The Gulls revival under former Carlisle boss Ian Atkins has now seen them win four games on the trot.
A home crowd of over 13,000 came expecting a simple stroll to victory but instead they were met by a resurgent Torquay.
The shock result of the day means the Cumbrians will have to wait at least seven days if they are to lift the League Two Championship.
Gulls striker Jo Kuffour was the star of the show as his side tore into Carlisle from the start.
They took a deserved lead after just eight minutes when the livewire Kuffour crossed to Kevin Hill who rose above the static Paul Arnison to head in from six yards.
Wave after wave of Torquay attacks followed with Kuffour in particular at the heart of things.
The ex-Arsenal trainee first saw his drive deflected narrowly wide and he managed to get even closer on the half hour.
Spinning his marker, Kevin Gray, 30 yards out, Kuffour lifted a glorious first time volley over the flat-footed Keiren Westwood only to see it come back off the post.
But 11 minutes later he made it third time lucky when he again turned Gray and squeezed his low drive past Westwood and in off the post.
It was the least the Gulls deserved and the bumper home crowd made their feelings known with a chorus of boos as the home side trudged off at half time.
But Carlisle came out fighting in the second half and when Zigor Aranalde nodded in Chris Lumsdon's corner a dramatic fight back looked on the cards.
But despite their best efforts Carlisle couldn't find a way through the tough Torquay rear guard.
The second half was played almost entirely in the Torquay half but a clear cut chance failed to materialise for Carlisle, leaving the champagne on ice as the race for the Championship goes down to the last game of the season.