Veteran drag racer and professional engine builder Taylor Lastor’s Texas Racing Engines (TRE) facility in Cleveland, Texas was destroyed by a fire that broke out Thursday night.

Firefighters and EMS were called to the scene at around 10:30 p.m. after the fire was reported in the 900 block of CR 2216 in the small town just northeast of Houston. The fire is reported to have begun when an engine that Lastor was working on “blew up”, starting the fire that quickly spread and engulfed the rest of the multi-bay shop.

Lastor, who estimates the value of the shop and its equipment at more than $400,000, believes it was a total loss. TRE employs six full time staff, and houses a whole range of CNC machining equipment and engine dyno facilities. The facility was covered by insurance.

As a driver, Lastor competed professionally in the NHRA’s defund Pro Stock Truck division from 1999 to 2003, before foraying into Pro Modified and small-tire racing. He has also served in the crew chief role with a number of NHRA Pro Stock teams over the years.