Up Close With Justin Martin’s Twin Turbo LDR Nova

Limited Drag Radial has quickly become one of the hottest classes in all of drag racing. With a great mix of cars and combinations, LDR has built not only a strong foundation of competitors, but also a loyal, rabid fan base, many of whom consider the fledgling class – 2018 was LDR’s second year of existence – to be the most exciting in motorsports.

Our partner Hans at Free Life Flims put together a feature compilation focusing on one of the most popular cars in the class, Justin “Red” Martin’s insane twin turbo Nova. Martin’s car, which is easily one of the most eye catching cars you’ll ever see, runs as good as it looks thanks to the twin turbocharged Harrell Engine & Dyno powerplant.

Martin would set the class record early in the season at the Outlaw Street Car Reunion, held for the first time at the historic Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, KY. Traction guru Tyler Crossnoe had the track on kill and Martin swiped up the record at a stout 4.111. He would carry that record through the rest of the season, despite the best efforts of his fellow competitors. Guys like Daniel Pharris and Lyle Barnett came within a breath of taking the record, but fell just a few thousandths of a second short.

Rolling into the race the signals the looming end of the season, Donald Long’s No Mercy 9, not too many people expected the record to fall again due to the soaring temperatures. However, Martin and his tuner, engine builder Pete Harrell, had a little something in store for those naysayers. Justin uncorked a moon-shot 4.09 that not only reestablished him as the quickest man in the class, but earned him the distinction of becoming the first LDR car in the 4.0 range.

Class rules makers Crossnoe and fellow traction wizard Jason Rueckert will take a close look at things and make any changes necessary to keep the class in check, but you can bet Martin and Harrell will throw everything they have at this hotrod to keep it running up front.