{"id":34122,"date":"2025-02-13T15:08:26","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T19:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=34122"},"modified":"2025-02-13T15:08:26","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T19:08:26","slug":"green-flag-chevy-blazer-ev-ss-first-electric-to-pace-daytona-500-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/green-flag-chevy-blazer-ev-ss-first-electric-to-pace-daytona-500-field","title":{"rendered":"Green flag: Chevy Blazer EV SS first electric to pace Daytona 500 field"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The Daytona 500\u2019s field of 40, thundering, V8-powered NASCARs will be led to the green flag this Sunday by . . . a green, whisper-quiet, battery-powered Chevy Blazer EV SS.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">It\u2019s the first time the Florida race, now in its 67<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0running, has been paced by an electric vehicle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Together with the debut of a Blazer EV.R NASCAR Prototype race car, the Blazer EV SS is another indication of General Motors. Co.\u2019s commitment to an all-electric future. Don\u2019t expect NASCAR to abandon crowd-pleasing, internal-combustion-engine V-8s anytime soon, though, as even NASCAR\u2019s mild electrification plans to go hybrid in 2024 have come and gone. But the Blazer indicates how the motorsport\u2019s manufacturer sponsors \u2014 Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota \u2014 want it to promote the electric technologies they are developing for road cars.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/02\/12\/PDTN\/78467167007-chevy-blazer-evs-spacecar-fr.jpg?width=660&amp;height=441&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The Chevy Blazer EV SS will be the pace car for the 2025 Daytona 500 - the first EV to do so.\" width=\"512\" height=\"342\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The Chevy Blazer EV SS will be the pace car for the 2025 Daytona 500 - the first EV to do so.\" data-c-credit=\"Chevrolet, Chevrolet\">\n<p><em>The Chevy Blazer EV SS will be the pace car for the 2025 Daytona 500 &#8211; the first EV to do so. Chevrolet, Chevrolet<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">EV sales are less than 10% of U.S. car sales \u2014 about 40% of them in California \u2014 and have been targeted at upper-income buyers. Indeed, the Blazer EV SS will start at $61,995 \u2014 the price of a gas-powered Audi Q7 \u2014 when it goes on sale later this quarter. Among the 100,000, largely middle-class fans choking the Daytona infield this weekend, Chevy owners will skew to ICE pickups rather than EV SUVs, but Chevrolet is bullish on its electric lineup that starts with the $34,995 Equinox EV.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The 2025 Blazer EV SS is the first Chevy EV to wear the iconic SS performance badge and is the quickest SS model the brand has ever produced, rocketing from 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Its 615 horsepower is nearly on par with the 670-horse NASCARs lining up behind it \u2014 though the Blazer\u2019s estimated 5,300 pounds make the big, 3,400-pound NASCARs look like lightweights.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Chevy\u2019s NASCAR race car is badged a Camaro \u2014 a two-door, V8-powered sports car that went out of production in 2024. NASCAR racers use a bespoke racing chassis that shares nothing with production cars. Ford badges its NASCAR a Mustang and the Toyota NASCAR is a Camry.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cChevrolet has a long history with racing \u2014 it\u2019s in our DNA \u2013 and the Blazer EV SS is a testament to that,\u201d said Chevrolet Vice President Scott Bell. \u201cWe\u2019re excited for customers to watch the Blazer EV SS \u2014 the quickest SS we\u2019ve ever produced \u2014 pace such an iconic race this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/02\/12\/PDTN\/78467236007-chevy-blazer-evs-spacecar-rr.jpg?width=660&amp;height=440&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The Chevy Blazer EV SS pace car packs 610 horsepower - nearly on par with a 670-horse, V8-powered NASCAR.\" width=\"509\" height=\"339\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The Chevy Blazer EV SS pace car packs 610 horsepower - nearly on par with a 670-horse, V8-powered NASCAR.\" data-c-credit=\"Chevrolet, Chevrolet\">\n<p><em>The Chevy Blazer EV SS pace car packs 610 horsepower &#8211; nearly on par with a 670-horse, V8-powered NASCAR. Chevrolet, Chevrolet<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">In addition to its face-flattening power, the 303-mile range, all-wheel-drive Blazer EV SS is peppered with performance goodies like Brembo brakes and sport-tuned shocks. It boasts luxury touches like a 17.7-inch-diagonal color touchscreen and standard, hands-free Super Cruise driver assistance \u2013\u2014 though for divided highway, not racetrack, use only.