Today, we remember Arlington drag racing legend Lee Shepherd, who tragically died in a racing accident on March 11, 1985, in Oklahoma.

A Fort Worth native and longtime Arlington resident, Shepherd was an icon of motorsports. Driving for the powerhouse Reher-Morrison-Shepherd team, his dominance in the early ’80s was unprecedented. He captured four consecutive NHRA Pro Stock World Championships (1981–1984) and made history as the first driver to win both the NHRA and IHRA titles in the same year—a feat he achieved in both 1983 and 1984.

At the time of his passing, Shepherd held an impressive 173–47 record. Beyond his talent behind the wheel, he was highly skilled under the hood. He also founded Shepherd Racing Heads in Arlington, which later became part of Reher-Morrison Racing Engines. Highlighting his impact and influence, the NHRA ranked Shepherd #12 on its list of the Top 50 Drivers from its first 50 years.

Shown here: Man and Machine—Lee Shepherd with his race car
Photo Credit: Fort Worth Star-Telegram – November 15, 1982
Newspapers.com

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Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 03-11-26