many as anyone else in the class.

“I’m blessed and fortunate to be part of this Capco team,” Torrence said.  “After all their hard work, I’m just glad I didn’t drop the ball.  I’m very confident moving forward.  This is all we could have asked for to start the Countdown.”

Steve Torrence. NHRA photo

The Texas Motorplex is one of four tracks on the NHRA circuit that Torrence hasn’t won at since becoming a professional drag racer.

“We’re just going to go in there, make sure we get qualified and then go one round at a time – just like we have all season,” Torrence said.  “It’s the same attitude we had last year.  This time, maybe we’re a little better prepared for what can happen, but it’s the same intensity, some focus.  We’ve got a ‘take no prisoners’ mindset.”

Leading Torrence and the team into the race this weekend is crew chief Richard Hogan, who recently had a heart procedure done after the last race two weeks ago at Gateway Motorsports Park.

“Very seldom do I win races,” Torrence said.  “It’s the team and the race car.   All I can do is screw it up.  Fortunately, I’ve been able to do my job more times than not this year and my comfort level is very high right now.

Torrence added, “I couldn’t have a better group of guys backing me up than this Capco crew,” he said.  “I put all my faith in them and they give me a (competitive) race car every time.  I’m just blessed to be part of this team.  Our plan is just to win ‘em all and right now we’re doing pretty good.”

Race schedule:

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:15 and 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 1:15 and 4:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 7.

Tickets:

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 800-668-6775. Tickets also are available online at www.texasmotorplex.com. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. To honor the Salute to First Responders, military and first responders save 20 percent on general admission tickets at the gate. For more info about the NHRA visit NHRA.com.