NHRA News: Veteran Allen chugs past numerous quarter-milestones (4/6/2004)

Veteran Allen chugs past numerous quarter-milestones

4/6/2004

"Until you're good enough to win a race you can't even worry about the points title."
– Bruce Allen

Although his focus remains fixated on the future, Pontiac's Bruce Allen finds himself contemplating a pair of career quarter-milestones. For starters, last weekend's SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas was the 350th national event for the Speedco Grand Am driver. He also finds himself just two round wins away from the staggering total of 300.

"I just feel fortunate to have been able to race at this level for so long," Allen said. "I've been fortunate we've had great sponsors like Pontiac and Speedco, that I've been healthy enough to keep racing, and I'm also thankful we've been good enough to want to continue.

"We also wouldn't have that many starts if not for people helping us along the way. Our goal though is to look ahead, try to make a good run at Houston, qualify toward the top of the sheet, and maybe win the race. There will be plenty of time to reflect on the past when we finally call it a career."

Preparation is key
Although Allen's first Pro Stock start came at the 1985 Gatornationals, what impresses him most in his 20-plus years in the sport is what he sees as the phenomenal level of parity in NHRA Pro Stock.

Although many dream about it, few drivers actually make a career out of driving a Pro Stock car.
Racers Edge Photography

"It's imperative that even before you get to a race, that you have everything in place to make adjustments in a timely and efficient fashion," Allen said. "If you didn't have to run within two or three hundredths of the fastest guy, it would be a piece a cake. And if you knew you were guaranteed a starting spot because you were a past champion or only 15 cars showed up, then none of the decisions you make before each qualifying session would be so critical.

"But in Pro Stock, every decision means the difference between getting in the field or going home early. The spread of each field is still measured in hundredths, sometimes thousandths of a second, and the luxury of making a mistake just doesn't exist."

Lengthy resume
Allen's lengthy bio displays a remarkable record of achievement during a Pro Stock tenure that has spanned three decades. The 52-year-old has won 16 national events, raced in 38 final rounds, and scored seven top-five and 13 top-10 finishes in points. Allen's best points finish was in 1989 when he posted a second-place showing and captured four national-event victories in seven final rounds.

Allen is widely admired by his peers as a low-key guy who works hard at his profession.
Racers Edge Photography

His team's charge to third place during the final half of the 2001 season is the performance template Reher-Morrison has set out to duplicate in recent years. Allen won a pair of national events that year and 20 rounds of eliminations after the season's midpoint – the most of any driver in the category.

Heading into Houston, Allen has 298 round victories for a career winning percentage of .525. Among active full-time drivers, only Warren Johnson (777), Jim Yates (361), and Kurt Johnson (357) have won more, and only W.J. (436) and Mark Pawuk (351) have entered more races.

"It takes a considerable amount of drive and perseverance to even want to stay competitive," Allen said. "On the other hand, Dave's (Reher) been doing this longer than I have. He started with Buddy (Morrison) racing in Pro Stock in 1976, so he's got another nine years on me.

"Racing for that long says something about the entire Reher-Morrison program and what the organization has been able to accomplish over the years. In any form of motorsports, whether it's NASCAR, IRL, or NHRA, it's very rare to find a team or an individual that's been able to compete at that high of a level for so long, and Dave's been able to do just that."

Perseverance pays
Even amidst two laudable career achievements, what drives Allen forward are not the memories of past accomplishments, but rather the desire to remain one of the Pro Stock category's elite programs. With the results from the Reher-Morrison engine shop, and the performance of the new 2004 Jerry Haas-built Pontiac Grand Am, Allen likes what he sees so far.

Allen's Reher-Morrison powered Speedco Truck Lube Pontiac Grand Am is always a contender.
Racers Edge Photography

"I think we've got the big picture figured out," Allen said. "We're still missing the fine, small ingredients that will get us to the final round and eventually the winner's circle. But the big picture is getting qualified, getting a good starting spot, and running with some consistency. Were adjusting well when the conditions change, we're making good runs, and if we can put ourselves in position to win races often enough, we'll get the job done.

"It may take us awhile to where we get in a groove, but our engines are all running good and our customers are all competitive. From that perspective it's very, very satisfying. It's never good enough if you're not the fastest guy, but our Speedco Pontiac Grand Am is competitive and we can race with just about anybody.

"From an engine standpoint we are really getting prepared for this next stretch of races that run from now until about mid-June – both customer engines and our own. Our car is working really well so we don't need to test to make it better."

Although winless in '03, Allen feels the pieces are all in place for a strong run at this year's POWERade championship. The short-term goal is to stay within striking distance of the frontrunners and remain in position to make a push at the season's halfway point. After four races, the Speedco Pontiac Grand Am driver is eighth in the points standings.

"The championship picture unfolds when you're good enough to win some races," Allen said. "Until you're good enough to win a race you can't even worry about the points title.

"We've worked through some things with the car that previously hurt our performance, and I'm confident that what we've learned will be a big help. With our sponsors and engine customers, we have enough funding and commitment to get the job done and run without making any compromises. By the Denver break, if we're in the top four or five, and can put some good races together, I think we have a real good chance. Starting the year out with some real serious goals as far as some things we wanted to attack, I would say we're getting there."

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