Steve Torrence won his first Top Fuel world championship during eliminations on Sunday at the NHRA Toyota Nationals and raced to his 10th victory of the year at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
J.R. Todd (Funny Car), Bo Butner (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also winners in their respective categories at the fifth of six playoff events during the 2018 Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.
Torrence continued his impressive pace in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship, where he has yet to lose a round of racing since the playoffs began. He earned his first world championship during the semifinals when he defeated Richie Crampton.
Torrence went on to get his fifth consecutive win when he bested Leah Pritchett with a run of 3.751 seconds at 326.32 mph in his Capco Contractors dragster.
"This is a lifelong goal right here," Torrence said. "All the glory goes to God, my mom and dad, because without them none of this would be even be possible. Every one of those Capco boys on that race team, because they put their heart in it, and it is hard to beat people with heart.
"All the boys back home at Capco, we got it done guys. This is unreal. To all those people who said we couldn't do it, we are here."
In Funny Car, Todd powered to his fifth win of the year in his DHL Toyota Camry and in doing so, took over the category points lead. He defeated Matt Hagan in the finals with his winning run of 3.921 at 318.39.
He now has a 74-point lead over defending World Champion Robert Hight, who had a first-round loss. It was the seventh Funny Car win for Todd, the 16th in his career and completed a season sweep at the facility.
"It is so awesome to drive a car like that when it is that consistent," Todd said. "You don't have to worry about if you are going to have to go out there and pedal it or things like that. You can go up there and smack the tree as hard as you can and keep that thing stuck down the groove.
"It is a lot of fun to drive. We still have some unfinished business in Pomona. Hopefully we can go there and come out of it with two trophies."
Todd raced to his fourth final round in the Countdown to the Championship with victories against Robert Townsend, teammate Shawn Langdon and Jack Beckman.
Butner, the 2017 Pro Stock world champion, grabbed his second win of the year after defeating Erica Enders with a run of 6.657 at 207.43 in his Jim Butner's Auto Chevrolet Camaro. It was his fifth final round at the facility in the past four seasons.
"We started off like gangbusters, win in Pomona, ran good at Gainesville and thought we had another repeat deal coming," Butner said. "We struggled a little bit, as every team does. I kept saying this weekend this is perfect.
"This car showed improvement every run. I'm very happy we got to win again, win a couple of rounds, much less win the race. This Pro Stock deal is amazing. Everybody in the top 12 qualifiers can win."
Points leader Tanner Gray settled for a semifinal finish when he was defeated by Enders. He has a 140-point lead heading into the final race of the season.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Arana Jr. was the top qualifier for the event and won his third race of the year when he defeated defending World Champion Eddie Krawiec in the finals. On his Lucas Oil Buell, he raced to a winning run of 6.885 at 193.35 for this 14th win in his career and his first at The Strip.
"We did a great job qualifying, and that sent the tone for today," Arana said. "It gave me the confidence I needed. I had great lights in qualifying and did it again today on race day.
"Great preparation and everything came back together. We just want to qualify well, win rounds and win races."
With the win, Arana moves to fourth in the points and trails points leader Matt Smith by 64 markers. Krawiec jumps to second, only four behind Smith, and L.E. Tonglet is third, 61 out of first.
The Mello Yello Drag Racing Series concludes on Nov. 8-11 at the Auto Club NHRA Finals on Nov. 8-11 at the Auto Club Raceway of Pomona.
Janis wins Pro Mod championship; Frigo wins event
Mike Janis won his first E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service world championship at the season-ending event during the NHRA Toyota Nationals.
Janis was the points leaders entering the weekend, but was defeated in the first round of eliminations by Mike Caruso. Rickie Smith, who was second, advanced to the quarterfinals and had an opportunity to win his fourth championship if he advanced to the semifinals.
However, Smith was defeated by Rick Hord, allowing Janis to claim the crown.
"It hasn't set in yet," Janis said. "After losing in the first round, we were all kind of down. Now, it's just an incredible feeling, I can't explain it. We had a good car all year, we had a good car when we got here and made nice and consistent runs.
"It will sink in in the next hour or so. I've won races before, but this is the cream of the crop right here. The NHRA Pro Mod champ, I love it."
In the finals, Sidnei Frigo faced Mike Castellana for the last victory of the year. Frigo was able to race to the win with a run of 5.756-seconds at 256.50 mph to the trailing run of 5.861 at 249.49 for Castellana.
