Murder Nova Returns to Familiar Setup for Outlaw 32 Debut at Season 7

Well, well — season 7 is here and things are already heating up! The Speed Promotions Outlaw 32 series just kicked off its first race weekend in sunny California, and one name fans were eager to watch was none other than Murder Nova, a.k.a. Shawn Ellington.

Photo by Murder Nova

Coming into this new chapter, Shawn had big plans. He rolled out a completely refreshed setup: a massive 144 ProCharger, 36-inch tall tires, nitrous, and a long list of upgrades aimed at keeping pace with the ever-evolving competition in the big tire scene. But sometimes, big changes bring big headaches — and that’s exactly what he ran into during testing.

In a recent YouTube update, Shawn opened up about the struggles he faced getting the new setup dialed in. From traction issues to unexpected hiccups, it just wasn’t clicking the way he needed it to. And with race day looming, there wasn’t time to waste.

So what did Murder Nova do? He went back to what worked.

Photo by Murder Nova

Instead of pushing an unproven setup on race day, Shawn reverted to last season’s winning combination: the 140 ProCharger, 34.5-inch tire, and now, a shot of nitrous added in for some extra punch. This setup already has a championship under its belt — it’s consistent, it’s fast, and it’s familiar.

Sure, he’s giving up a bit of an edge on tire size compared to competitors running the full 36-inch slicks. But in tricky track conditions, that advantage isn’t always a sure thing. If the surface gets sketchy — and let’s be real, California tracks can be unpredictable — the proven setup might just shine brighter than the newer, bigger builds that aren’t dialed in yet.

Shawn knows his car. He knows how to drive. And with his top-tier tuning team in his corner, you can bet Murder Nova will be a threat every time he lines up.

Photo by Murder Nova

The Friday “Beat the Champions” $10,000 shootout was a no-holds-barred race with just one test pass allowed. That meant pressure was on right out of the gate. And then Saturday — the main invitational — looks to be just as intense. While we might not have a full 32-car field at this opening event due to the location, the competition is still stacked, and anyone with a steel-bodied car on big tires is eligible to jump into the mix. That’s the beauty of this Outlaw 32 series — it's open, raw, and all about who can throw down the hardest.

We’ll be watching closely to see how things shake out, but don’t count Murder Nova out just because he hit reset. Sometimes, going back to basics is exactly what it takes to win.

Stay tuned to Street Outlaws Talks for more updates, race recaps, behind-the-scenes stories, and everything you need to keep up with the Outlaw 32 action and the rest of the Street Outlaws world. This season’s off to a wild start — and we’re just getting going.