Skip to content
Custom Racing Suit
Get Started for FREE
Torrence Charges Into Virginia Seeking Back-to-Back Wins
LISTEN
0:00 0:00
Highlights
- Steve Torrence returns for 15th American Rebel Virginia Nationals.
- He seeks back-to-back NHRA Mission Foods victories since 2021.
- Race is only two-day event, increasing pressure on teams.
- Torrence holds 12-2 elimination record at Virginia Motorsports Park.
- Qualifying rounds start Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
- Torrence aims to build momentum with consistency this season.
Steve Torrence is returning to Virginia Motorsports Park for the 15th American Rebel Light Beer Virginia Nationals after clinching a major win just two weeks ago. Torrence, a four-time Top Fuel World Champion, is chasing back-to-back victories in NHRA’s Mission Foods series, something he hasn’t achieved since his last title season in 2021.
This round carries added weight as it is the only two-day race on the current NHRA calendar, increasing the pressure on teams and drivers to dial in their best performances quickly.
Torrence’s recent win at the Thunder Valley Nationals broke an 11-year drought at Bristol Dragway and marked the 11th season in a row where he’s claimed at least one NHRA tour victory. It was a special moment for Torrence and his team, especially after struggling to match their former level of dominance.
Over the last four years, the team worked relentlessly to recapture the consistency that carried them to multiple championships. Torrence credits his crew chiefs, Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana Jr., for their persistence as they made significant changes to improve the car.
He openly admits the car is not the same as the one that once won him as many as 11 races in a season. Torrence points out that more than running single fast laps, racing is about stacking up good runs every time.
In past years, everything seemed to click—he once swept every race in the 2018 NHRA Countdown, joining a short list of drivers in the sport’s history to do so. In contrast, the past two seasons saw inconsistencies, with weekends where either the car or his own driving fell short, but rarely both in sync.
Virginia Motorsports Park has been a strong track for Torrence. In his last four starts at VMP, he has been to three final rounds, winning twice, and compiled a 12-2 elimination round record.
He has the highest winning percentage for any active driver at this venue, a fact that boosts his confidence going into the weekend.
His quest for another win starts on Saturday with three qualifying rounds, two of which double as sessions for the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, adding bonus points and cash to the mix.
These take place at 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. local Texas time. Sunday eliminations kick off the day with intense competition on the line.
Torrence, who first won an NHRA world championship in Top Alcohol Dragster back in 2005 and remains the only driver ever to win titles in both Alcohol and Top Fuel, understands that building momentum now can make the difference later in the season. Consistency remains his biggest goal, and he knows every round at Virginia can help shape his campaign in the long run.
With high stakes at Virginia and a proven record, Torrence is looking to capitalize on his recent success and begin a new winning streak.
The weekend promises fast action, with the competition aiming to deny Torrence a second straight win in what is shaping up to be a closely contested NHRA season.
John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.
* The featured image is not a real photograph — it was created using AI.
