The drag racing community awoke to somber news this morning as word began to spread of the tragic passing of one of their own, Texas drag racer and engine builder Tracy Dennis.

Dennis, 53, was the owner and operator of Sunset Racecraft Racing Engines in Lubbock, Texas, and an accomplished NHRA and IHRA sportsman racer in his own right. Having grown up in a racing family and spending his youth building race cars and engines, he set out to make his dream a reality, opening Sunset Racecraft in 1994 to showcase the talents of he and his employees. Dennis grew the business from a small, two-man operation into one of the leading race engine shops in the world. Along with building championship-winning engines, Dennis and the Sunset team are considered among the leading tuners of electric fuel injection systems.

Dennis was a supporter of countless racers over the years, and is the current title sponsor of the NHRA South Central Division’s Top Dragster category and a former backed of the Top Sportsman class.

An outpouring of grief and sadness has already exploded on social media and internet bulletin boards for the popular and well-liked racer and engine builder who was a friend to everyone he met.

Initial but unconfirmed reports have linked Dennis’ passing to an altercation on Thursday evening at a home in Lubbock. We’ll have more on this developing story as information becomes available.

Our thoughts and our condolences go out to the family and friends of Tracy Dennis, who will certainly be missed by everyone that ever had the good fortune of knowing him.

UPDATE: Multiple news media sources in the Lubbock, Texas area are confirming that Dennis was the victim of a fatal shooting outside his home at around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday evening, per a Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office news release. Dennis’ ex-wife, Patricia Dennis, is a suspect in the shooting, and is listed in critical condition.