About us
Built from a lifelong love of automotive work, hands-on experience, and a commitment to treating people fairly.
Luke’s love of automotive work began at a young age. He grew up following his grandfathers around as they worked on vehicles, watching closely, asking questions, and learning wherever he could. Those early experiences sparked a lasting interest in understanding how vehicles work and ultimately inspired him to pursue a career as a mechanic.
After graduating from high school in Paris, Texas, Luke moved to Arlington to attend Lincoln College of Technology. There, he completed training in automotive technology, diesel mechanics, and welding.
While attending school, Luke worked at Don Davis Ford and began developing his professional skills as a diesel mechanic. After completing the diesel program, he joined a Dallas-area company with a large fleet of Peterbilt trucks. This position gave him extensive experience working with Cummins diesel platforms and strengthened his ability to diagnose and repair heavy-duty vehicles.
Outside of work, Luke spent much of his free time building and repairing performance vehicles for friends. With local salvage yards, LKQ, and Summit Racing nearby, there was no shortage of available parts. He became known among friends for his ability to complete dependable junkyard LS swaps and make performance builds work without unnecessary expense.
Luke later worked for Tesla, where he expanded his knowledge of advanced automotive electrical systems. Electrical diagnostics remain one of his favorite areas of expertise today.
After leaving Tesla, Luke moved to the Tyler area and continued building on his experience in automotive repair, diesel mechanics, performance work, welding, and vehicle electrical systems.
Dillion’s journey as a mechanic began when he was only two years old, working alongside his father — the neighborhood mechanic and hot-rod enthusiast.
His father regularly built and repaired older GM cars and trucks for friends and neighbors, often charging little or nothing for the work. Dillion continued helping him turn wrenches through the age of 19, absorbing everything he could about Chevrolet small-block, big-block, and LS platforms, as well as many other automotive systems.
As his passion for performance vehicles and automotive calibration grew, Dillion knew he needed to create his own path in the industry. He accepted an opportunity to become a diesel mechanic at a local shop in Tyler, Texas. There, he strengthened his mechanical knowledge while also learning how an automotive business operates. It was during this experience that he realized he ultimately wanted to own and operate a shop of his own.
Dillion later continued working alongside the mechanic who had mentored him in diesel repair. After the tragic passing of his mentor’s father during the COVID-19 pandemic, his mentor assumed responsibility for the family automotive business. This gave Dillion the opportunity to gain experience building engines, diagnosing complex issues, and helping members of the community stay safely on the road without facing unreasonable repair costs.
The experience reinforced the values his father had taught him: do honest work, treat people fairly, and use your knowledge to help others.
Dillion eventually joined Preferred On-Site Fleet Services as a diesel mechanic through an opportunity provided by his childhood friend, Joseph Boehm. He felt more at home in that shop environment than he had anywhere else in the industry.
Tragically, Joseph passed away only days after Dillion started the job. The loss of his best friend caused Dillion to reevaluate his life and strengthened his belief that life is too short to continually postpone the things that matter most.
That renewed determination pushed him to pursue the business and future he had envisioned for himself and his family.
The beginning
That renewed determination eventually led Dillion to meet Luke, his business partner and the other half of Critter Performance & Automotive.
Together, they built Critter Performance & Automotive with the goal of providing honest, knowledgeable, and fairly priced automotive services. They want to help customers keep more money in their pockets, support the local car community, and improve the reputation of the everyday mechanic through dependable work and straightforward communication.
Their combined experience includes automotive and diesel repair, engine building, performance upgrades, LS platforms, fleet maintenance, welding, diagnostics, vehicle calibration, and complex electrical systems.
Dillion and Luke hope to continue growing Critter Performance & Automotive as a business, a trusted local brand, and, one day, a lasting part of the East Texas automotive community.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Critter Performance & Automotive. When you need dependable automotive service, the team looks forward to hearing from you.
Do honest work, treat people fairly, and use your knowledge to help others.
A principle behind Critter Performance & Automotive
Our work
Real vehicles. Real repairs. Real craftsmanship.
Cylinder heads off, inspected, and back together
A high-mileage LS came in needing the top end opened up. The heads came off for inspection, the cylinders were protected and the deck cleaned back properly, and it went together with new gaskets and hardware before the accessories went back on.
Timing, carburetion and engine work on a small block
A red 1969 Corvette in for engine work. The intake came off for gasket work, and the timing was set with the carburetor and distributor sorted afterwards. Classic driveability is its own skill.
UMI control arms, coilovers and Wilwood brakes
A Monte Carlo front end rebuilt with UMI tubular control arms, new springs and shocks, and a Wilwood disc brake conversion with drilled and slotted rotors.
A seized caliper replaced
A worn caliper with a failed dust boot, packed with rust and brake dust, alongside the replacement that went on in its place. This is what causes a brake job to come back early.
Experience
Our values
We explain what we find and recommend only the work that is actually needed.
Respect for our customers, their vehicles and their budgets.
Plain language, and repairs explained without unnecessary mystery.
Supporting East Texas drivers and the local automotive community.
Tell us what is happening with your vehicle, and the Critter Performance & Automotive team will help you determine the next step.
