“It’s completely adrenaline, I’m not going to act like somebody that I’m not,” he said. “I’m not going to portray a character or create a persona to be someone that I’m not and, unfortunately, that has caused me some grief over time, with the things that I get out and say or the way that I act. I don’t expect anyone to understand it, maybe nobody to understand it, but when you climb out of a 330 mph car and the first thing they do is stick a camera in your face and interview you, from Steve Torrence you’re going to get raw emotion. That’s who I am.”
He claims he’s tired of apologizing for things he’s said or done, however, so he’s made a conscious effort to be better at controlling those emotions. He is adamant though that his passion and deep-seated desire to win remain the same.
The Torrence Racing family and team are some of the most well-liked in the pit area, with many competitors — in particular lower-budget organizations — often publicly thanking the Torrences for their help. Steve and wife Natalie’s young daughter, Haven Charli, is also a popular member of the Torrence Racing family.
“(She) has changed my perspective on some things and I think that it’s allowed me to have more fun racing,” Steve Torrence said. “I’ve got a different approach, a different attitude than I’ve had going to the race track in quite a while. I enjoy that time more. I’ve always enjoyed racing, but sometimes you have different motivating factors of why you want to go, why you want to win.
“With us being able to have accomplished what we have, maybe some people can say, ‘Well man you’ve got a complete career, what else do you want to do?’ You can look at it that way or you can look at it and say, ‘Man, I’m having so much fun right now going and being able to do this with my family and those guys on the race team.’”
Among the family’s extended members is Bobby Lagana Jr., co-crew chief with Richard Hogan. Lagana works out of the team’s Brownsburg, Ind., shop and handles many business duties along with Kay.
Bobby Lagana and his brother, Dom, both racers as well with their Nitro Ninja outfit, are from a New York drag racing family and have worked with Torrence Racing for the better part of a decade. Longtime friends of the Torrences, they got connected professionally when the Torrence team simply needed some help at a race in 2013 and Steve Torrence wanted to return the favor with sponsorship for a weekend. Since then, the team has grown into a championship-caliber program, with the Laganas and a group of talented individuals coming onboard as Torrence Racing expanded.
“It’s as much a team effort as I’ve ever thought could happen in drag racing, if you felt like you wanted to run two cars and you truly wanted them to 100-percent complement each other, that’s what happens here,” Bobby Lagana said.
When Dom Lagana was involved in a near-fatal highway accident in August 2020, the Torrences were there to offer support.
“Billy and Kay were very invested in Dom’s recovery and watching him make it out of the hospital,” Bobby Lagana said. “They were here all the time. They flew up and truly treated Dom’s recovery like he was their son. That’s something that you can never say thank you enough for. All you can do is reciprocate with your love and respect for them.”
Bobby Lagana believes the team began its run of domination when Momma Kay started attending all the races and everyone wanted to make her proud.
Although she jokes it’s because they realized they need to toe the line with a mother figure at the track, every member of the team feels her presence and interest in each individual has a positive impact on the organization.
“Kay is a very strong Christian woman and has been a positive influence in my life; I wouldn’t have had the success that I’ve had without her,” Billy Torrence said of his wife of 42 years. “She’s just a solid person. You can count on Kay whatever it is; she’ll drive the getaway car. When you come out with the guns blazing, she’ll be there waiting for you. She supports those boys on that race team, win, lose, whatever they do, she’s there for them in an upbeat attitude all the time. She’s just been a tremendous mother within our family and with all those young men that work for us also.”
For Momma Kay, it all comes naturally.
“They’re just my boys, we love to be around them on the weekends; we love to be able to go out there and compete and do well,” she said. “Winning just puts a little bit extra on the top.”