For Shawn Ellington, the announcement of the Right Trailers Outlaw Street Series presented by XPEL wasn’t just another press release moment – it was the natural next step for a group of racers who were never going to stop competing.
Unveiled on the NHRA stage at the 2025 PRI Show, the new series officially brings Street Outlaws stars to select NHRA national events beginning in 2026. For Ellington, it’s about finding the right home for the cars, the fans, and the culture that Street Outlaws helped build.
“Street Outlaws got put on pause, and we’re not going to stop racing,” Ellington said. “We’re going to go somewhere, and we wanted to bring our fan base over to [the NHRA’s] fan base and just make it as big as we possibly can.”
The Outlaw Street Series will feature eight-car qualified fields, multiple qualifying sessions, and eliminations contested on race day, with semifinals and finals run on Sunday. The format ensures that fans – both in the stands and watching at home – get meaningful, high-stakes racing, not just exhibition passes.
Ellington made it clear that this program isn’t about quietly blending in.
“This is not just going to be a racing series,” he said. “We’re not just going to bring the Outlaw cars in, run them down the track, and exit. We’re expecting all the theatrics and everything that comes with our brand of racing.”
Those theatrics, Ellington emphasized, aren’t manufactured for television – they’re rooted in real competition.
“Everybody knows the drama and the stuff that’s been in our series – that’s not made up,” he said. “That happens in drag racing. It happens in every form of drag racing. It just depends on what they allow you to see, and Street Outlaws allowed you to see it all.”
Alongside Ellington, the initial lineup includes Ryan Martin and Scott Taylor, three competitors who know each other well – and who expect that familiarity to evaporate the moment they roll into the water box.
“We’re all buddies right now,” Ellington said with a grin, “but that stops as soon as we pull into the water box. As soon as that light turns green, I’m letting go of that button and taking the stripe.”
One of the defining elements of the Outlaw Street Series is the machinery itself. These are steel-roof-and-quarter cars – not carbon-bodied Pro Mods – retaining recognizable factory silhouettes that fans instantly connect with. That relatability, Ellington believes, is part of the magic.
“These cars are something people recognize,” he said. “You know that car is a Nova. You know that one’s a Camaro. Somebody sitting at home might say, ‘Hey, I’ve got one of those.’ That matters.”
Just as important is how the series will integrate into the NHRA race weekend. Outlaw Street competitors will be fully embedded in the event, racing in front of packed grandstands and pitted alongside NHRA’s professional categories. For fans, that means unprecedented access.
“When you come to an NHRA race, you don’t need a special ticket to come see us,” Ellington said. “Come to the pits. Talk to us. Get autographs. Get merchandise. That interaction with fans is something we care about.”
Ellington stressed that fan engagement won’t be an afterthought – it’s a promise.
“We know the only reason we get to do what we do is because of the fans,” he said. “We try to pay that back. If fans want input, if they want to see certain matchups, I’m game for all of it.”
From NHRA’s side, the partnership represents an effort to reach a new generation of fans while adding another layer of personality-driven storytelling to its national events. With the sanctioning body approaching its 75th anniversary, the timing felt right for both sides.
“We wanted to bring our fan base to NHRA’s fan base,” Ellington said. “Make it bigger. Make it better. That’s the goal.”
While the full schedule and additional drivers will be announced in the coming weeks, Ellington hinted that the inaugural season could serve as a proving ground, with room to expand in 2027 and beyond. For now, the focus is simple: race hard, put on a show, and let the competition speak for itself.
“We’re racers at heart,” Ellington said. “We weren’t about to just sit still. This gives us a place to race, gives fans a place to find us, and lets us keep doing what we love – only now, it’s on one of the biggest stages in the sport.”
And when the Murder Nova pulls into the water box under NHRA lights, Ellington knows exactly what fans should expect.
“Pressure’s part of it,” he said. “But that’s racing. That’s what makes it fun.”
This story was originally published on December 29, 2025. 
