TORRENCE CLAIMS TOP QUALIFIER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

First Top Qualifier for Torrence with Toyota

EPPING, N.H. (June 4, 2022) – Steve Torrence posted the fastest time of the first qualifying session in Epping, New Hampshire on Friday night and that time held through two additional session to earn the Capco team their first top-qualifier since joining Toyota for the 2022 season.

Toyota Post-Qualifying Recap

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series

New England Dragway

Race 8 of 22

TOYOTA TOP FUEL QUALIFYING POSITIONS

NameCarQualifying PositionFirst Round Opponent
Steve TorrenceCapco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster1st(3.664)S. Farley (8.089)
Doug KalittaMac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster4th(3.728)C. Ferre(3.931)
Justin AshleyPhillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster8th(3.768)D. Mercier (3.775)
Antron BrownMatco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster10th(3.777)A. Prock(3.749)
Shawn LangdonDHL Toyota Top Fuel Dragster12th(3.783)J. Hart(3.731)

(*non-Toyota driver)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING POSITIONS

NameCarQualifying PositionFirst Round Opponent
Matt HaganSmithfield Dodge*1st(3.878)D. Creasy Jr.(9.791)
Ron CappsNAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota GR Supra7th(3.929)J. Campbell(3.950)
Alexis DeJoriaBandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car9th(3.970)T. Wilkersobn(3.923)
J.R. ToddDHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car10th(4.288)B. Alexander(3.911)

(*non-Toyota driver)

TOYOTA QUOTES

STEVE TORRENCE, Capco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Torrence Racing

TF Qualifying Result: 1st

How important was it for you to post the fast time?

“Fastest run of the year and so much emotion behind that run just because we’ve been working so hard and diligently to really make this car do that. Couldn’t be happier for every one of these guys on the team because it’s so much hard work and this is like seven or eight races now without us winning one and it’s all a sacrifice you have to make. You have to tear stuff down to build it back up stronger and that’s where we’re at. I’m not going to say that we’re there yet, but we’re definitely a step in the right direction. That’s a confidence booster for myself and for every one of the guys. That’s what we needed to do and it came at the perfect time.”

What does it mean to earn the top-qualifier here in Epping?

“This means that we have our mojo back and this Capco Contractors Toyota is running the way it’s supposed to. This gives us a lot of confidence and it just feels good with what we’ve got going on over there is pretty awesome. I think we have and have had a great race car and now we’re heading in the right direction for getting better and you can’t just contain that. We haven’t won a race, but we’re looking to change that tomorrow.”

DOUG KALITTA, Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Qualifying Result: 4th

How does your race car feel this weekend?

“The thing is just pulling good. The car was nice and straight and the car is just running good. Just really happy to have the president of Mac Tools here with us this weekend. A lot of exciting stuff going on. Really proud of my guys. We’re just going to get ready for tomorrow.”

JUSTIN ASHLEY, Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Davis Motorsports

TF Qualifying Result: 8th

How do you feel about the Q3 run today?

“That was a good run, that was an important run for us. Obviously, we didn’t make it down the first two sessions this weekend. You never really want that to be the feeling going into Sunday. So just being able to go down the race track in our Toyota dragster is really important to us to be able to get that data and information going into tomorrow. That’s why you have three sessions is right there for that reason. We look forward to putting our best foot forward tomorrow.”

ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, AB Motorsports

TF Qualifying Result: 10th

How did you feel about that final qualifying pass?

“It was better. We’re just trying to get better and better with each run there. It left the starting line decent and got to half track. It felt good. We’re just building. We got all the gremlins out, but now we have to keep working to get better.”

SHAWN LANGDON, DHL Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Qualifying Result: 12th

How do you feel about the two qualifying runs this afternoon?

“Two good runs in the heat today for the two qualifying sessions. Not as fast as we would like to be, but we have a good DHL Toyota dragster for tomorrow and I think we’re making improvements.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.  

Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants.  By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.  With the more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more than a quarter of the company’s 2021 North American sales were electrified.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.