Mike Bowman Returns to NPK with a New Combo: Hard Charger & Nitrous for 2025

Well folks, after a year off the circuit, Mike Bowman is officially back and ready to make some serious noise in the 2025 Speed Promotions season! And he’s not just coming back with the same old setup—he’s rolling out something fresh, bold, and a little experimental: the Hard Charger centrifugal supercharger, paired with a hefty dose of nitrous. Yeah, you heard that right.

Photo by Paige Coughlin Racing 

For those who might’ve missed it, Bowman sat out last season but is now committed to running the entire 2025 NPK season. And like several racers in the game right now, he’s making the move from a ProCharger setup to something new and still under development—Hard Charger, combined with Nitrous Outlet's finest. It’s a combo that’s got people talking, especially since more and more racers are stacking nitrous on top of centrifugal setups for that extra edge.

But here's the thing—while it’s exciting to see innovation in the NPK ranks, the Hard Charger still has something to prove. At the World Series of Pro Mod, it didn’t quite hold its own against the tried-and-true ProCharger cars. Robin Roberts, for example, ripped off a 3.65 at 204 MPH with his ProCharger setup, while cars like Larry Larson’s Hard Charger entry posted a solid 3.69 at 200 MPH. Respectable? Absolutely. But when conditions are prime and you’re still a few MPH off the pace, you know there’s room to grow.

Photo by Mike Bowman Racing

Let’s be real—under great air and perfect prep, you’d expect more top-end power. And while Larson’s pass was impressive, it didn’t quite match what some of the ProCharger and screw-blown cars were laying down under similar conditions.

That being said, Mike Bowman’s new combo has a wild card—nitrous. And nitrous changes everything. It’s not just about boosting power on the big end—it can help spool quicker, smooth out the launch, and give centrifugal blowers a more consistent punch off the hit. That could be a game-changer on the sometimes tricky NPK surfaces, where track conditions vary week to week.

Photo by Mike Bowman Racing

One thing’s for sure—it’s going to be fun to watch this play out. If Bowman and the Hard Charger team have figured out how to get this combo dialed in, we might be looking at the next big thing in NPK. And if not? Well, you know this crowd doesn’t give up easy. These racers are always chasing the edge, pushing the limits, and hunting for hundredths.

So let’s keep our eyes on Bowman this season. He’s got the experience, the drive, and now, a wild new setup that could shake things up big time. Whether the Hard Charger can go head-to-head with the ProCharger crew and come out on top is still up in the air—but we’ll be watching every step of the way.

Stay locked in with Street Outlaws Talks for more updates, test session recaps, and behind-the-scenes scoops as the 2025 season heats up. Let the boost wars begin!