VP Racing Fuels was founded by Steve Burns, who, in the early 1970s as a young racer in San Antonio, Texas, started experimenting with fuel blends in his parents’ garage. Self-taught in chemistry and physics, he sought to improve horsepower beyond what existing fuels offered. His first product, “C12™,” gained traction locally, leading to the establishment of VP Racing Fuels in 1975.
Steve teamed up with Buddy Morrison and David Reher to drive early testing for VP Racing Fuels. Their partnership created a cycle of innovation. Advancements in VP’s fuel tech that led to improvements in Reher-Morrison’s engines and vice versa. VP’s first paying customer, drag racer Warren Johnson, along with Bob Glidden, significantly influenced R&D. Their successes helped make VP’s C12™ one of the most renowned race fuels in motorsports.