It was the first win of the season for Frigo.
"We had a lot of issues with the car at the beginning of the year," Frigo said. "Now we fixed the car, and it runs great. Next year is going to be a good year."
NHRA Toyota Nationals
Championship Day results
Sunday, Oct. 28
Final finish order
TOP FUEL
- Steve Torrence; 2. Leah Pritchett; 3. Richie Crampton; 4. Tony Schumacher; 5. Blake Alexander; 6. Clay Millican; 7. Brittany Force; 8. Billy Torrence; 9. Antron Brown; 10. Troy Buff; 11. Terry McMillen; 12. Scott Palmer; 13. Greg Carrillo; 14. Doug Kalitta; 15. Shawn Reed; 16. Mike Salinas.
FUNNY CAR
- J.R. Todd; 2. Matt Hagan; 3. Jack Beckman; 4. Bob Tasca III; 5. Ron Capps; 6. Courtney Force; 7. Shawn Langdon; 8. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 9. John Force; 10. Cruz Pedregon; 11. Jim Campbell; 12. Robert Hight; 13. Jonnie Lindberg; 14. Tim Wilkerson; 15. Richard Townsend; 16. Jeff Arend.
PRO STOCK
- Bo Butner; 2. Erica Enders; 3. Tanner Gray; 4. Matt Hartford; 5. Jason Line; 6. Drew Skillman; 7. Deric Kramer; 8. Jeg Coughlin; 9. Greg Anderson; 10. Alex Laughlin; 11. Chris McGaha; 12. Vincent Nobile; 13. Kenny Delco; 14. Steve Graham; 15. Fernando Cuadra; 16. Alan Prusiensky.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
- Hector Arana Jr; 2. Eddie Krawiec; 3. Hector Arana; 4. Andrew Hines; 5. Chip Ellis; 6. Matt Smith; 7. Angelle Sampey; 8. Jerry Savoie; 9. L.E. Tonglet; 10. Steve Johnson; 11. Scotty Pollacheck; 12. Ron Tornow; 13. Ryan Oehler; 14. Kelly Clontz; 15. Mark Paquette; 16. Angie Smith.
PRO MODIFIED
- Sidnei Frigo; 2. Mike Castellana; 3. Rick Hord; 4. Jose Gonzalez; 5. Michael Biehle; 6. Jim Whiteley; 7. Marc Caruso; 8. Rickie Smith; 9. Jeremy Ray; 10. Shane Molinari; 11. Mike Janis; 12. Clint Satterfield; 13. Steve Jackson; 14. Chad Green; 15. Steven Whiteley; 16. Todd Tutterow.
Championship finals results
Top Fuel
Steve Torrence, 3.751 seconds, 326.32 mph def. Leah Pritchett, 5.317 seconds, 148.85 mph.
Funny Car
J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 3.921, 318.39 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.087, 263.62.
Pro Stock
Bo Butner, Chevy Camaro, 6.657, 207.43 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.652, 206.57.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.885, 193.35 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.911, 195.05.
Pro Modified
Sidnei Frigo, Chevy Camaro, 5.756, 256.50 def. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.861, 249.49.
Top Alcohol Dragster
Joey Severance, 5.266, 275.28 def. Julie Nataas, 5.369, 271.95.
Top Alcohol Funny Car
Sean Bellemeur, Chevy Camaro, 5.517, 264.65 def. Doug Gordon, Camaro, 5.488, 269.24.
Competition Eliminator
David Billingsley, Chevy Camaro, 8.268, 148.48 def. Doug Engels, Dragster, Foul - Red Light.
Super Stock
Justin Lamb, Chevy Cobalt, 8.766, 150.58 def. Jimmy DeFrank, Cobalt, 9.102, 148.56.
Stock Eliminator
Chris Stephenson, Pontiac Firebird, 11.221, 112.78 def. Jeff Taylor, Chevy Camaro, 9.501, 139.66.
Super Comp
Kevin Wright, Dragster, 9.044, 175.05 def. Ken Mostowich, Chevy Camaro, Foul - Red Light.
Super Gas
Matt Blodgett, Chevy Nova, 10.057, 134.93 def. Rob Willis, Pontiac Firebird, 10.042, 165.13.
Pro Modified
Sidnei Frigo, Chevy Camaro, 5.756, 256.50 def. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.861, 249.49.
