An unfortunate turn of events struck the drag racing world on Sunday evening when a large explosion and fire burned down the race shop of Pro Mod icon Bill Kuhlmann.

Among the tools, equipment and other historical items destroyed in the fire was Kuhlmann's history-making 1986 Camaro. Kuhlmann became the first doorslammer driver to break the 200-mph barrier in the 1/4-mile when he ran 202.84 mph at the IHRA Winter Nationals in 1987. It was a car Kuhlmann had built himself and was in the process of restoring before the fire.

Nobody was injured during the fire, but Kuhlmann tragically lost a lifetime of memories in the unfortunate incident.

An unfortunate turn of events struck the drag racing world on Sunday evening when a large explosion and fire burned down the race shop of Pro Mod icon Bill Kuhlmann.

Among the tools, equipment and other historical items destroyed in the fire was Kuhlmann's history-making 1986 Camaro. Kuhlmann became the first doorslammer driver to break the 200-mph barrier in the 1/4-mile when he ran 202.84 mph at the IHRA Winter Nationals in 1987. It was a car Kuhlmann had built himself and was in the process of restoring before the fire.

Nobody was injured during the fire, but Kuhlmann tragically lost a lifetime of memories in the unfortunate incident.

"It's a lifetime of tools and equipment and machines and historical race cars," Kuhlmann told local news station KHQA. "This is really a kick in the gut."

According to reports, there was a massive explosion late Sunday evening at Kuhlmann's Ralls County, Mo. race shop, which is just down the road from his home on Mark Twain Lake.

By the time firefighters arrived, the metal building was engulfed in flames. Fire Chief Thomas Ragland said several welding and propane tanks exploded when the fire broke out, and the explosions could be heard from as as three miles away.

The Perry Rural County contained the fire by midnight, more than two hours after the initial explosion, but by then the race shop was a total loss.

"I was at the house and heard the loudest explosion I ever heard before, because we get sonic booms all the time around here. I stepped outside to see if I could see an airplane in the sky and when I looked to my left, an eighth mile from the house, the whole area was orange with flames a hundred feet high," Kuhlmann said to KHQA. "I told Vicki, my wife to call 911. The shop has exploded."

Kuhlmann, a former UDRA Pro Stock champion, was a fan favorite in the Pro Modified scene and raced professionally for four decades.

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