NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

As the four-time defending Top Fuel world champion, Steve Torrence knows all about racing in big moments. But none of them can top winning at the prestigious 68th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals, which takes place this weekend at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
 
It’s the world’s biggest drag race, and Torrence, who also won the most recent NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series event in Brainerd, has a pair of U.S. Nationals triumphs to his credit, including last year in his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors dragster. This year could be even bigger for the 52-time event winner, as he’s also in the semifinals of the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout specialty race. That started in Gainesville and is now down to the semifinals, where points leader Brittany Force, Torrence, Mike Salinas, and Justin Ashley will square off on Saturday for the $80,000 prize before eliminations on Sunday.
 
It’s a chance at another spectacular memory for Torrence, who will be hard-pressed to top how special last year’s win was at the Big Go.
 
“I won it last year with my little girl, and that’s the most memorable win I have. It’s the granddaddy of them all and the big one you want to win,” said Torrence, who is third in points. “You can do all the things, but if you don’t win Indy, you don’t have a full career. To share that with my daughter before she was [1 year old], that was special. I look forward to going there every year, and that’s what signifies a legend. [Tony] Schumacher, "Big Daddy" [Don Garlits], everybody who is somebody has dominated Indy. I’m not there yet, but hopefully, I can get there someday.”

 
Torrence (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock), and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all picked up wins a year ago at the Big Go. This year’s race will be broadcast on both the FOX broadcast network and FOX Sports 1 (FS1), including live eliminations coverage, starting at noon ET on Monday, Sept. 5 on FS1 and continuing at 2 p.m. on FOX. It is the 16th of 22 races during the 2022 season and the final race before the Countdown to the Championship.
 
It all looks to be perfect timing for Torrence, especially with the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout on Saturday and points-and-a-half on the line in Indy. A big weekend could send him to second in points heading into the playoffs, which would be plenty of momentum to make a fifth straight world title within reach.
 
But the Texan concentrates solely on this weekend because, well, it’s Indy. With a huge 25-car Top Fuel field and a standout list of competitors, including Force, Salinas, Ashley, 10-time event winner Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown, and Leah Pruett, Torrence knows he’ll have his hands full. But he’s also well aware of how meaningful it is if you’re able to outlast everyone at the Big Go.
 
“You go there with a different mindset to try and win Indy,” Torrence said. “You couldn’t win a race all year, but you could win Indy, and it would make your season. I’m excited to go there because I’ve got a good car. Indy is Indy, and only true drag racers understand that. When you win Indy, it’s a big one.”

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying for the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals will feature one round at 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 2, two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1:15 and 5 p.m., and the final two rounds on Sunday, Sept. 4 at noon and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 5.

 
The semifinals of the Pep Boys NHRA All-Star Top Fuel Callout take place on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 2:40 p.m., with the final round to follow at 6:25 p.m. The next day, the Pep Boys NHRA All-Star Funny Car Callout will begin with the opening round at 1:20 p.m., the semifinals at 2:45 p.m., and the final round at 4:55 p.m.
 
Television coverage of the prestigious Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals includes racing action on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3, and coverage of the Pep Boys NHRA All-Star Funny Car Callout from 4-5:30 p.m. Qualifying action will continue from 5:30-7 p.m. on Sunday on FS1. On Monday, live coverage from eliminations will begin at noon on FS1 and continue on FOX from 2-5 p.m.
 
To purchase tickets to the 68th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general-admission area with a paid adult.