After word broke in recent weeks that Street Outlaws star Shawn “Murder Nova” Ellington would join the 2025 Drag Illustrated Winter Series in a Pro Mod, Ellington is now opening up about the details—and the challenges—of stepping into a twin-turbo monster for the final two races.
The news caught fans off-guard, as most recognize Ellington from his No Prep Kings exploits and famous street car builds, but the Oklahoma native says this new ride feels like a natural evolution.
Ellington, known primarily for his No Prep Kings (NPK) exploits and, most recently, winning the series championship, as well as his legendary street racing pedigree, had been eyeing a Pro Mod opportunity for a while—but only if it was in a proven, top-tier car.
“This was an opportunity that there was nothing in me that said it wasn’t a good one,” Ellington said. “If you let me drive that thing, I’m gonna drive the heck out of it.”
Although Ellington missed the first Winter Series race due to prior commitments in Brazil, he has big plans once he lands stateside. The car he’ll be piloting was recently rebuilt by Keith Haney and crew, who leaned heavily on the expertise and fabrication skills of Kansas City-based Blake Housley, to take the storied chassis and fit it with a twin-turbo big-block combination nearly identical to Mark Micke’s world-beating Pro Mod. The new ride is also equipped with a familiar FuelTech engine management system, putting Ellington back in a turbo car for the first time in two years.
“I’ve never been 220 in the eighth,” he laughed. “So this is gonna be different.”
Micke himself will turn the knobs early on, shaking the car down and making sure it’s race-ready before handing over the wheel to Ellington. Despite the Pro Mod’s tight cockpit and a few inside jokes about shedding a few more pounds, Ellington sounds unfazed by the jump in horsepower and speed.
“It’s time to put our money where our mouth is. If this is the next level in door racing, I’m gonna find out if it’s for me.”
Ellington’s confidence—and comedic one-liners—come with a healthy dose of humility. Sliding into a full-tilt Pro Mod is no small undertaking, especially when the goal is to line up against some of the world’s most seasoned racers. But Ellington’s kept his eyes on this move for years and sees it as a natural progression.
“Put any of the top 16 NPK guys in a competitive Pro Mod, and we’ll show out,” Ellington said, echoing a point he made on a live stream with Drag Illustrated’s Wes Buck earlier this year. “Now, I finally have that chance.”
While Ellington’s team will provide the hands-on support, tools, and know-how they’ve honed through countless NPK events, he’ll also rely heavily on Micke’s data and tuning expertise. But the veteran street racer is quick to point out that it still comes down to the driver.
“If that car is capable of qualifying at the top, you better cut a light and you better drive it,” Ellington said. “We’re either gonna show out or we’re gonna shut up.”
Fans can expect to see Ellington in action at the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission (January 23-26) and the grand finale Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod (February 27 – March 1)—both at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
Regardless of how Ellington’s Pro Mod debut shakes out, there’s no doubt his presence at Bradenton Motorsports Park will bring tremendous interest and excitement. As one of the biggest names in drag racing today—and a bona fide motorsports celebrity—Ellington is throwing his hat into the ring with the world’s most elite Pro Mod racers, setting the stage for an electrifying finish to the inaugural running of the Winter Series.
For more information on the DI Winter Series, visit www.thewinterseries.com. To livestream the U.S. Street Nationals, check out https://flosports.link/4eXM9oa.
This story was originally published on January 6, 2025. 