Round-by-round results
TOP FUEL
ROUND ONE
Tony Schumacher, 3.818, 315.86 def. Scott Palmer, 3.850, 304.94; Blake Alexander, 3.734, 326.48 def. Antron Brown, 3.793, 314.61; Clay Millican, 3.744, 329.58 def. Greg Carrillo, 3.912, 315.42; Leah Pritchett, 3.735, 327.43 def. Troy Buff, 3.808, 319.67; Brittany Force, 3.738, 330.55 def. Mike Salinas, Broke; Steve Torrence, 3.778, 326.79 def. Shawn Reed, 4.461, 180.02; Richie Crampton, 3.797, 314.02 def. Doug Kalitta, 4.219, 216.06; Billy Torrence, 3.724, 329.58 def. Terry McMillen, 3.812, 325.85;
QUARTERFINALS
Schumacher, 3.754, 328.70 def. Millican, 4.025, 242.15; Pritchett, 3.740, 322.42 def. Alexander, 3.968, 276.29; Crampton, 3.766, 321.96 def. Force, 4.232, 242.23; S. Torrence, 3.764, 329.34 def. B. Torrence, 4.417, 185.10;
SEMIFINALS
Torrence, 3.724, 330.15 def. Crampton, 4.233, 223.54; Pritchett, 3.730, 328.46 def. Schumacher, 6.004, 93.72;
FINAL
Torrence, 3.751, 326.32 def. Pritchett, 5.317, 148.85.
FUNNY CAR
ROUND ONE
Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.969, 317.79 def. Jonnie Lindberg, Mustang, 5.025, 160.18; Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 3.938, 326.08 def. Jeff Arend, Chevy Monte Carlo, 7.197, 92.39; J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 3.935, 321.27 def. Richard Townsend, Camry, 6.782, 98.32; Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.935, 326.24 def. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.035, 300.33; Ron Capps, Charger, 3.954, 325.22 def. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.972, 330.31; Courtney Force, Camaro, 3.919, 326.87 def. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 3.975, 308.35; Shawn Langdon, Camry, 3.922, 325.85 def. Robert Hight, Camaro, 4.643, 186.41; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.908, 326.08 def. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, Foul - Red Light;
QUARTERFINALS
Tasca III, 3.943, 322.11 def. Capps, 3.963, 322.81; Todd, 3.957, 320.36 def. Langdon, 5.134, 145.96; Hagan, 3.919, 326.08 def. Johnson Jr., Foul - Red Light; Beckman, 3.951, 320.51 def. C. Force, 3.969, 320.66;
SEMIFINALS
Todd, 3.906, 327.11 def. Beckman, 3.937, 327.90; Hagan, 3.928, 323.89 def. Tasca III, 3.952, 319.29;
FINAL
Todd, 3.921, 318.39 def. Hagan, 4.087, 263.62.
PRO STOCK
ROUND ONE
Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.644, 206.45 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.655, 207.37; Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.653, 207.56 def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.655, 205.16; Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.663, 206.80 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.657, 207.37; Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.646, 206.64 def. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, Foul - Red Light; Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.646, 206.48 def. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.661, 204.94; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.641, 205.51 def. Fernando Cuadra, Camaro, 6.723, 205.54; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.640, 206.86 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.693, 205.16; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.635, 206.86 def. Steve Graham, Camaro, 6.714, 204.91;
QUARTERFINALS
Gray, 6.654, 206.39 def. Skillman, 6.666, 206.48; Hartford, 6.663, 205.85 def. Kramer, 6.673, 206.23; Butner, 6.652, 207.08 def. Line, 6.655, 206.23; Enders, 6.664, 206.45 def. Coughlin, 6.679, 206.39;
SEMIFINALS
Enders, 6.665, 204.32 def. Gray, 6.673, 205.91; Butner, 6.658, 207.66 def. Hartford, 6.682, 206.10;
FINAL
Butner, 6.657, 207.43 def. Enders, 6.652, 206.57.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
ROUND ONE
Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.973, 190.00 def. Angie Smith, Buell, 7.638, 128.24; Matt Smith, 6.923, 195.62 def. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.926, 193.24; Chip Ellis, Harley-Davidson, 6.918, 191.97 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 7.045, 189.84; Hector Arana, 6.905, 194.60 def. Ryan Oehler, Buell, 7.022, 190.89; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.950, 191.92 def. Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki, 6.994, 189.95; Hector Arana Jr, 6.924, 193.27 def. Mark Paquette, Buell, 7.236, 152.38; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.901, 194.21 def. Ron Tornow, Buell, 7.003, 188.67; Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.943, 192.85 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.966, 190.48;
QUARTERFINALS
Arana Jr, 6.942, 193.88 def. M. Smith, Foul - Red Light; Hines, 6.978, 191.29 def. Ellis, Foul - Red Light; Arana, 6.931, 194.74 def. Sampey, 6.960, 191.87; Krawiec, 6.933, 194.97 def. Savoie, 6.978, 192.69;
SEMIFINALS
Arana Jr, 6.946, 194.13 def. Hines, 6.995, 190.89; Krawiec, 6.924, 194.83 def. Arana, 6.953, 193.52;
FINAL
Arana Jr, 6.885, 193.35 def. Krawiec, 6.911, 195.05.
