Photo courtesy of Chevrolet Racing

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio

Chevrolet’s next NASCAR race car could be an electric SUV.

Photo courtesy of Chevrolet Racing

Chevy will unveil its Blazer EV.R NASCAR Prototype during a media presentation scheduled for Thursday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway, site of Sunday’s 2025 Cup Series season-opening 67th Daytona 500. According to a news release issued Monday morning, the prototype represents a “joint effort between NASCAR and OEM partners,” with the intent of exploring new and emerging automotive technologies.

“Our Chevrolet V8 engines continue to be an important part of NASCAR,” Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President/GM Performance & Motorsports, said in the release. “Racing has always been an important platform for Chevrolet to test, learn and explore new technologies.”

Photo courtesy of Chevrolet Racing

Scheduled for the Chevrolet Experience Center in the DIS infield, the presentation will include appearances by Phil Zak, Chevrolet Global Design Executive Director; Dr. Eric Warren, GM Executive Director, Global Motorsports Competition; Todd Christensen, Chevrolet Director, Motorsports Marketing & Activation and Justin Allgaier, 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion and test driver for Chevrolet’s EV.R NASCAR Prototype.

Also scheduled to participate are Mike Bugarewicz, GM Motorsports Engineering Group Manager, Motorsports Vehicle Systems Engineering & Testing; Pat Suhy, GM Motorsports Manager, NASCAR Competition and Kevin Bayless, GM Motorsports Project Manager, NASCAR Competition.

Chevrolet will compete in NASCAR’s Cup and Xfinity series this season with its “grandfathered” Camaro platform _ a model no longer in production and now simply badged for NASCAR as “Chevrolet.” William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, is the defending Daytona 500 champion.

Photo courtesy of Chevrolet Racing

Not so coincidentally, Chevrolet also announced Monday the 2025 Blazer EV SS _ the quickest SS model the manufacturerhas ever produced _ will pace the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb.16.

The Blazer EV SS, set to go on sale later this quarter, is equipped with Wide Open Watts (WOW), reportedly propellingthe vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4-seconds whileproducing 615 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. The Daytona 500 pace vehicle is a production model with no performance upgrades and features custom graphics and embedded strobe lighting.

“Chevrolet has a long history with racing _ it’s in our DNA _and the Blazer EV SS is a testament to that,” said Scott Bell, Vice President of Chevrolet. “We’re excited for customers to watch the Blazer EV SS pace such an iconic race this weekend.”

The Blazer EV SS also features front Brembo brakes, a sport-tuned chassis, a best-in-class 17.7-inch-diagonal color touchscreen, standard Super Cruise driver assistance technology and offers an EPA-estimated 303 miles of range.

“We’re 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 at the Daytona 500,” DIS Track President Frank Kelleher said. “The Blazer EV SS is surely going to set the pace for another exciting race.”

This marks the first time a Blazer has paced “The Great American Race,” the first time an EV has paced the event and 16th time Chevrolet has led the Daytona 500 field to green. 

Chevrolet also will pace the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck races around the high-banked/2.5-mile DIS oval this weekend. A Corvette Stingray will pace the Xfinity Series United Rentals 300 on Saturday, Feb. 15, while a Chevrolet Silverado RST will pace the Craftsman Truck Series Fresh From Florida 250 on Friday, Feb. 14.

“Chevrolet is extremely proud to be a part of NASCAR’s season-openers by pacing all of the events this year at the famed ‘World Center of Racing’^,” Campbell said. “We are privileged to continue our relationship with Daytona International Speedway again in 2025.”

Chevrolet swept all three NASCAR Manufacturers’ Championships in 2024 for the second year in a row. AcrossNASCAR’s three touring series, Chevrolet has 102 wins at DISincluding 26 in the Daytona 500 _ more than any manufacturer