Steve Torrence earns Top Fuel license

Steve Torrence Earns Top Fuel License with 'Excellent' Showing

Steve Torrence, the  reigning NHRA Lucas Oil Series Top Alcohol Dragster
champion and current point  leader, had no problem earning his Top Fuel license
Monday at Gateway  International Raceway near St. Louis.

Torrence, one of the drag racing's  rising stars, made back-to-back runs of
4.76 seconds at 308 mph and 4.75 seconds  at 305 mph in JR Todd's Skull Shine
Top Fuel dragster the day after the NHRA  Midwest Nationals.

"Things couldn't have gone better," said  Torrence, 23, of Kilgore, Texas.  "
On the first run, the tires shook at 300  feet and I didn't want to tear
anything up, so I clicked it early.  It  smoked the tires on the second run.

"I honestly was glad that  happened because I was more acclimated with the
car and more comfortable as the  day went on.  I was very comfortable and
confident in the car on the last  two runs."

Torrence's licensing runs came under the watchful eyes of  two-time Top Fuel
champion Larry Dixon and Todd -- who signed off on the license  upgrade -- Todd'
s crew, chief Jim Walsh, and Torco/Skull Shine representative  Brian Olson.

"He did an excellent job," Walsh said. "He had no problems whatsoever."

Torrence admitted he was ready if  anything came up.  "I drove the last two
passes waiting for something to  happen. It was now-or-never circumstances and
I thought 'if it shakes (the  tires), I'm going to be ready to grab the
brakes.'  They were two beautiful  passes from a driver's point of view.  The car
never shook or quivered the  tires."

What was the most notable difference between the Top Fuel dragster and his TAD ride?

"The Top Fuel car pulls harder down low  a little bit," answered Torrence, "
but the major difference is in the last  eighth-mile.  It was like the car
took off.  It just does not lay over  in comparison to the other dragster.  It
pulls all the  way."

As for his competitive plans, Torrence said they will be announced in the near future.

-st-