Billy Torrence Returns to Full-Time NHRA Top Fuel in 2026
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The NHRA Top Fuel Torrence Racing team put months-long rumors to rest Monday, announcing that Billy Torrence will compete full-time in the CAPCO Contractors Dragster for the 2026 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Unless something changes, his four-time champion son Steve will not participate in the sanctioning body’s 20-race 75th anniversary tour.
Billy Torrence, winner of eight career Top Fuel victories and scored three top-five finishes from 2019-2021. He last competed full-time in 2024, when he began his season with a runner-up performance at the Gatornationals. He’ll return to steady action March 5-8 at those same Gatornationals at Gainesville, Florida. Torrence made a single appearance last year, at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd, Minnesota, where he reached the semifinals.
“I’m extremely excited to have the opportunity to race a full season of Top Fuel again this year. “The team is eager to get back out and compete and hopefully bring home some Wallys in 2026. There’s no better way to celebrate NHRA’s 75th season than being part of it,” Torrence said.
Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana remain with the organization as crew chief and assistant crew chief, respectively. Justin Crosslin will serve as car chief once again. Together the group contributed to four-consecutive Top Fuel championships (2018-2021) as part of the only team ever to sweep every race in the Countdown to the Championship.
In 1995, Torrence founded CAPCO Contractors, Inc., a full-service pipeline company based in Henderson, Texas, near Kilgore. CAPCO is a family-owned and operated business in the oil and gas industry that performs pipeline infrastructure construction worldwide. In drag racing, he also owns competition licenses in the Super Comp and Top Dragster classes.
Kay Torrence, his wife and team owner, said, “It’s amazing to see Billy get back behind the wheel. He has already proven himself in this sport, and we’re proud to continue supporting him in his racing career. We’re confident his experience will be an asset both on and off the track.”
The team plans to participate this week in the PRO test session at Gainesville.
