With three races left throughout the 2023 season within the NHRA Tenting World Drag Racing Collection, Steve Torrence remains to be very a lot alive within the Prime Gasoline championship chase. The four-time world champion trails Doug Kalitta by simply 51 factors heading into the ultimate stretch of the Countdown to the Championship.
That ultimate three-race span begins at this weekend’s thirty eighth annual Texas NHRA FallNationals on the Texas Motorplex, which is the principle occasion of the legendary observe’s Stampede of Pace. It’s additionally a key race for Torrence for a mess of causes. It’s the house race for the Texas native, and it’s been a race full of household and mates for the final a number of years.
Torrence has received in Dallas twice in his Capco Contractors dragster, and understanding the magnitude of the occasion because it suits into the NHRA playoffs image, the veteran is aware of how large a win could be. Doing it in entrance of an enormous quantity of household and mates has at all times made it that a lot sweeter for Torrence, however it will additionally go a great distance in serving to him attempt to safe a fifth world championship.
“There’s at all times professionals and cons to racing at dwelling,” Torrence stated. “The great factor is we’ll have plenty of mates, plenty of followers, and plenty of members of our Capco household on the market supporting us. The draw back is the distractions that include all that. You’ll be able to’t let all the additional consideration preserve you from doing what must be achieved. You must prioritize, handle your time, and preserve issues in perspective, and that’s not at all times simple to do. That’s the place these Capco boys give us the benefit. We’ve been down this highway collectively plenty of occasions, and we all know what it takes to win. We simply need to focus and do what we do.”
Justin Ashley (Prime Gasoline), Ron Capps (Humorous Automotive), Erica Enders (Professional Inventory), and Hector Arana Jr. (Professional Inventory Bike) took dwelling victories final season to shut out the Stampe of Pace. This 12 months’s race will probably be broadcast on FOX Sports activities 1 (FS1) and marks the third of six occasions within the Countdown to the Championship, and the nineteenth of 21 races in 2023.
The motion kicks off in a significant method with “Friday Night time Dwell,” because the quickest go underneath the lights on Friday on the famed Texas Motorplex will internet Prime Gasoline and Humorous Automotive stars $15,000 every in bonus cash, with $7,500 going to the highest Friday qualifier in Professional Inventory and $5,000 in Professional Inventory Bike. Torrence would love to select that up after which finish the weekend along with his second victory this season.
To take action received’t be simple as he faces off with the likes of Kalitta, Leah Pruett, who’s 47 factors out of first, Ashley, a six-time winner in 2023, Antron Brown, Mike Salinas, and defending world champion Brittany Pressure. Torrence, although, is aware of all about rising to the event in these moments as he appears to select up a 3rd win on the Texas NHRA FallNationals.
“Like I’ve stated so many occasions, it’s going to go proper right down to the wire,” Torrence stated. “We’re midway by [the playoffs], and there are 5 drivers who nonetheless have a legit shot. My guys did an awesome job of getting us again within the hunt on race day [in St. Louis]. I like the place I’m sitting with these Capco boys behind me and the Countdown coming dwelling to Texas.”
NHRA Tenting World Drag Racing Collection qualifying will function two rounds at 4 and seven p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 13, and the ultimate two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 1 and 4 p.m. Ultimate eliminations are scheduled for midday CT on Sunday, Oct. 16. Tv protection consists of qualifying motion on FS1 at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday and in addition to motion from eliminations at 3 p.m.
To buy tickets to the Texas NHRA FallNationals on the Texas Motorplex, name 800-668-6775 or go to tickets.texasmotorplex.com. Youngsters 12 and underneath are admitted free in general-admission areas with a paid grownup.