Murder Nova's ProMod Evolution: From Street to Strip, Shawn Ellington Is Just Getting Started

If you’ve been around the Street Outlaws scene for any length of time, the name Murder Nova is probably inked into your brain—and for good reason. Shawn Ellington has been one of the most iconic drivers in the game, and now he’s taking things to an entirely new level with a full-blown 5,000 horsepower twin-turbo ProMod. Yeah, you read that right—five-thousand horses under the hood. This isn’t just another car; it’s a fire-breathing beast built for war on the quarter mile.

Photo by Murder Nova

Recently, the Murder Nova crew rolled into Xtreme Raceway Park in Ferris, Texas, to do some serious testing during the Midwest Drag Racing Series. The car? A blue twin-turbo ProMod owned by Keith Haney and tuned by a dream team led by Brandon, with Hart's turbos supplying the boost. The mission? Get the car lined out, consistent, and terrifyingly fast.

And let’s be real—twin turbo ProMods are no joke. Unlike blower or nitrous setups that hit hard and fast, turbos are all about control. Spool time, boost curves, traction management—it’s like tuning a symphony of explosions and trying to keep it all on pitch at 220+ mph.

From Wild Ride to Weaponized Precision

The first few passes at XRP were what you'd expect when trying to tame something this aggressive. Tire shake, front-end lift, and some serious bump steer issues made things sketchy. At one point, the front of the car darted unpredictably as it lifted—dangerous at best, disastrous at worst.

Photo by Damon Steinke

But that’s where Shawn and his team really shine. Instead of chasing hero passes or blowing the tires off for a viral clip, they got surgical. They dialed in the front suspension, adjusted toe, and made sure the car was tracking straight when the nose was in the air—which is about 95% of the run.

That attention to detail paid off. After making some big changes, the car laid down a .979 60-foot and a 3.66-second ET at 218 mph—a strong pass by any measure. But they weren’t done. On Day 2, they dropped a 3.62 at 220 mph, with a new personal best 60-foot of .959. That’s ProMod territory that turns heads. And the way Shawn put it? “There it is, boys. Come get it.”

Old School Grit Meets New School Precision

If you’ve followed Murder Nova since the early Street Outlaws days, seeing him behind the wheel of a ProMod might feel a little surreal. The back-alley brawler is now piloting a purpose-built monster in front of national crowds. But don’t get it twisted—that same street racing mindset is still in the mix, only now it’s backed by data, boost curves, and a lot more speed.

Shawn’s ability to read the car mid-run is insane. When the tires start to waffle or the car lifts hard, most drivers would lift. Shawn? He assesses the situation in real-time and makes the call to stay in it or pedal—and it’s paying off. That kind of mental fortitude, paired with Brandon’s tuning and the work from chassis guys Blake and Mark, is what’s making this program dangerous.

Photo by Mallory Elizabeth Photography

They’re not just winging it. After every pass, they break down the data—tire speed, driveshaft RPM, boost pressure, you name it. It’s the perfect blend of seat-of-the-pants feel and cold, hard numbers, and it’s turning this ProMod into something truly special.

Consistency is the New Chaos

In street racing, it’s often “win or wreck.” But in ProMod, consistency is king. And that’s the hill Shawn’s team is climbing fast. Getting a turbo car to behave lap after lap is no small feat. One misstep on the boost controller and you’re either smoking the tires or getting freight-trained by a blower car.

But that’s where this story gets exciting. Even in 2,800 ft. density altitude—not exactly ideal conditions—this car went 3.66 and 3.62. That’s not a fluke. That’s the kind of consistent performance that sends a message to every other ProMod team: Murder Nova is here to play for keeps.

So What’s Next?

Simple. Break into the 3.50s, push past 220 mph on the regular, and put the field on notice in events like No Prep Kings, the Midwest Drag Racing Series, and any ProMod shootout brave enough to let them in the lanes.

This isn’t a side project. This isn’t a guy dabbling in a new class. This is Murder Nova throwing down the gauntlet, backed by a team that lives and breathes racing. Every pass is a step closer to the top—and if you’ve been watching closely, you know that it’s not a matter of if they get there, but when.

So when Shawn says, “Come get it,” you better believe he means it.

For more behind-the-scenes coverage, real updates, and unfiltered takes from the world of street and strip racing, keep it locked here at StreetOutlawsTalks.com—where the rubber meets the road, and legends are written one pass at a time.