Toyota Gazoo Racing North America – NHRA Gateway Post-Race Report – 10.02.22

TORRENCE SCORES SECOND WIN OF THE SEASON
The four-time NHRA championship closes within one round of the points lead

MADISON, Ill. (October 2, 2022) – Steve Torrence earned his second win of the season as he claimed victory from the No. 1 qualifying spot in St. Louis. For Toyota, it is the fifth Top Fuel win in the last six national events. With the victory, Torrence closes to within 14 points of fellow Toyota Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley for the points lead.

In Funny Car, Ron Capps advanced to his third final round in the last four events and came up just short in the finals to Robert Hight.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway
Race 19 of 22

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
Steve TorrenceCapco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel DragsterWinnerW. 3.715 v. 3.910(Hull) W. 3.763 v. 3.806(Millican) W. 3.725 v. 4.108(Kalitta) W. 3.741 v. 3.749(Hart)
Doug KalittaMac Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSemi-FinalsW. 3.901 v. 6.318(Foley) W. 3.767 v. 3.833(B. Force) L. 4.108 v. 3.725(Torrence)
Shawn LangdonDHL Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSemi-FinalsW. 3.760 v. 3.747
(Holeshot Win – Wurtzel) W. 3.760 v. 9.253(Schumacher) L. 3.744 v. 3.712(Hart)
Justin AshleyPhillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel DragsterFirst RoundL. 4.476 v. 3.946(Salinas)
Antron BrownMatco Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterFirst RoundL. 6.514 v. 5.829(Millican)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
Ron CappsNAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota GR Supra Funny CarFinalistW. 3.938 v. 4.055(D. Wilkerson) W. 3.927 v. 3.938(Pedregon) W. 3.884 v. 3.950(J. Force) L. 3.908 v. 3.911(Holeshot Loss – Hight)
J.R. ToddDHL Toyota GR Supra Funny CarSecond RoundW. 3.928 v. 3.928(Holeshot Win –DeJoria) L. 3.967 v. 3.968(Holeshot Loss – J. Force)
Alexis DeJoriaBandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny CarFirst RoundL. 3.928 v. 3.928(Holeshot Loss – DeJoria

TOYOTA QUOTES

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

Final Result: Winner

How was your race?
“Every round was a big round for us. Going up there against Clay (Millican), I thought I lost. I never saw a light all day, so you go around the corner and I’m wondering if you won or if I lost. I felt like he was ahead of me. I watched him the whole way. I knew I was late. I was thinking I lost on a holeshot, I’m going to have to deal with this. I come around the corner and they are wheeling me towards the television. Well, here goes this. It is insult to injury because now I’m going to have to explain my holeshot loss and then Clay told me I won and I kind of got happy about it. Third round against Doug (Kalitta), just a good race. I think I flickered the bulb no less than 10 times. It would never lock on. Finally, I said I’m going to go in another bump and see if I could get it on, and then a good drag race. They were going for it. Going in the final, racing Josh (Hart). Josh is very predictable on what he does on the tree. I had in my mind that he didn’t want to go first and he doesn’t hod you out or anything, so I went in. I stole a little bit. The car probably ran a hundredth better, but that .027 – none of us are Justin Ashley. For my old butt to do it, I was proud of that one. I think Josh rolled his in too. In the final round, that is what you do. It’s time to race and it’s time to get it done.”

RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Ron Capps Motorsports

Final Result: Finals

How was your race?

Man, what a day. The competition just ratchets higher and higher with every race in these playoffs. Three races under our belt in the Countdown, and its bittersweet right now as we talk Sunday night because you get put into those positions in the final round like that, and those are the moments you’ve got to rise to. We had a great run in the final. I was trying to hang on to the car and keep it in the middle and I think that’s probably what cost us. Hight’s team did a great job and that’s what it’s going to continue to be at these last three races as we battle it out. They’re going to be tough; that’s the reason they’re leading the points. Our NAPA AutoCare team, what a bounce back after Friday night. There was no panic, everyone just went up and did their thing and we collected those bonus points and ended up No. 3 and of course, today was not easy. Everyone was throwing their shots at us, and there’s a reason there’s a No. 1 on this car and we’re the defending champions. So, Guido and Medlen, just a great job and it’s very encouraging to go to the next race in Dallas with such a great Toyota Supra and see if we can’t repeat what we did there last year and steal the trophy there as well.”

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.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SpeedwayMedia.com

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