Steve Torrence, the four-time NHRA Top Fuel champion, will not be competing at this weekend’s Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota, marking his fourth missed race out of 13 events this season. Although the Torrence Racing Capco Dragster, which secured a win at Bristol Dragway in Tennessee last June, will be on the track, Steve’s father, Billy Torrence, will be the one driving it this time.
Family Team Shares Driving Responsibilities
Dave Densmore, spokesperson for the Torrence team, explained the decision to have Billy take the wheel, noting that Steve has chosen to give his father the opportunity to race.
“just decided to let his dad have a shot. He’ll be back for Indy and the Countdown. This will be the new program. Sometimes Steve will drive. Sometimes Billy will drive. Sometimes they’ll just take the weekend off to do something else.”
—Dave Densmore, Team Spokesman
Steve Torrence has already missed races in Phoenix, Sonoma, and Seattle this year, locations where he was a multiple-time winner and defending champion. Despite his intermittent participation, he remains sixth in the Top Fuel standings and only needs a top-10 finish to secure a spot in the six-race playoffs.
Billy Torrence Returns to the Cockpit After Months Away
After a nine-month break from competition following his 2024 season conclusion last November, Billy Torrence, an eight-time winner, is making a comeback this weekend. Alongside driving the Top Fuel dragster, he will also compete in the Super Comp class at Brainerd.
Reflecting on his return, Billy said,
“You’ve got to take advantage when you have the chance,”
and added,
“I haven’t done any kind of racing this year, so I’m excited to get back into it.”
—Billy Torrence, Driver
Balancing Racing and Family Life with Business Commitments
Billy Torrence, 67, is the founder and CEO of CAPCO Contractors, a family-run company based near Kilgore, Texas. The business is heavily involved in international oil-and-gas pipeline projects, contributing over a million man-hours this year. Steve, 42, also works within the family company, often handling physically demanding roles on site, which requires him to maintain a balance between his racing career and work obligations.
The 2018 Brainerd event was a milestone for Billy, marking his first No. 1 qualifying start and his inaugural victory in his 27th Top Fuel start, where he narrowly defeated Antron Brown. However, the family’s priorities have evolved since then, focusing more on their demanding careers and family commitments.
Billy explained,
“We have a great team put together, a great car, We have all the right parts and pieces. You know, we raced full time for 13 seasons. We still love racing, but it’s not our priority. [Steve and I] both have full-time jobs that are very demanding, plus now we’ve got two little granddaughters.”
He continued,
“Priorities change. We’ve got a really good group that we’re going to try to keep together so that we can race when we want to.”
—Billy Torrence, Driver and CEO
Upcoming Schedule and Race Preparation
Qualifying rounds for the Lucas Oil Nationals are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, with eliminations set for Sunday. The alternating driving approach and breaks from racing reflect the Torrence family’s current approach to maintaining their involvement in NHRA while managing other responsibilities.
About the Author and Coverage Perspective
The story and update come from Susan Wade, a respected drag-racing writer who has spent nearly three decades covering the sport with a focus on the human side of racing. A native of Indianapolis and a longtime Seattle resident, Wade has been recognized for her contributions, including being the first non-NASCAR recipient of the Russ Catlin Award. Her extensive career includes work with the Chicago Tribune, Newark Star-Ledger, Seattle Times, and freelance contributions to Autoweek since 2016.
