The “Fast” End to Lights Out 9

If you are unfamiliar with the Light Out/No Mercy events from Duck X Productions, then here is the CliffsNotes version: Show up early in the week, test for a few days, and then attempt to qualify for a 32-car field, hoping to chase after the money and glory that goes with winning one of those events. For Stevie “Fast” Jackson of Killin’ Time Racing, he managed to snag his second Lights Out victory, and this time he collected a $50,000 winning prize in Radial vs. The World.

Jackson is perhaps radial racing’s biggest star—he is an outspoken and charismatic driver who came through the rough and tough world of grudge racing. The Georgia-based driver became an Internet sensation when his Mustang, Shadow 1.0, went airborne two years ago during No Mercy 8. The Mustang was destroyed in a spectacular crash that identified the reality of how on-edge this type of racing has become. He and racing partner Phil Shuler regrouped and brought Shadow 2.0, a 2015 Camaro, to the racing world just six months later for Lights Out 8.

Rick Jones Race Cars built the Camaro specifically for this type of drag racing, combining elements of Pro Modified with specs geared toward radial racing. The Camaro body is made from carbon fiber and it covers up a double framerail chassis construction, designed for safety and performance. Under the hood resides a Brad Anderson Engineering (BAE) 521ci Hemi that can utilize either a twin-screw supercharger or a 14-71 Chuck Ford Heads (CFH) Roots-blower, depending on the rules or grudge race stipulations.

The car itself can also shed weight quickly if there is a big stakes grudge race, and Jackson can choose between the DOT-legal Mickey Thompson ET Radial Pro 315 tires or a set of Hoosier “big tires.” In fact, he recently took the Pro Modified class win at the World Outlaw Nationals at Orlando Speed World in early 2018, showing Shadow 2.0’s versatility as a racecar in either trim.

For Lights Out 9, the car rolled over the scales at 2,600 pounds, wore the Mickey Thompson DOT rollers, and the CFH Roots-blower was in service. The car shared the quickest e.t. in qualifying with teammate Jeff Sitton, who runs a near identical combination. Both late model Camaros ran matching 3.787s with Sitton getting the nudge to the top qualifying spot thanks to a higher speed of 199.70 mph against Jackson’s top speed of 199.06 mph. The two were the only players in the 3.70s at that point of the race, however Sitton would exit competition after his first round win when he impacted the wall just past the finished line. That left Jackson to carry the Killin’ Time Racing team through eliminations against the best of the best in small tire racing.

Jackson’s first round win came over Lyle Barnett and the “Tooth Jerker” 1969 Dodge Dart. The Camaro posted a 3.894 at 197.19 mph to the Dart’s tire-slipping 8.669 at 88.18 mph effort. The next victim was Enzo Pecchini and his ProCharger-blown Mustang coupe. The Shadow 2.0 posted a 3.874 at 196.76 mph to overtake the Pecchini who spun the tires hard at the hit. For the third round, the Great Eight as it is called, Jackson ran into Street Outlaws TV star Ryan Martin and his Fireball Camaro. Again, the supercharged Shadow 2.0 Camaro prevailed by beating the twin turbocharged Fireball Camaro with a 3.810 at 198.20 mph to Martin’s 3.853 at 203.92 mph.

Just four cars remained in competition and this round, it was Jackson against Tim Slavens, who had the only non-Pro Mod style car left in competition, while the other side of the ladder featured Keith Haney driving “Enigma,” a 2015 Camaro with a big nitrous engine, and Paulo Giust and his supercharged 1969 Camaro. Haney advanced on a holeshot when he dropped a 3.798 at 198.47 mph to beat a quicker, but losing, 3.787 at 198.00 by Giust. Jackson earned his way into the final round with a 3.786 at 199.11 mph to beat an impressive 3.838 at 209.26 mph by Slavens.

The finals had many storylines running through it, as there is no love loss between Haney and Jackson. From words of war on social media heading into the race to a big dollar grudge race during the final round of qualifying, the Jackson/Haney pairing was one that the crowd was elated to watch. The classic blower vs. nitrous entanglement ensued, but it was clear from the start that Jackson had the upper hand. He jumped the lights with a stout. 027 reaction time and never looked back as Shadow 2.0 marched away from Enigma. Through the lights, Jackson scored low e.t. of the event with a 3.742 at 199.67 mph to Haney’s 3.770 at 199.52—marking them as the two quickest of the weekend and Jackson as the winner of Radial vs. The World.

Final Results

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