Kye Kelley, born in Magnolia, Mississippi, rose from small-town roots to dominate the drag racing world as a fearless competitor and dynamic team leader. First gaining fame on Street Outlaws: Fastest in America, Kye led Team NOLA and piloted his legendary Camaro “Shocker,” earning a reputation as one of the fastest street-race cars in the country.
From delivering fire watches at an oil refinery to working up to superintendent overseeing 250 people, he’s never afraid of the grind. Today, his passion fuels Down South Performance, a tuning and fabrication shop born from his mechanical roots and tireless ambition.
Meet The Machines Behind The Mayhem
SHOCKER
Nickname:The OG Street Slayer Model: 1992 Chevrolet Camaro Powertrain: Nitrous-fed Small-Block Chevy Transmission: TH400 3-speed automatic Weight: ~3,000 lbs (street-legal trim) Best 1/8 Mile ET: ~4.50s (estimated) Notable Win: Outran Scott Taylor in a best-of-three battle at Memphis Int’l Raceway
Shocker is where it all began. Hand-built and tuned in a small garage, this nitrous-powered Camaro ruled the streets on Street Outlaws: New Orleans. With consistent reaction times and deadly launches, it’s a symbol of old-school street grit paired with down-south tuning knowledge.
JANGALANG
Nickname:The Pro Mod Problem Child Model: 1985 Buick Regal Powertrain: 4.9L Noonan Hemi + PSI Screw Blower Horsepower: ~3,500+ HP Transmission: Liberty 5-speed Weight: ~2,650 lbs Best 1/8 Mile Pass:3.594 sec @ 207.78 mph (Final round at Snowbird Outlaw Nationals) Reaction Times (RTs): As fast as .012 sec Chassis: Steel roof & quarters (legal Pro Mod configuration)
Originally underestimated, JangALang flipped the Pro Mod scene upside down. With tuner Jeff Pierce at the laptop and Kelley on the tree, this Regal upset veterans and took the $50K win at the 2024 Snowbirds. Built for power and precision, it's one of the most feared screw-blown setups on the no-prep circuit today.
Shocker 2.0
Nickname:The Lightweight Assassin Model: 3rd-Gen Chevrolet Camaro (2024 Build) Powertrain: 4.9L Noonan Billet Hemi + PSI Screw Supercharger Estimated Horsepower: 3,500–3,700 HP Weight:Under 2,400 lbs (carbon-heavy build) Chassis: Wizard Race Cars custom — lightweight steel/fiberglass hybrid Electronics/Tuning: FuelTech FT600 with data integration Debut: Mid-2024, optimized for No Prep Kings
The new Shocker isn’t just a rebuild—it’s a strategic weapon. Designed to maximize power-to-weight ratio, it's tailored for killer 60-ft launches and high consistency on sketchy surfaces. With Jeff Pierce dialing in every pass, this third-gen Camaro is gunning for Pro Mod-style speed in No Prep conditions.
Horsepower, Hustle, and History: Kye Kelley's Reign
"At the end of the day, I just want everybody to know that I got my whole heart into this, It's not a game to me."
"I'm confident because I've been there, I've done that, I've put in the work. I know what the car's gonna do, now it's time to race.
"My biggest fear is being average. I don't want to be like somebody else, I want to be better."
