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Billy Torrence is off to a fast start in the starring role for them CAPCO boys

When it comes to the Torrence family, there’s no doubt that historically Steve Torrence has been the star, accumulating 54 Top Fuel wins and four championships, but so far this year it’s been his dad, Billy, making the headlines.
23 Mar 2024
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Feature
Billy Torrence

When it comes to the Torrence family, there’s no doubt that historically Steve Torrence has been the star, accumulating 54 Top Fuel wins and four championships, but so far this year it’s been his dad, Billy, making the headlines.

Billy defeated his son in the semifinals of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and then edged his son Friday for the provisional Noi. 1 qualifying spot, 3.745 to 3.750.

“I really thought Steve just slid around there and pick our pocket, but he just barely missed us,” said Billy, who has eight career Top Fue wins and five previous No. 1 qualifiers.

“I think, performance-wise, the cars are really, really close. The parameters for clutch management and all that stuff, there might be some difference, they're very close. Them CAPCO boys took a solid year to develop our setup and both teams are all working really, really well together. We’ve got a lot of new boys on my team, a lot of new parts, but we have a really good setup and will really be able to run really well this year.

Billy has yet to run a full season, running a high of 16 races in both 2019 and 2021 but plans to do the whole tour this year … even though that wasn’t his original plan.

“I accidentally [committed] to that,” he said with a grin. “I didn't really want to run a full season because I didn't think I'd really have time to, but I told Bob [assistant crew chief Bobby Lagana Jr.] that I'd run as many races as he could give me a good crew for. He said it was gonna be difficult to get me a crew to run the whole deal, but you just don't underestimate Bob. Bob will handle it. And here I am.

The Torrences are scheduled to rematch their Gatornationals semifinal in the first round of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge today.

“I bet Steve's gonna tattoo me on the Tree and outrun me,” said Billy. “Even if I do have a better car from time to time, he's a much better driver and that's just the way it is. But we always have good time racing as a family and working together all week a[ CAPCO Contractors], and it's nice to get a leg up on him ever every now and then.”