MORRISON, Colo. – Steve Torrence raced to his first Top Fuel victory in over two years Sunday at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.
Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Larry Morgan (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also victorious at the 14th of 24 events of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season and first of the NHRA Western Swing.
Torrence powered his Capco Racing/Torrence Motorsports dragster to the winner’s circle with a 3.925-second performance at 319.37 mph to earn his fifth career victory, first at Denver and first since Bristol 2013. Torrence, who defeated Tony Schumacher’s 3.940 at 305.08 in his U.S. Army dragster, earned the seventh spot in the Traxxas Nitro Shootout at Indianapolis.
“I thought I saw him ahead of me, and I said to myself, ‘No, don’t pull this on me,’ ” said Torrence, who moves to ninth in points. “I saw him out there for a little bit and then he disappeared, and I thanked the good Lord when my win light came on because we needed this win. We needed to get back into the Traxxas showdown. Tony and I are friends, but when you run a DSR car, you have to bring your A-game. To beat him on the mountain is unbelievable. It’s been way too long to get into the winner’s circle. It’s not representative of the team we have. I’m getting confidence in myself, and that’s a good thing.”
Schumacher, the current Top Fuel points leader and No. 2 qualifier, raced past Steven Chrisman, Clay Millican and Brittany Force before falling to Torrence in the finals. He holds an 85 point advantage over teammate Antron Brown.
Beckman powered his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to the win for the fourth time this year with a 4.190 at 293.92, beating John Force in the final. Beckman, the 2012 world champ, has 19 career victories, putting him tenth on the all-time wins list in Funny Car. This is his third career win at Bandimere Speedway.
““(My crew chief) Jimmy Prock intimidates the other crew chiefs,” said Beckman, who moves to second in Funny Car points. “He’ll force them to do things they may not be comfortable with. Last year, I was 0-6 against JFR, so I figured I had paid my dues. To do it in the final round today, when they really had the better car throughout the weekend — to beat the No. 1 qualifier, the winningest driver of all time, and at the Mopar race — this is just a perfect weekend.”
Force was appearing in his fourth final round appearance of the season and second against Beckman. Force, a six-time winner at Denver, entered eliminations as the No. 1 qualifier and jumped to third in the Funny Car point standings.
In Pro Stock, Morgan raced to a final round holeshot victory over three-time defending winner Allen Johnson with a 6.944 at 199.02 at the controls of his FireAde Chevy Camaro. With the win, Morgan earned his 12th career victory and second of the season. The final featured an intense staging duel at the starting line, lasting one minute and 45 seconds before Johnson finally staged.
“What a wonderful race,” said Morgan, who won his first Denver event in 1990. “This was probably my best win this year. The Four-Wide (event) was cool because I got to beat three guys at one time. Coming up here and racing Allen, though, I give those guys all the respect in the world for being in the final round nine straight years. Nobody will ever do what he’s done up here, and I commend him for that. Those guys are still the ‘King of the Mountain.’ I just got lucky enough to keep it for one race. He still owns this place.”
Johnson, who was appearing in his fourth final of the season with one win, was looking for his fourth consecutive victory at Thunder Mountain.
Krawiec raced to his 28th career victory in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a 7.239 at 185.51 holeshot final round result over Hector Arana, Jr. on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. The current Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader earned his first win of the season and third at Bandimere Speedway.
“In the final, I could hear him next to me,” said Krawiec, a three-time world champ. “I will say one thing; I knew I had to be about .020 on the Tree, and I was .025. I usually don’t race that way. I don’t usually have to push that hard, but this year I do. I really didn’t want the final to be that close, but I couldn’t ask for any better. It always makes the driver look good to win on a holeshot.”
Recent Chicago winner Arana Jr. raced his Lucas Oil Buell past Freddie Camarena, Steve Johnson and defending world champ and 2014 event winner Andrew Hines to reach the final. Arana Jr. sits second in points, trailing Krawiec by 36.
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Bandimere Speedway – Morrison, CO
Mopar Mile-High Nationals – July 26, 2015
Final Finish Order (1-16)
TOP FUEL
1. Steve Torrence; 2. Tony Schumacher; 3. Brittany Force; 4. Larry Dixon; 5. Clay Millican; 6. J.R. Todd; 7. Richie Crampton; 8. Shawn Langdon; 9. Spencer Massey; 10. Antron Brown; 11. Jenna Haddock; 12. Terry McMillen; 13. Doug Kalitta; 14. Scott Palmer; 15. Steven Chrisman; 16. Dave Connolly.
