Murder Nova is making waves in the Pro 275 class at Lights Out 16, and fans are eager to see just how fast he can go. Running in the OG car on 275s, Shawn has a potent combination under the hood: a Pro Line MH7 Hemi, a lockup transmission and converter, and a ProCharger 1401. This setup is more than capable of running some seriously fast times, but can he break into the top of the field?
Photo by Murder Nova
Early Qualifying Runs
So far, Murder Nova has made two qualifying runs. His first pass was solid—a 3.80 at 201.1 mph, which landed him in the 10th qualifying spot. Unfortunately, his second attempt didn’t go as planned, and he wasn’t able to make it down the track. He wasn’t alone in that struggle, as many other cars had difficulty putting together clean runs.
Right now, the front of the field is absolutely flying. Lyle Barnett threw down a blistering 3.61, and Brad Edwards wasn’t far behind with a 3.63. The gap between the top qualifiers and the 10th spot is nearly two-tenths of a second—a massive difference in a class this competitive. If Shawn wants a real shot at contending, he’s going to have to find more speed.
Photo by Mallory Elizabeth Photography
Room for Improvement
The good news? There are still two more qualifying rounds left, giving Murder Nova the opportunity to step it up. Given the power in that car and the tuning capabilities of his team, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him dip into the 3.70s or even push into the 3.60s. The OG Murder Nova is built for serious competition, and with the current track conditions, there’s a great chance for improvement.
Speaking of conditions, the air density at South Georgia Motorsports Park is incredibly favorable. Earlier, the density altitude (DA) was sitting at -500 feet, meaning the air is extremely good for making power. Last night in Radial vs. the World, a 3.47 was laid down in -2000 feet of DA, proving just how much these cars can take advantage of the air conditions.
For boosted cars like Shawn’s ProCharger setup, this type of air is a dream. The cooler, denser air allows the engine to produce more power, and with the right adjustments, we could see him take full advantage of it in the next qualifier.
Photo by Mallory Elizabeth Photography
Can He Crack the Top Five?
Murder Nova’s team is top-tier, with Phantom as the crew chief and Shawn behind the wheel. There’s no doubt they’re capable of making the necessary adjustments to get that car running faster. The goal now is to break into the top five in qualifying, which will put him in a much better position for eliminations.
With two qualifying runs left, the pressure is on, but if anyone can rise to the challenge, it’s Shawn and his team. Keep an eye on the next sessions—Murder Nova could be on the verge of a huge leap forward.
Stay tuned to StreetOutlawsTalks.com for more updates on Lights Out 16 and all the latest Street Outlaws action!
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