NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Steve Torrence received as good of a sign as any last weekend in Seattle that things are coming together at a perfect time, racing to his first Top Fuel victory of the year. Now, the goal is to keep that momentum rolling at this weekend’s 36th annual Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway, a track where the four-time champ has dominated over the years.

Torrence didn’t win last season, as Justin Ashley picked up the victory in the heart of Wine Country, but the Texan has a strong record at the picturesque facility, winning four times in five years, including back-to-back victories in 2021 and 2022.

A fifth victory in Sonoma in his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors/Toyota dragster would tie him with reigning world champion Doug Kalitta for the most Top Fuel wins at Sonoma Raceway in NHRA history and also solidify another run at a world title.

Torrence finished second a year ago, picking up one victory (Seattle) along the way. He hasn’t exactly struggled this year, either, but his first win of the year came on Sunday in Seattle, where the team showed a strong ability to run well in all conditions, the latest indication that things are coming together at an ideal point of the season.

“We hadn't just gone out and set the world on fire,” Torrence said. “But at the end of the day, I mean, we've been there when we needed to be there. We could have won the championship last year and didn't have the driver to do it. So, we'll keep fighting, and we'll keep digging. We've put ourselves in a hole on our own, and we're having to dig out. We’re crawling out of that hole, and I think that we're beginning to see some light. Hopefully, it starts getting bright quickly because it's been dark for about a year and a half, two years, but we're getting there, and we always stick together as a team.”

Last year, Ashley (Top Fuel), J.R. Todd (Funny Car), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all took home wins in Sonoma. This year’s race will again be broadcast on both FOX and FS1, including eliminations coverage starting at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 28 on FOX. It is the 12th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, and the annual trek to Sonoma is a loaded weekend that also includes the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday.

Torrence will take part in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, looking for bonus points and a bonus purse, as well as another positive step forward with the Countdown to the Championship playoffs approaching. He’ll take on points leader Kalitta in a Seattle semifinal rematch, while the other rematch features Shawn Langdon and Clay Millican.

Sunday’s win also bumped Torrence to third in points, another strong step forward after five previous semifinal appearances this year. Nothing comes easy in Top Fuel, especially in a class that also includes Antron Brown, Tony Schumacher, Clay Millican, Brittany Force, and Top Fuel newcomer Tony Stewart, but Torrence is pleased with the recent progress from his team and now hopes it translates from race to trace.

“Seattle was a great example of what we can do and what we need to do because you had the gamut of conditions,” Torrence said. “You’ve just got to stick it out. We're champions, and you can't forget that even though when you look like you just showed up with all new stuff and don't have a clue what you're doing some weekends, and then you run like the four-time champ. It’s mentally taxing, but this is a great team, and we’re just getting stronger.”

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:30 and 6:45 p.m. PT on Friday and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. PT on Sunday. Television coverage includes eliminations on FOX at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals, fans can visit www.sonomaraceway.com or call 800-870-7223.