When speed gets too hot to handle, even a fierce machine like the Corvette ZR1 pays the price. John Anhalt’s 2019 ZR1, heavily modded to crank out about 30 percent more power than stock, blitzed the Big Bend Open Road Race in Texas with a staggering average speed of 173.004 miles per hour on its 118-mile course, smashing the previous record.
The supercharged LT5 V8 pushed John hard, even hitting top speeds above 210 mph. But all that raw power grilled the ZR1’s rear fascia, literally melting the bumper into a “toasted marshmallow”.
John said he stripped every ounce of unnecessary weight and upgraded every detail possible for the race. Yet the exhaust heat has proven savage, especially since the car ran without a conventional exhaust system to protect rear components.
For now, the ZR1 wears its scars proudly. There’s no gain without pain.
