Inside “Shirtless” Chad McGee’s Grudge Racing Nitrous S10

Nothing screams grudge and no-prep racing more than a nasty, nitrous-huffing big-block stuffed into a lightweight chassis rolling on a set of steamroller slicks.

12191732_920134664690349_3711669135257364268_nWith that in mind, “Shirtless” Chad McGee went for the “stupid simple” approach in replacing his formidable big-block Chevrolet-powered Fox body Mustang that was out and about in the street and grudge world for years, also competing in a few 8.5 class races along the way. McGee has also been all over the South with his Mustang attending grudge events like the Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Blowout at Hub City Dragway in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

After picking up a 1995 Chevrolet S10 roller from Izzy Performance, McGee started making the necessary tweaks on this 4-linked factory frame truck for a racing surface that’s less forgiving than a prepped track. Clawing at the pavement are 32/14.5/R15W Hoosier slicks wrapped around a set of Weld Racing Magnum wheels to provide an ample contact patch on tricky racing surfaces. With a section width of 18.4 inches, that’s more than two inches wider than your standard fast-food serving tray!

“The plan was for the truck to be just a basic setup and to make sure the truck just works, using a big dumb nitrous big-block,” Chad says.

Originally, the engine was a Reher Morrison ported Dart Pro1-headed, 522 cubic-inch big-block out of Mark Milholin’s Torrance, California-based Hot Rod Performance shop. This rowdy truck, with an Induction Solutions Sledgehammer dual stage nitrous plate (using only a single stage), laid down a 5.12 at 137 mph on its only recorded run in the 1/8-mile on a set of 31.25/12.2/R15W Mickey Thompson ET Drag Radials.

The 1,160 rear wheel horsepower nitrous dyno pull resulted in part of the ring land departing the rest of the piston. The spark plug elctrode received a similar fate getting burn to a crisp.

With the end of the flame-spitting dyno run, a compression test resulted in the motor taking a trip back to Hot Rod Performance to get a new set of pistons slapped in. A killer new set of Pro-Filer Hitman 12-degree Spread Port cylinder heads with a matching intake replaced the old Dart Pro1 setup, then smashed back on top of this big-block Chevy. The powerplant was reunited to the Hughes Performance Pro-Mod Powerglide with matching Hughes converter, and was stuffed back under the hood. Horsepower numbers are yet to be seen and may never be broadcast due to the secrecy of the grudge, no-prep, and street racing world.

12208307_925928810777601_4430190942629331381_nDropping the weight out of this stunning orange and silver custom-painted all-steel body 10 was achieved with a call to Ultra-Carbon to obtain a custom carbon fiber bed cover, a cowl hood, dash, and racing seat — reducing the race weight to 2,900 pounds. A complete set of QA1 double adjustable coilover shocks on all four corners help this big-tire truck get down any path laid before it.

After his dyno video his social media, McGee has been receiving invites to some of the biggest races in the United States, and we’re pretty sure this isn’t the last time you’ll see this badass little Chevy S10 or hear the name “Shirtless” Chad.

About the author

Justen Spencer

Justen is a Ford modular motor fanatic with seven years of professional drag racing experience, and multiple championship seasons in NMCA West and PSCA. Originally from Las Vegas, he is the proud owner of four Mustangs, one that sees regular track time. When not racing, Justen can be found in the garage maintaining his championship-winning car.
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