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