NHRA: Bruce Allen hopes to keep victory circle parade going

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

August 28, 2001

CLERMONT, Ind. - Bruce Allen's season has been a series of promising highlights and forgettable moments. And then there was the unforgettable moment: He turned in four solid rounds of elimination racing and ended an eight-yer winless drought at the Colonel's Truck Accessories Nationals in Brainerd, Minn.

Before the Brainerd win, he had shown signs that a win was just around the corner. He had scored four No. 1 qualifying positions in his Reher-Morrison Pontiac Grand Am and advanced to the semifinals twice after earning the top spot.

Allen, from Arlington, Texas, will be seeking his 14th career win when he returns to the nation's motorsports capital for the prestigious 47th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Aug. 29-Sept. 3, at historic Indianapolis Raceway Park. The $2.6 million race is the 17th of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Allen understands the competitiveness of the Pro Stock category and feels he is on the verge of a second straight national event victory. Before winning at Brainerd International Raceway just 10 days ago, Allen's last win came at the 1992 le Grandnational in Montreal. He has had some good success at Indy over the years. The 51-year-old Allen was the runner-up to 10-time Pro Stock champ Bob Glidden at the U.S. Nationals in both '85 and '86, marking his last return to a final round in Indianapolis. Despite his 13 career wins in 33 final round appearances, Allen has appeared in only five final rounds since the beginning of '97 and been the runner-up four of five times.

"We started out (the season) real strong," said Allen. "We really felt we had a chance to do something this year, but then we stumbled for a couple of races. We kind of went through a mini-slump. It's been up-and-down, but here lately we think we have found our stride. All the hard work paid off in Brainerd. The car ran really well there, all the way through the final. It was good to get a win again."

Allen's success on the track has a direct correlation with the success in his other line of work and dedication. He owns a percentage of the Reher-Morrison engine building company with the clientele consisting of racers. As Allen continues to demonstrate improved performance and power on the quarter-mile drag strip, the size of his customer base continues to increase.

"From a sponsorship standpoint, we didn't even know if we were going to get to race all year," said Allen. "George Marnell has been a good customer and we also have a deal with Mike Edwards which shows you that a part of the benefit of running good is other people noticing and wanting to take part in it. That's been our income for the race team. Reher-Morrison Racing's growing success has been a result of us running well. It has been really rewarding all the way around and we feel that our program is on the upswing."

Allen is ready to keep his positive momentum going.

"Our goal right now is to get in the top five in points, get some consistency, and win another race," said Allen. "As long as we're running well those chances will keep coming. The more times you put yourself in that position the better you get. Hopefully, with a win under our belt, we can start winning more often."

Text provided by Anthony Vestal

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