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Famed Engine Builder Buddy Morrison Dies

DALLAS (Dec. 16) -- After a year and a half battle with cancer, famed engine builder Buddy Morrison finally succumbed to the disease earlier today at Zale-Lipshy Hospital. He was 54 years old. Morrison became a household name to racing fans when ...

DALLAS (Dec. 16) -- After a year and a half battle with cancer, famed engine builder Buddy Morrison finally succumbed to the disease earlier today at Zale-Lipshy Hospital. He was 54 years old.

Morrison became a household name to racing fans when he teamed with partner David Reher in engineering and building the car Lee Shepherd drove to four straight Pro Stock titles from 1981-84. Morrison had since gone on to become one of the most recognized and productive engine suppliers in all of auto racing with his famed Reher-Morrison engines. Most recently, Morrison had stayed involved in racing as a partial owner of the Pennzoil-sponsored Outlaw Fuel Additives Pro Stock car driven by Bruce Allen on the National Hot Rod Association circuit.

"The sport has lost a great man," Allen said. "Buddy was one of those guys that was a true friend to everyone that ever met him. I was always impressed with his ability to inspire the people around him. He was always forging ahead and looking for the next 'new' way to do something. People like Buddy are the very reason our sport exists. It's that optimistic 'Let's try this'-attitude that Buddy always exhibited which spurs us all to push our cars to the edge of technology. Buddy truly had vision.

"When the Pro Stock class switched to big block engines, Buddy couldn't wait to get out there and race. He had won races with small blocks, but he just loved those big engines. Obviously, he knew what he was doing because, for a long time, no one could touch his power. He was flat-out awesome. We can't replace Buddy Morrison."

Born in 1944, Morrison is survived by his wife Susan. The couple has no children. Funeral arrangements are pending.

The entire Pennzoil Racing family is deeply saddened by Morrison's passing.

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