Courtesy of David Densmore
AUSTIN, Texas – Native Texan Steve Torrence, 36, will be recognized March 20th on the floor of the state House of Representatives for his accomplishments in professional drag racing, specifically for winning the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Championship at the wheel of his Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster.
Torrence became the 21st different driver in the 45-year history of the NHRA series to claim the sport’s ultimate title when he won all six events comprising the Countdown to the Championship, the first such sweep since the NHRA adopted the current playoff format in 2007.
En route to a championship that had eluded him in 2017, when he finished second, and 2016, when he was third, Torrence won for the first time as a pro on his home track, the Texas Motorplex outside Dallas, the same track on which he crashed at 300 miles per hour a year earlier.
The House recognition is just the latest honor for Torrence, who earlier was feted by his hometown of Kilgore, Texas. In addition to his status as the first driver in any category to sweep the playoffs, he also is the first to win NHRA series championships in both the Fuel and Alcohol divisions. He was the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster champion in 2005.
Three other Texans have won the NHRA Top Fuel championship. Richard Tharp of Dallas did so in 1976, Eddie Hill of Wichita Falls was the champion in 1993 and Lubbock native Kenny Bernstein prevailed in both 1996 and 2001. Torrence is trying this year to become just the eighth driver to win back-to-back Top Fuel championships.
