NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Even before the race day started Torrence had locked up his spot in the 2021 Countdown to the Championship. His win in Sonoma means his Capco Contractor’s Top Fuel dragster is two-thirds of the way to sweeping the 2021 Western Swing. Even if you overlook the Swing, this is already his third race win in a row (Norwalk, Denver, and now Sonoma). Now get this, Torrence disclosed after the race that he was able to get this win with an all-new car.

That’s right, what may have looked like qualifying struggles on Friday and in the first session on Saturday were in fact shakedown runs in a brand-new Morgan Lucas Racing chassis. In reality, Torrence was able to climb the qualifying ladder and secure the number two spot in the final session with an all-new car that was testing an all-new clutch setup.

But perhaps the ultimate success trick was finding a way to share the NHRA winner’s circle with his father Billy on the same afternoon. Impossible? Typically, yes. The two Torrence men both compete in NHRA’s Top Fuel class at Camping World Drag Racing Series events. But this weekend only Steve was in Sonoma. Billy was competing in (and won) Super Comp at a Division 5 event in Topeka at nearly the exact same time his son was spraying Korbell Champagne in Sonoma. Well played sir, well played.