NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Billy Torrence has already enjoyed success at Heartland Motorsports Park this year, winning in Super Comp at the Lucas Oil Series divisional race in Topeka three weeks ago.

He’s back at the track, this time in his Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster, but insists the seven round victories he earned in July won’t give him any extra edge this weekend. Torrence is simply excited to be back racing at a track where he’s enjoyed plenty of success, including a final-round appearance in 2019 against his son, Steve.

“It was a lot of fun. I don't get to race my Super Comp car, really. I hadn’t really raced it but a few times in the last four years,” Torrence said. “So, you know, it's good to get that thing out, come out here and race, and that was one of the new ones. I really love this facility and these guys are fortunate to have such a nice place to race. These folks always put on a really good race and they work hard on the track prep, and it's just a great facility to be at.”

It’s Torrence’s first Top Fuel appearance since late June in Norwalk, but it won’t be surprising if the team doesn’t skip a beat. He’s slid to eighth in points not racing on the Western Swing, but Torrence has already put together a strong 2021, winning in Epping.

His second solid showing at Heartland Motorsports Park in three weeks wouldn’t be surprising and Torrence was all smiles on Friday, well before he even made a pass. Torrence was simply excited to be around his team and family, hopeful the family could replicate what he did in Top Fuel two years ago in Topeka.

“It’s always neat to get out here and race with my family,” Torrence said. “We’ve had a lot of success doing this and it’s always fun to come out here. We just come out and we surround ourselves with the best people, give them the best parts and pieces and let the chips fall where they may. Those boys are hard to beat next door.”

The boys next door have been incredible this year, as son Steve has posted six wins and while his father was winning in Super Comp in Topeka, he was winning the first two races of the Western Swing.

The duo had an incredible showing in 2019 at Heartland Motorsports Park, becoming the second father-son duo in NHRA history to race in a Top Fuel final and the first to do it from the first and second qualifying spots.

Steve won by a mere .008 as both went in the mid-3.70s and Billy is hopeful a similar scenario can play out this weekend.

“I enjoy coming out with all my guys and hanging out with them,” Torrence said. “I expect we’ll run well. Last time I was here I was in the final in this (Top Fuel dragster), so we'll see if we can duplicate that.”