TJ Gatlin’s Nova Gets Upgraded For X275 Combat

Hardcore heads-up drag racers don’t take winters off to catch their breathe…no, they use the winters to rebuild and reload for the next season. With the first big race of 2015 coming up at Lights Out 6, the time has arrived for racers’ hard work in the offseason to pay off.

TJ “Gettin” Gatlin, owner and wheelman of the 1971 Chevy Nova known as “Booger”, teamed up with Mickeys Chassis Works to upgrade his X275 ride to run with the big dogs over the long winter and plans to come out swinging.

In the smash-mouth world that is X275 racing, if you aren’t stepping up your game, you’ll be putting the trailer ramps down early on race day, and the Yukon, Oklahoma native is taking his game to the next level. Gatlin left his hot rod in the very capable hands of Mickey Tessneer and Ronnie Plummer at Mickeys Chassis Works to get the game-winning upgrades it needed to ascend to the next level of X275 racing.

The Nova has been put on a big weight reduction plan that includes a Smith Racecraft front subframe and an Unlimited Products fiberglass front end and hood. Mickeys Chassis Works also constructed a killer one-off custom intercooler and stainless headers to match their custom turbo piping for the Precision 85mm turbo to feed all that boost into the 380-inch SBC from Hans Feustel Racing Engines.

To get all of the new power to the ground a full set of new Santhuff Shocks are getting added to the mix.

“With the weight loss and new goodies we’re looking to get deep in the 4.50s early in 2015 race season. We won’t have time to repaint the car but will make its 2015 unveiling at Lights Out 6 in the X275 class,” says Tessneer.

All of this wouldn’t be possible for Gatlin without help from Kati Gatlin, Brian Haynes, Steveo Smith, Clint Downs, Dave at Performance Transmissions, and Danny at KBX Racing. With all of these upgrades, the “Booger” could be in position to pick off some of the biggest names in X275. Stay tuned to Dragzine for our Lights Out 6 coverage to see if Gatlin will tickle the 4.50s.