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"gnt_atomsnc\" class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_anc\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadAnc\" aria-label=\"Newsletter signup form\">\n<div class=\"label\" hidden=\"\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"message\">\n<div class=\"title\">Get the\u00a0<span class=\"highlight\">Michigan Politics<\/span>\u00a0newsletter in your inbox.<\/div>\n<p class=\"description\">Washington and Lansing, red and blue, we&#8217;ve got your government covered.<\/p>\n<div class=\"frequency\">Delivery: Daily<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"input-container populated\">\n<p><input autocomplete=\"off\" name=\"email\" required=\"\" type=\"email\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"clickable\"><\/div>\n<p><label>Your Email<\/label><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bar\">\n<div class=\"highlight\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"progress-primary\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"progress-secondary\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cWe\u2019re honored to have Chevrolet as a founding partner of Daytona International Speedway, and that the iconic brand chose to feature the all-new Blazer EV SS,\u201d said DIS track president Frank Kelleher.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The first EV to pace the field, the Blazer is the 16th Chevrolet model to do the honors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The Blazer EV.R NASCAR Prototype also took a bow at Daytona this week, part of a joint effort between NASCAR and its manufacturing partners \u2014 Chevy, Ford and Toyota \u2014 to showcase emerging auto tech. Ford debuted its own version of an electric NASCAR \u2014 based on its Mustang Mach-E SUV \u2014 at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona last month.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/02\/12\/PDTN\/78467268007-chevy-nascarev-prototype-burnout.jpg?width=660&amp;height=441&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Chevrolet introduced the electric Blazer EV.R NASCAR Prototype race car at Daytona this week as manufacturers preview emerging tech.\" width=\"522\" height=\"349\" \/><\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><em>Chevrolet introduced the electric Blazer EV.R NASCAR Prototype race car at Daytona this week as manufacturers preview emerging tech. Chevrolet, Chevrolet<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Chevrolet introduced the electric Blazer EV.R NASCAR Prototype race car at Daytona this week as manufacturers preview emerging tech.\" data-c-credit=\"Chevrolet, Chevrolet\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cOur Chevrolet V-8 engines continue to be an important part of NASCAR. Racing has always been an important platform for Chevrolet to test, learn and explore new technologies,\u201d said GM Performance &amp; Motorsports Vice President Jim Campbell.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Chevy\u2019s ICE production models will also get star turns at Daytona this weekend with the V8-powered Corvette Stingray leading the field for the Xfinity Series United Rentals 300 on Saturday and the Silverado RST pickup leading the Craftsman Truck Series race to the green flag Friday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">For a closer look at the Blazer EV.R and the three pace cars \u2014 Blazer EV SS, \u2018Vette and Silverado RST \u2014 Daytona fans can check out Chevy\u2019s infield displays.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">When the green Blazer EV peels off the track and the flag waves at 2:30 pm Sunday, all eyes (and ears) will be on the pack of V-8s \u2014 including defending Daytona 500 champion William Byron, who will be seeking to put a Chevy NASCAR in the Daytona winner\u2019s circle for the 27<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or @HenryEPayne<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Daytona 500\u2019s field of 40, thundering, V8-powered NASCARs will be led to the green flag this Sunday by . . . a green, whisper-quiet, battery-powered Chevy Blazer EV SS. It\u2019s the first time the Florida race, now in its 67th\u00a0running, has been paced by an electric vehicle. Together with the debut of a Blazer [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34122"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34122"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34123,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34122\/revisions\/34123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}