Two-time NHRA Pro Mod world champion Stevie “Fast” Jackson recently announced that he will compete at the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the infamous grudge-racing “Shadow 3.0.”
Jackson’s decision to race the “Shadow 3.0,” a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, at the U.S. Nationals comes from a deep-seated passion for the sport.
“The biggest reason, if I had to answer it and be honest, is because I want to race my car,” Jackson candidly shared via his YouTube channel. “I haven’t raced my car since we left Rockingham [Speedway], and after being off the summer for a long time, I just missed racing.”
The “Shadow” 3.0 made its big tire debut at the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod earlier this year, where it qualified with the quickest blower run among the 60-plus entries and reached the semifinals.
“We were very successful – we had a great debut out on big tires,” he said.
A significant part of Jackson’s enthusiasm for the U.S. Nationals is the opportunity to showcase a newly developed racing engine package from Killin Time Racing [KTR], which will be making its debut in Indy.
“We’ve been developing a new racing engine package at KTR all year, and we’ve been using the Shadow to perfect it,” Jackson explained. He added, “At KTR, we don’t sell crap and then let you pay for it R&D it. I R&D it on my own dime, and when it’s perfect, then you can buy it.”
Bringing the “Shadow 3.0” up to NHRA safety standards required some quick modifications, as it was originally not built for quarter-mile racing.
“It was never intended to be a quarter-mile car, so when we built it, we didn’t put any of the NHRA safety stuff in it,” Jackson noted. “We had to put all that in there and do it pretty quick and in a hurry.”
Jackson’s return to Indy is more than just a race; it’s a chance to connect with fans and demonstrate the newly developed KTR products his car is equipped with.
“I’m super fired up about the fans… we’ve been getting a lot of content on our YouTube channel; when are you coming back to run NHRA,” Jackson said. “We’re going to have 30 cars in Indy, and I can’t wait to drop the hammer on this thing.”
As Jackson prepares to take on the competition at the U.S. Nationals, fans and fellow racers alike are eager to see what the “Shadow 3.0” will deliver on the track as the Georgia-native goes for a third U.S. Nationals win.
This story was originally published on August 21, 2024. 