FUNNY CAR
1. Jack Beckman; 2. John Force; 3. Alexis DeJoria; 4. Tony Pedregon; 5. Cruz Pedregon; 6. Matt Hagan; 7. Tim Wilkerson; 8. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 9. Ron Capps; 10. Del Worsham; 11. Courtney Force; 12. Robert Hight; 13. John Hale; 14. Chad Head; 15. Jeff Diehl; 16. Todd Simpson.
PRO STOCK
1. Larry Morgan; 2. Allen Johnson; 3. Erica Enders; 4. Shane Gray; 5. Greg Anderson; 6. Jason Line; 7. Drew Skillman; 8. Jonathan Gray; 9. Chris McGaha; 10. Vincent Nobile; 11. V. Gaines; 12. Bo Butner; 13. Deric Kramer; 14. Matt Hartford; 15. Joey Grose.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
1. Eddie Krawiec; 2. Hector Arana Jr; 3. Andrew Hines; 4. Jim Underdahl; 5. Hector Arana; 6. Matt Smith; 7. Scotty Pollacheck; 8. Steve Johnson; 9. Jerry Savoie; 10. Shawn Gann; 11. Karen Stoffer; 12. Chaz Kennedy; 13. Freddie Camarena; 14. Chip Ellis; 15. LE Tonglet; 16. Angie Smith.
Sunday’s Final Results
Top Fuel -- Steve Torrence, 3.925 seconds, 319.37 mph def. Tony Schumacher, 3.940 seconds, 305.08 mph.
Funny Car -- Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.190, 293.92 def. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.291, 258.96.
Pro Stock -- Larry Morgan, Chevy Camaro, 6.944, 199.02 def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.930, 199.23.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.239, 185.51 def. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 7.230, 186.43.
Final Round-By-Round Results
TOP FUEL
ROUND ONE -- Steve Torrence, 3.891, 320.13 def. Jenna Haddock, 4.156, 284.93; Brittany Force, 3.974, 307.09 def. Terry McMillen, 4.182, 237.46; Larry Dixon, 4.352, 243.99 def. Scott Palmer, 4.408, 231.52; Tony Schumacher, 4.150, 227.69 def. Steven Chrisman, 5.546, 124.64; Richie Crampton, 4.193, 254.90 def. Doug Kalitta, 4.242, 256.70; Shawn Langdon, 3.906, 302.08 def. Spencer Massey, 3.920, 317.34; Clay Millican, 4.264, 229.43 def. Dave Connolly, 6.251, 88.18; J.R. Todd, 3.968, 305.56 def. Antron Brown, 3.991, 302.89;
QUARTERFINALS -- Schumacher, 3.933, 304.87 def. Millican, 3.963, 308.57; Dixon, 3.974, 300.86 def. Todd, 4.080, 259.26; Torrence, 3.946, 303.64 def. Crampton, 4.309, 235.97; Force, 3.932, 313.37 def. Langdon, 4.548, 208.42;
SEMIFINALS -- Torrence, 3.902, 318.09 def. Dixon, 3.948, 312.57; Schumacher, 3.896, 315.56 def. Force, 3.916, 315.71;
FINAL -- Torrence, 3.925, 319.37 def. Schumacher, 3.940, 305.08.
FUNNY CAR
ROUND ONE -- John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.225, 300.26 def. John Hale, Dodge Charger, 4.632, 216.58; Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.596, 220.26 def. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 4.880, 179.52; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.587, 270.92 def. Todd Simpson, Camaro, 6.287, 114.09; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.497, 246.39 def. Chad Head, Toyota Camry, 4.665, 118.18; Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.316, 281.36 def. Robert Hight, Chevrolet Camaro, 4.568, 212.63; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.235, 303.71 def. Del Worsham, Camry, 4.221, 292.39; Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.330, 271.52 def. Courtney Force, Camaro, foul; Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.157, 287.17 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.205, 299.93;
QUARTERFINALS -- T. Pedregon, 4.216, 279.56 def. Johnson Jr., 4.694, 190.83; Beckman, 4.124, 302.48 def. Hagan, 4.391, 228.11; J. Force, 4.224, 304.87 def. C. Pedregon, 4.272, 279.85; DeJoria, 4.248, 292.84 def. Wilkerson, 4.427, 254.23;
SEMIFINALS -- J. Force, 4.107, 310.70 def. T. Pedregon, 4.281, 267.00; Beckman, 4.184, 295.40 def. DeJoria, foul;
FINAL -- Beckman, 4.190, 293.92 def. J. Force, 4.291, 258.96.
