BAYTOWN — Whether it’s during qualifying or on race day, Steve Torrence always shoots for the top.
The two-time reigning Top Fuel champion and class points leader qualified No. 1 on Saturday for the SpringNationals. By running a 3.672-second pass at 327.98 mph over Houston Raceway Park track in his Capco Contractors dragster, Torrence remains the driver to beat.
He made the quickest run in both qualifying sessions, also turning in a 3.689-second pass.
“Today was a huge success, and the car ran really well,” said Torrence, a 40-time winner.
It was his second straight week, third time this year and 27th time overall as the top qualifier at an NHRA event.
“It gives us a lot of confidence going into tomorrow, and that puts a little pressure on the competition.”
Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Alex Laughlin (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were the No. 1 qualifiers in their classes.
Tony Schumacher was the only other Top Fuel driver to reach the 3.60s on Saturday, qualifying second.
In his first qualifying run, Schumacher rocketed to a 3.685-second pass at 330.07 mph, continuing his streak of qualifying no worse than second over the past three races.
Schumacher was second-quickest in each of Saturday’s two qualifying sessions, one of five Toyota drivers to qualify in the top five in the two nitro (Top Fuel, Funny Car) categories.
“It was a great day of qualifying with two good laps,” Schumacher said. “I want the Okuma/Sandvik Coromant Toyota to perform its best and show what we’re capable of.”
Beckman jumped to the No. 1 Funny Car spot during the final qualifying session with a run of 3.884 seconds at 328.14 mph in his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. It was his first No. 1 qualifier of the year and bumped Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan to second.
Beckman will race DSR teammate Ron Capps to open Funny Car eliminations, and it’s a good situation for Capps.
With only two events remaining in the Camping World Drag Racing Series, the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger driver has substantial ground to make up in points. Not only does Capps have to win rounds, he needs to make sure his main competition goes out early.
By eliminating Beckman, second in series points behind Hagan, not only would Capps earn 20 points for a round win and extend the possibility of winning more rounds Sunday, he would make sure Beckman couldn’t get any points.
Heading into Sunday, Hagan leads the Funny Car class with 765 points, picking up three bonus points as the top qualifier in Saturday’s first session. Beckman is second at 761. Third at 685 points is Tommy Johnson Jr. Capps, a four-time winner here, is fourth at 588 points.
In years past, there were four qualifying sessions before Sunday’s eliminations. But this year because of COVID-19, qualifying has been reduced to two sessions over one day, putting a premium on qualifying.
“The pressure is on. It’s way more intense on Saturdays now than it used to be at the racetrack,” said Johnson, driver of the MD Anderson Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car. “Saturday used to be, let’s figure out our tune-up for tomorrow and see how things go. Now it’s a pressure-packed day. You have to perform and run well on Saturday.
“And qualifying is so important. You think if you’re in the top 16 anybody can win it, but you really need to be in the top half. If you’re in the top eight you can pick your lane, and you should be drawing a car that’s easier to beat if you’re at the top of the ladder.”
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October 25, 2020 at 07:40AM
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2-time reigning champ Steve Torrence qualifies No. 1 for SpringNationals - Houston Chronicle
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