It would be easy for Steve Torrence to be distracted this weekend. There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding his future in Top Fuel racing.

“Lot’s of rumors floating around,” said Torrence. “Until I get a call, or someone else gets a call … it isn’t going to change the way I race this weekend. I’m driving this car the best I can. We are out here trying to get a win.”

Torrence isn’t so naïve that he’s oblivious to the banter floating around the pits suggesting he’s one of two rumored drivers to get the job driving the Fram Top Fuel dragster soon to be vacated by Cory McClenathan. He’s even heard that he’s the frontrunner for a Funny Car ride in 2011.

If he doesn’t get the gig, he might be out of professional racing indefinitely.

It would be easy for Steve Torrence to be distracted this weekend. There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding his future in Top Fuel racing.

“Lot’s of rumors floating around,” said Torrence. “Until I get a call, or someone else gets a call … it isn’t going to change the way I race this weekend. I’m driving this car the best I can. We are out here trying to get a win.”

Torrence isn’t so naïve that he’s oblivious to the banter floating around the pits suggesting he’s one of two rumored drivers to get the job driving the Fram Top Fuel dragster soon to be vacated by Cory McClenathan. He’s even heard that he’s the frontrunner for a Funny Car ride in 2011.

If he doesn’t get the gig, he might be out of professional racing indefinitely.

The team he’s driven for this season, owned by Dexter Tuttle, is for sale.

“It’s been for sale since Dallas,” Torrence confirmed. “I think a few people have already looked at it. I’m not exactly sure what [Dexter’s] plans are at the end of the season. If someone comes by and wants a good operation, there’s one for sale here.”

As painful as he finds it to utter those words, the past Top Alcohol Dragster series champion is at peace for a life on the racing sidelines.

“You always have to be prepared for a life without Top Fuel. In my situation, every season has been hit or miss. There has been quite a bit of uncertainty. I’ve been both fortunate and blessed at home. We have a really successful business that has supported our racing this season.

“If I can’t get something working for next year, I may take a year or two off and come back with something different.”

Don’t think for a moment Torrence is completely prepared to put his fuel racing ambitions on the backburner. He’ll keep looking for another competitive gig to get him back into the game.

“I don’t think you ever stop wanting to come out here or stop trying,” Torrence said. “You have to look at things realistically; it’s too late in the season to get a sponsor for next year. Most of these things are completed by Indy. I haven’t landed the big sponsor yet. Maybe I don’t know the right things to do. I am definitely out there trying. We have been fortunate to run out of the family business. We haven’t got as big of a budget as the others, but we don’t want for anything either.”

If he were to get the DSR ride, it would mark the first time Torrence has had a bona fide championship contending dragster.

“Cory Mac’s a legend in the sport,” Torrence said. “You don’t want to just come in and take his seat. With that being said, that’s truly a bad hot rod over there. I’d love the opportunity to drive it. I’ll just sit back, say a few prayers, cross my fingers and hope it all works out.”

Regardless of what transpires in the weeks to come, Torrence believes his destiny is to be in drag racing if only to serve as inspiration for those facing overwhelming odds. As a 17-year old high school senior, Torrence was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease.

“I love this sport. I love doing this,” said Torrence. “I love driving these cars. I feel like in some aspects this is what I need to be doing. Battling cancer, going through all of that stuff, I feel like I need to be some kind of witness to someone else, to help their life. I think that this sport, these people and everyone I am involved with, I can make an impact on.

“This is the perfect situation for me to do this in. I try to live every day to the fullest. Anybody who walks up to me, I try to influence them. I want them to look at me and feel, 'That guy is just a good Christian guy.' You never know when you go home when you have made a big impact on someone.”

---

{source}
<div style="float:left; padding:5px;"><script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-8044869477733334";
/* 300x250, created 4/3/09 */
google_ad_slot = "2028912167";
google_ad_width = 300;
google_ad_height = 250;
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
</div><div style="padding:5px;">

<script type="text/javascript">
sr_adspace_id = 2000000613807;
sr_adspace_width = 300;
sr_adspace_height = 250;
sr_ad_new_window = true;
sr_adspace_type = "graphic";
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://ad.afy11.net/srad.js?azId=2000000613807">
</script></div>
{/source}