Take a look at this, First Startup Success: Inside the Thrash to Prepare a Pro Mod and X275 Car for the Next Big Race!
At Innovative Racecraft, the lights were still on long after sunset. With the next major race looming and no time to waste, Troy and his crew pushed deep into overtime, determined to bring their freshly rebuilt Pro Mod and X275 cars to life. What followed was a high-pressure, late-night thrash session that ended with a successful first startup and renewed confidence heading into one of the toughest Pro Mod events of the season.
Late Nights at Innovative Racecraft
The evening began quietly but urgently. With only Troy and a small crew in the shop, attention turned to final preparations on two critical race cars. The X275 machine was already buttoned up and ready, showing off new Billet Specialties wheels and fresh graphics after a promising test session the week before. Troy was set to pilot that car at the upcoming US Street Nationals.
But the real focus was on the Pro Mod.
The team had just received a base tune from Jamie, and tonight would be the first attempt to fire the brand-new combination. With temperatures hovering in the mid-40s and shop doors open to vent fumes, the moment arrived to see if weeks of hard work would pay off.
The First Startup: Loud, Cold, and Successful
With fuel pressure checked and final connections verified, the crew braced themselves. No ear protection. No warm-up runs. Just a raw first fire of a high-horsepower Pro Mod engine.
When the starter hit, the shop instantly filled with sound.
The engine lit cleanly, roaring through the open headers and alcohol injectors. Despite the cold air and first-start nerves, the motor idled smoothly with no smoke, no leaks, and no warning signs. The crew quickly realized they had a winner on their hands.
“It fired right up and idled awesome,” Troy said afterward, crediting Jamie’s tune for the flawless startup.
A Full Rebuild in Just Four Weeks
The success didn’t come easily.
Just days earlier, the entire car had been torn down and rebuilt by a tight-knit team that included Joe Irwin from Fast Forward Race Engines, the crew at M&M Transmission, and multiple specialists from RK Racecraft and Cameron Johnson Race Cars.
In less than a month, they:
-
Installed a non-lockup torque converter
-
Completely rebuilt the transmission
-
Replaced pistons, rods, camshaft, and valve springs
-
Converted the entire engine setup for a Heart’s Charger supercharger system
-
Added fresh plumbing, fuel system upgrades, and titanium fuel cell mounts
-
Repainted and redesigned the entire front nose with a new carbon inlet
Even the custom headers — known as the “zooies” — were handcrafted by Dynamic Racing Headers without the car even being present.
The result was a fully modernized Pro Mod built to match the fastest cars in the class.
Proven Power: The Winning Combination
The new setup reflects what many consider the gold standard in today’s Pro Mod racing world.
The team chose a ProLine MH7 engine, M&M transmission, FuelTech electronics, and the latest Heart’s Charger blower — the same proven combination used by recent winners like Jason Harris at the Snowbirds.
There’s a reason more than 80 percent of the field now runs blower combinations.
“This is the latest and greatest in blower technology,” Troy explained. “We feel like this setup gives us a real advantage.”
For Troy, it was also a personal milestone — the first time he had ever driven a blower-equipped race car.
Even a quick tap of the throttle was enough to convince him the car was something special.
Final Adjustments Before Battle
With the engine successfully fired, attention turned to the final checklist:
-
Adjusting the four-link suspension
-
Removing excess weight thanks to the lighter new combination
-
Tightening small fittings and verifying airflow and vacuum
Cold weather delayed testing that week, but the plan was already set. The car would head to BMP for shakedown passes, followed by a full week of testing and qualifying at the US Street Nationals.
With multiple qualifying sessions and eliminations ahead, the team knew opportunity — and pressure — would be everywhere.
Ready for the Biggest Pro Mod Racing on the Planet
As the shop finally quieted down, confidence replaced stress.
The car was healthy. The tune was strong. The combination was proven. Now it was time to race.
“This is the biggest, baddest Pro Mod racing on the planet,” Troy said. “We’ll do whatever we’ve got to do to be ready.”
And with a flawless first startup behind them, this team is heading into the next race weekend with momentum, horsepower, and championship-level expectations.
