(Ron Lewis photo)

Steve Torrence raced into the finals for the first time during the 2014 drag racing season Monday before coming up just short.

After qualifying second behind seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher, Torrence beat J.R. Todd, three-time world champ Larry Dixon and Khalid al Balooshi to get to get his 'new look' Capco contractors Top Fuel dragster to the Indy final for the second straight year.

In the money round, the 31-year-old Kilgore, Texas, native covered the thousand-foot course in 3.799 seconds at 327.82 miles per hour. It was good but not quite as good as Crampton's best of the day.

Meanwhile, Steve's dad, Billy Torrence, recorded the quickest run of his brief Top Fuel career at 3.795 seconds only to lose in the first round to Crampton. 

FUNNY CAR

(Richard Muir photo)

Alexis DeJoria powered her 10,000 horsepower black, purple and gold Camry across the stripe in 4.038 seconds at 310.34 mph, defeating points leader John Force in the final round of eliminations on Monday afternoon.

DeJoria came through for the Kalitta Motorsports team, getting the first win at the U.S. National since Connie Kalitta won back in 1994. DeJoria is the first female Funny Car driver to win three events in one year.

Along her way to the final round, DeJoria defeated Cruz Pedregon (4.077 to 4.825), Blake Alexander (4.039 to 4.112), and Courtney Force (4.057 to 4.069).

“I couldn’t be happier right now,” DeJoria said, “we won the U.S. Nationals and my whole family was here for the win. In fact, this was the first time that my dad was at a race where we won, so it’s really special.”