07/23/2026
A little drag racing history for your Thursday morning, enjoy!
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David Reher and Buddy Morrison formed one of the most successful partnerships in drag racing history when they founded Reher-Morrison Racing Engines (RMRE) in Arlington, Texas, in 1971. Reher, the son of an economics professor from Iowa, approached engine development with discipline and careful analysis, while Morrison was a gifted machinist and mechanical innovator whose ability to improve virtually any component earned him legendary status. The two met while attending the University of Texas at Arlington, where their shared passion for drag racing laid the foundation for a partnership that would redefine Pro Stock engine development for decades.
Their early success came with a Ford Maverick powered by a Chevrolet small-block, followed by a Corvette that captured NHRA victories in the mid-1970s. As the business grew, Reher and Morrison invested heavily in advanced technology, building their own flow bench, engine dynamometer, and valvetrain spin fixture—tools that placed them years ahead of most competitors. Their relentless research led to continual improvements in cylinder heads, pistons, valvetrain geometry, and overall engine efficiency, establishing RMRE as one of the premier high-performance engine builders in the United States.
The arrival of driver Lee Shepherd transformed the team into a dominant force in NHRA Pro Stock. Innovative chassis design and meticulous interpretation of the rulebook produced groundbreaking combinations, including lightweight Camaros and the famous short-stroke 365-cubic-inch "Rat Motor" big-block Chevrolet engines that carried the team to multiple NHRA championships. When new 500-cubic-inch Pro Stock regulations were introduced in 1982, Reher-Morrison again gained a competitive advantage through the development of revolutionary solid-aluminum cylinder heads and continuous refinement of their engine program. Between 1980 and 1984, the team reached 44 NHRA national event finals, won 26 races, and also dominated IHRA competition, while Lee Shepherd became the first driver to win both NHRA and IHRA Pro Stock championships in the same season.
Following Shepherd's tragic death during testing in 1985, Bruce Allen assumed driving duties and continued the team's winning tradition, capturing additional NHRA victories and an IHRA championship. As professional drag racing became increasingly expensive, RMRE gradually shifted its primary focus toward supplying championship-caliber engines for sportsman racers, Pro Modified competitors, circle-track teams, tractor pullers, sprint cars, and land-speed record programs. Buddy Morrison passed away after battling cancer in 1998, but his engineering brilliance and innovative spirit remain central to the company's legacy. David Reher continues to lead Reher-Morrison Racing Engines, preserving a reputation built on precision engineering, relentless development, and decades of championship-winning performance.