PRO MODIFIED
ROUND ONE
Michael Biehle, Ford Mustang, 5.762, 255.97 def. Steven Whiteley, Chevy Camaro, 10.537, 83.01; Sidnei Frigo, Camaro, 5.753, 256.65 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 6.149, 172.70; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.731, 252.99 def. Clint Satterfield, Camaro, 5.856, 248.39; Jose Gonzalez, Camaro, 5.707, 258.22 def. Shane Molinari, Pontiac firebird, 5.769, 257.53; Marc Caruso, Camaro, 5.762, 247.75 def. Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.789, 247.57; Rick Hord, Chevy Corvette, 5.750, 252.66 def. Chad Green, Corvette, 6.156, 244.78; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.782, 248.39 def. Jeremy Ray, Corvette, 5.731, 247.88; Jim Whiteley, Camaro, 5.840, 246.48 def. Todd Tutterow, Camaro, Foul - Red Light;
QUARTERFINALS
Castellana, 5.751, 251.72 def. Biehle, 5.810, 254.86; Frigo, 5.754, 256.02 def. J. Whiteley, 5.826, 246.48; Hord, 5.756, 254.86 def. Smith, 5.843, 247.38; Gonzalez, 5.755, 256.45 def. Caruso, 5.829, 245.94;
SEMIFINALS
Frigo, 5.745, 257.28 def. Hord, 5.898, 214.48; Castellana, 5.797, 250.55 def. Gonzalez, Broke;
FINAL
Frigo, 5.756, 256.50 def. Castellana, 5.861, 249.49.
Season points standings
Top Fuel
- Steve Torrence, 2,718*; 2. Clay Millican, 2,487; 3. Tony Schumacher, 2,454; 4. Leah Pritchett, 2,394; 5. Brittany Force, 2,302; 6. Antron Brown, 2,291; 7. (tie) Doug Kalitta, 2,259; Mike Salinas, 2,259; 9. Terry McMillen, 2,253; 10. Scott Palmer, 2,182. *Clinched world title.
Funny Car
- J.R. Todd, 2,553; 2. Robert Hight, 2,479; 3. Ron Capps, 2,388; 4. Tim Wilkerson, 2,367; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,362; 6. Courtney Force, 2,324; 7. Matt Hagan, 2,321; 8. Jack Beckman, 2,283; 9. John Force, 2,277; 10. Shawn Langdon, 2,204.
Pro Stock
- Tanner Gray, 2,583; 2. Jeg Coughlin, 2,443; 3. Erica Enders, 2,434; 4. Drew Skillman, 2,413; 5. Vincent Nobile, 2,404; 6. Jason Line, 2,350; 7. Greg Anderson, 2,334; 8. Bo Butner, 2,300; 9. Deric Kramer, 2,220; 10. Chris McGaha, 2,135.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
- Matt Smith, 2,479; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 2,475; 3. LE Tonglet, 2,418; 4. Hector Arana Jr, 2,415; 5. Jerry Savoie, 2,378; 6. Andrew Hines, 2,366; 7. Angelle Sampey, 2,268; 8. Angie Smith, 2,255; 9. Steve Johnson, 2,242; 10. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,209.
Pro Modified
- Mike Janis, 770; 2. Rickie Smith, 763; 3. Mike Castellana, 725; 4. Steve Jackson, 659; 5. (tie) Chad Green, 610; Jeremy Ray, 610; 7. Rick Hord, 565; 8. Khalid alBalooshi, 558; 9. Todd Tutterow, 521; 10. Jose Gonzalez, 510.
