{"id":22139,"date":"2018-10-05T15:10:35","date_gmt":"2018-10-05T20:10:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=22139"},"modified":"2018-10-05T15:19:37","modified_gmt":"2018-10-05T20:19:37","slug":"steve-torrence-texas-two-steps-into-aaa-texas-nhra-fallnationals-with-top-fuel-points-lead-redemption-on-his-mind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2018\/10\/05\/steve-torrence-texas-two-steps-into-aaa-texas-nhra-fallnationals-with-top-fuel-points-lead-redemption-on-his-mind\/","title":{"rendered":"Steve Torrence Texas two-steps into AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals with Top Fuel points lead, redemption on his mind"},"content":{"rendered":"

ENNIS, Texas \u2013 It appears that Steve Torrence<\/strong> has a love\/hate relationship with the Texas Motorplex<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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

\"\"

Steve Torrence. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

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

At last year\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe drive Top Fuel cars,\u201d Torrence said.  \u201cThey catch on fire, they blow up, stuff falls off and you hit things.  It\u2019s part of it.  We know the risk when we get in them.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Steve Torrence. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThat was probably the best car I\u2019ve ever had,\u201d Torrence said.  \u201cI felt like if that (crash) hadn\u2019t happened, we probably would\u2018ve won (the Fall Nationals) last year.  So, yeah, we\u2019d like to win at our hometown track but, more importantly, we\u2019d just like to keep the momentum going in the Countdown.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n