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Torrence, Todd, Skillman get first Indy wins, Krawiec earns U.S. Nationals glory again

Steve Torrence doubled up by capturing his first pro win in Indy after winning the Traxxas Nitro Shootout. J.R. Todd and Drew Skillman also got their first Indy wins, while Eddie Krawiec got back into the winner's circle at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.
04 Sep 2017
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Race coverage
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Steve Torrence piloted his Capco Contractors dragster to the Top Fuel victory Monday at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, the worlds biggest drag race, at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

J.R. Todd (Funny Car), Drew Skillman (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also victorious at the 18th event of 24 on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Series Drag Racing Series schedule.


Steve Torrence

Torrence raced to a 3.757-second pass at 322.96 mph to defeat Kebin Kinsley who lost traction in his Road Rage Fuel Booster dragster at the start of the final. It is Torrences first win at the Chevy Performance U.S. Nationals, seventh of the season and 15th of his career.

This is surreal, Torrence said. I dont even know if Im realizing whats going on right now. You come to Indy and you race for a week. This is our biggest race. This is what we race our careers for, is to try and win Indy and its a marathon. Im wore out. Unless youre a racer and in this situation, I dont think I can explain the feelings that you get. This is us winning the biggest race of our sport. I said this the other day, you can win a bunch of championships but if you dont win Indy then you havent really done much. So, weve won Indy.

Torrence also won the Top Fuel Traxxas Nitro Shootout, the lucrative race-within-a-race with a $100,000 cash prize. He defeated rookie Ashley Sanford, reigning and three-time world champion Antron Brown and Leah Pritchett en route to the finals. With his semifinal win over Pritchett, Torrence clinched the No. 1 seed heading into the Countdown to the Championship, NHRAs six race playoff.

Kinsleys final round appearance was the first of his career. He defeated No. 1 qualifier Clay Millican, Shawn Langdon and the winningest Top Fuel driver in NHRA history, Tony Schumacher, before falling to Torrence.


J.R. Todd

Todd, an Indianapolis native, powered past reigning Funny Car world champion Ron Capps with a 3.949 pass at 325.53 in his DHL Toyota Camry to better Capps 3.923 at 325.61 in his NAPA Dodge Charger. It is Todds first career win at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, his second of the season and of his Funny Car Career.

This was where it all started for me in Jr. Dragsters, Todd said. I remember watching Capps as a kid and now I raced him in the final round of Indy. Its too surreal. Like Torrence said, you win Indy and you know youve beaten the best in the sport. Ron Capps and those guys out there are the best in the sport.

Todd picked up wins against Brian Stewart, veteran Cruz Pedregon and, Tim Wilkerson who crossed the center line in the semifinals before taking home the Wally. Hes secured the No. 9 spot heading into the Countdown to the Championship. Capps took out 2015 winner Alexis DeJoria, Jim Campbell and teammate Jack Beckman before losing.


Drew Skillman

In Pro Stock, Drew Skillman ran a 6.676 pass at 206.61 in his Ray Skillman Chevrolet Camaro to defeat Greg Andersons 6.660 at 208.01 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro on a holeshot for his first Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals victory, fourth win of the season and seventh of his career. His four victories have come in the last six races.

I cannot speak highly enough of my team, Skillman said. Theyve been killing it. Consistency is super hard in this sport and we have a car that keeps repeating. This has been a long time coming. Weve worked really hard to finally get something like this to happen. Theres a very small list of things Id really like to do in life. And this is one of them. I want for nothing and this was something that I really wanted to do. And thats finally done and were not done chasing yet.

On the way to his victory, Skillman defeated Pro Stock veteran Jeg Coughlin Jr., Chris McGaha and rookie and No. 1 qualifier Tanner Gray. Anderson, a four-time world champion and six-time Chevrolet Performance U.S. National winner, raced Kenny Delco, teammate and reigning champ Jason Line and Alex Laughlin before reaching the finals.


Eddie Krawiec

Krawiec rode to the Pro Stock Motorcycle win with his 6.858 pass at 196.90 on his Screamin Eagle / Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to defeat Hector Arana Jr. and his Lucas Oil Buells 6.886 pass at 195.48. This was Krawiecs second Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals victory, his third win of the season and 39th of his career.

We had a great motorcycle all weekend long, said Krawiec, who was the No. 1 qualifier. We just needed to keep finessing it and get it better and better and better. I couldnt be prouder of my crew that I got right now; everybody that puts forth the effort in our program. Its been nonstop the last two weeks at our shop and for it all to come together and to celebrate here having half of our shop here, its just something special.

Krawiec took down Jim Underdahl, points leader LE Tonglet and Matt Smith before seeing Arana who beat 2016 rookie of the year Cory Reed, Scotty Pollacheck and reigning world champ Jerry Savoie, in the finals.

The 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues Sept. 15-17 at zMAX Dragway with the 10th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals and the kickoff to the Countdown to the Championship.