TORRENCE EARNS NO. 1 QUALIFER, TOP FUEL MISSION CHALLENGE WINNER
Reigning champion Capps leads Toyota in the Funny Car class, starts second
TOPEKA, Kan. (August 12, 2023) – Steve Torrence picked up his second consecutive challenge win and the no.1 qualifier hat at the final race at Heartland Motorsport Park. Doug Kalitta continued his performance surge as he starts third, with points leader Justin Ashley in seventh.
In Funny Car, Ron Capps leads the Toyota contingent as his Toyota GR Supra Funny Car starts from the second spot, with Sonoma winner J.R. Todd coming from seventh.
Toyota Post-Qualifying Recap
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
Heartland Motorsports Park
Race 13 of 21
TOYOTA TOP FUEL QUALIFYING POSITIONS
| Name | Car | Qualifying Position | First Round Opponent |
| Steve Torrence | Capco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 1st (3.764) | T. Totten |
| Doug Kalitta | Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 3rd (3.799) | A. Prock |
| Justin Ashley | Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 7th (3.818) | J. Hart |
| Shawn Langdon | Kalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 9th (3.826) | B. Force |
| Antron Brown | Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 11th (3.864) | M. Salinas |
TOYOTA FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING POSITIONS
| Name | Car | Qualifying Position | First Round Opponent |
| Robert Hight* | Cornwell Tools Chevy Camaro Funny Car | 1st (3.948) | J. Wyatt |
| Ron Capps | NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra Funny Car | 2nd (3.950) | D. Richards |
| J.R. Todd | DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car | 7th (4.011) | C. Green |
| Alexis DeJoria | Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car | 12th (4.121) | J. Force |
(*non-Toyota driver)
TOYOTA QUOTES
STEVE TORRENCE, Capco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Torrence Racing
TF Qualifying Result: 1st
Mission Challenge Top Fuel Winner
It was a battle between the top two in points. Can you talk about your run there in the Mission Challenge finals?
“Justin Ashley has shown himself to be a fierce competitor, and he’s got a good team over there. Admittedly, we’ve not been the CAPCO boys of the past. We’re doing the best we can to get back to that. I think that at some point, we might have given these guys a false sense of hope that we aren’t the team we used to be. Maybe we’re not there yet, but we’re coming back. It gives me a lot of confidence and makes me feel excited about the rest of the year. We’re building the steam, building the momentum at the right time, and that CAPCO train is coming. This morning I felt safe. The conditions have changed and evolved to cloudy and cool. The big thing is, picking up bonus points throughout the rounds, that’s key, that’s crucial. We need to pick up those points. We need to get those tortilla challenge points. Justin had built a little bit of a lead, and we’re cutting that down. [The Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge points] are going to be crucial. I’ve won a championship by less than two or three points. It’ll be a big deal at the end. “
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 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 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 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 more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 24 electrified options.