PRO STOCK
ROUND ONE -- Drew Skillman, Chevy Camaro, 6.944, 199.08 def. Bo Butner, Camaro, foul; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.915, 199.97 def. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.940, 198.50; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.925, 198.96 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.924, 199.91; Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.955, 199.55 def. V. Gaines, Dodge Dart, 6.952, 199.32; Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.968, 198.50 def. Deric Kramer, Dodge Avenger, 6.972, 198.76; Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.907, 199.49 was unopposed; Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.925, 199.43 def. Joey Grose, Camaro, foul; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.895, 199.97 def. Matt Hartford, Pontiac GXP, 6.996, 197.22;
QUARTERFINALS -- S. Gray, 6.915, 200.14 def. J. Gray, broke; Morgan, 6.918, 199.37 def. Line, 6.910, 200.00; Johnson, 6.905, 200.05 def. Skillman, 6.950, 198.23; Enders, 6.900, 199.91 def. Anderson, 6.904, 199.73;
SEMIFINALS -- Johnson, 6.930, 199.14 def. S. Gray, 6.948, 199.20; Morgan, 6.914, 199.32 def. Enders, 6.920, 199.26;
FINAL -- Morgan, 6.944, 199.02 def. Johnson, 6.930, 199.23.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
ROUND ONE -- Matt Smith, 7.254, 183.69 def. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 7.268, 185.31; Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.266, 184.40 def. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, foul; Hector Arana, Buell, 7.417, 171.49 def. Chip Ellis, Buell, 7.371, 183.02; Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 7.287, 183.82 def. Angie Smith, 7.555, 177.49; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.258, 184.57 def. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.321, 183.00; Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 7.208, 187.76 def. Freddie Camarena, Suzuki, 7.355, 183.59; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.208, 186.85 def. Chaz Kennedy, Buell, 7.339, 180.16; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.273, 180.84 def. Shawn Gann, Buell, 7.277, 184.52;
QUARTERFINALS -- Underdahl, 7.240, 185.05 def. Arana, 7.262, 185.28; Hines, 7.256, 183.87 def. Pollacheck, 7.298, 183.92; Krawiec, 7.229, 184.72 def. M. Smith, 7.278, 183.87; Arana Jr, 7.212, 187.29 def. Johnson, broke;
SEMIFINALS -- Krawiec, 7.254, 184.35 def. Underdahl, 7.453, 160.81; Arana Jr, 7.245, 185.08 def. Hines, 7.277, 182.13;
FINAL -- Krawiec, 7.239, 185.51 def. Arana Jr, 7.230, 186.43.
Point Standings (Top 10)
Top Fuel
1. Tony Schumacher, 1,126; 2. Antron Brown, 1,041; 3. Larry Dixon, 920; 4. Doug Kalitta, 880; 5. Richie Crampton, 848; 6. Spencer Massey, 788; 7. Brittany Force, 762; 8. Shawn Langdon, 748; 9. Steve Torrence, 728; 10. J.R. Todd, 703.
Funny Car
1. Matt Hagan, 1,083; 2. Jack Beckman, 938; 3. John Force, 891; 4. Ron Capps, 879; 5. Del Worsham, 868; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 855; 7. (tie) Cruz Pedregon, 782; Tim Wilkerson, 782; 9. Alexis DeJoria, 731; 10. Robert Hight, 703.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 1,201; 2. Erica Enders, 1,164; 3. Jason Line, 988; 4. Chris McGaha, 925; 5. Allen Johnson, 845; 6. Larry Morgan, 842; 7. Drew Skillman, 779; 8. Shane Gray, 723; 9. Vincent Nobile, 681; 10. Jonathan Gray, 667.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Eddie Krawiec, 575; 2. Hector Arana Jr, 539; 3. Andrew Hines, 484; 4. Karen Stoffer, 413; 5. Jim Underdahl, 387; 6. Hector Arana, 383; 7. Matt Smith, 357; 8. Angelle Sampey, 336; 9. LE Tonglet, 334; 10. Jerry Savoie, 328.
