Jefferson College: Racing Champion To Highlight ATS Welding Program Live On March 10

Press release from Jefferson College:

2021-03-08

NHRA Top Fuel Champion Steve Torrence will discuss welding, racing and more with Jefferson College Welding Professor Joe Candela and students from the Area Technical School during a Facebook Live event on Wednesday, March 10, at 1 p.m. available via the Jefferson College Go Jeffco page. 

As part of a hands-on learning experience, Candela and his students fabricated a custom fire pit for Torrence with hopes that they would present it in person during a trip to World Wide Technology Raceway before last year’s NHRA Midwest Nationals in connection with NHRA’s Youth and Education Services (YES) program. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic did not allow the students to attend. As a result, the class shipped the fire pit to Torrence at his headquarters in Texas along with some photos taken during the welding and construction process.

Students and their sending high schools participating in the live event include:

The Facebook Live event will provide Torrence the opportunity to thank Candela and his students and discuss several educational topics while highlighting the Jefferson College Welding program. Among the topics subject to discussion are how Candela made the initial connection, how Torrence overcame cancer and a 300 mile-an-hour crash to finally win his first championship, and the importance of teamwork in achieving one’s goals.

He will also discuss CAPCO Contractors, Inc., the family-owned business that sponsors Torrence’s racing effort, how Billy Torrence’s welding expertise led to the company’s founding, how Torrence balances racing and his responsibilities at CAPCO, and how at age 37 the champ is honing his own welding skills.

The fire pit itself tells the Torrence story in words cut out of the metal from which it was constructed.

One side, emblazoned with “CAPCO CONTRACTORS, INC.,” recognizes the Texas-based company that sponsors drag racers and drag racing at every competitive level, from Top Fuel to Super Comp to Jr. Dragster.

“STEVE TORRENCE = CANCER DOMINATOR,” acknowledges the 40-time NHRA tour winner’s successful battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma as a teenager.  “3X TOP FUEL CHAMPION” speaks to Torrence’s competitive domination of the NHRA’s Camping World tour since 2016 and “Dem Capco Boys” is the champ’s own descriptor for the dedicated crewmembers to whom he owes his success.

To learn more about Steve Torrence, visit www.torrenceracing.com.

This press release was produced by Jefferson College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.