By Josh Hachat

He’ s traded barbs with elite drivers like Tony Schumacher and Leah Pritchett, displaying a colorful side Torrence insists is his true personality. It’ s brought a noticeable buzz to the class and Torrence’ s outspoken, breakout season has been a big reason why.

After his best season to date in 2016, when he won three events and advanced to eight final rounds to finish a career-best third in points, Torrence figured it was about time the sport and its fans got to know who he really is. What they’ ve seen is an energetic, passionate driver who doesn’ t back down from a challenge and plays just as hard as he works. But Torrence has backed it up on the dragstrip, going an impressive 28-4 in picking up five wins over a nine-race stretch.

The next step is maintaining that confidence – and performance – in crunch time, as Torrence will have to fight off the likes of Schumacher, Pritchett and back-to-back world champ Antron Brown in the Countdown to the Championship. But don’ t expect Torrence to back down, whether it’ s on the track or in front of a camera.

“ We’ re on a mission and we’ re not slacking up,” Torrence said.“ This is the best race car I’ ve ever driven and we have to take every advantage of it. We want to finish with the points lead and that’ s our mission. My guys have endurance, we have the parts and pieces, and we have everything it takes to maintain this pace all the way to the end.”

You’ ve obviously been much more vocal this year. Coming into the season, did you make it

a point to try and be more outspoken?

I came out this season and said,‘ You know I work everyday at Capco for a living.’ I wear cowboy boots and blue jeans, and a damn cowboy hat every day of my life pretty much. The people at the racetrack, they don’ t see that side of Steve Torrence. They don’ t know that side. At the track, I’ m the guy in a two-button polo and some black slacks, and when you come back to Texas, you’ re like‘ Where the hell did this guy come from?’ I just said, You know what, I’ m not going to be a different guy than I am at home. I’ m going to just show up and be Steve Torrence. I’ ve worn my blue jeans and my cowboy boots everyday, and I’ ve went out there and had a really good time. I enjoy talking trash.

I enjoy that; it’ s fun to me, as long as it’ s in good humor and in banter. That’ s fun, and the more that you talk to me, the more I get to talk back to you, and that just opens the door. I enjoy that. I just started this season with, not so much a chip on my shoulder, but I’ m going to have a good time and I’ m going to enjoy what I want to do, and if I can pick on you a little bit and get a rise out of you, that’ s what I’ m going to do. I’ ve had more fun racing – given we’ ve had more

success this year – this year than any year in the past. I’ m more relaxed; we’ re super fortunate and blessed at Capco.

There’ s a lot of stress( at Capco). I’ ve taken the stress away from the racetrack and I go there to enjoy myself, to race and to have a good time. So, it’ s changed the whole dynamic of why I’ m at the racetrack. Yeah, I’ m there to win and I’ m more intense and more focused and more driven than any year before, but I’ m having a good time doing it.

With being a little more outspoken, I didn’ t go in with a mindset of,‘ Oh, I’ m going to change my image.’ The guy that you’ ve seen on camera this year is Steve Torrence. I’ m not the most politically correct person. I wear my heart on my sleeve, I tell you how I feel. I’ m just going to be me and I’ ve had a really good time doing it. I personally think I’ ve gained way more fans than I’ ve ever had. I’ ve had so many people come up saying,‘ Man, we love it. Keep beating that pizza car. Keep beating those Schumacher cars. Keep talking trash.’ People identify with that. They don’ t want the same cookie-cutter( interview).

When it’ s raceday, I’ m not there to make friends. I’ m there to kick your butt no matter who you are.

It seems great for the class and for the sport.

PHOTO: RICK BELDEN