Top Fuel’s Steve Torrence, eager to go back to the National Hot Rod Association’s big dance, did the Texas Two-step with crew chiefs, booting longtime friend and tuner Richard Hogan and replacing interim helpers Bobby Lagana and Dom Lagana this week with veteran Lee Beard.
 
Saying he “can’t wait any longer if we want to have a shot at the championship,” the Kilgore, Texas, owner-driver of the Capco Contractors Inc. Dragster announced April 30 he had dismissed Hogan, who had helped him to three victories in five final rounds last season.

Photo credit: Ron Lewis

 As he returned Friday to Atlanta Dragway to resume the rain-postponed Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals, Torrence said, “We made the change because we need to try something new in an effort to get back into this championship hunt. The results so far this season do not reflect on the amount of hard work and talent this team has.
 
“I also want to be perfectly clear that this season’s record does not reflect on Richard Hogan’s skill as a crew chief. He is an amazing tuner. I have to thank Richard for all the work he did to help us put this team together and win three races in our first season. Unfortunately, this team is in a slump, and we simply needed to make a change. That is why Lee is coming on board.”

Image courtesy NHRA/National Dragster

Beard abruptly resigned Wednesday as Director of Racing Operations for the Rapisarda Autosport International team that fielded driver Larry Dixon.
 
He said, “I am committed to getting this team back on the right track. I’m not afraid to work hard.”
 
It is the third position for Beard since last November, when he helped tune Cruz Pedregon to the Funny Car victory at the Auto Club Finals at Pomona, Calif. During the off-season, he and Pedregon parted company and Beard signed on to oversee the Australian-owned, Brownsburg, Ind.-headquartered team.
 
Beard called his move “a tough decision.”
 
For Torrence, that move was invigorating. “Lee brings a different tuning style, and I’m excited to see what effect that has on the car. It makes me that much more excited to get back in there and go for a ride,” Torrence, who earned his first Top Fuel  victory at Atlanta last May, said.