The Next-Generation 2027 Silverado 1500 ZR2 takes on its first off-road challenge in Nevada
2026-09-18
On August 14, Chevrolet competed in two categories in the 2026 Casey Folks Vegas to Reno race, America’s longest off-road desert competition. The 2027 Next-Generation Silverado 1500 ZR2 debuted in the Stock Production Truck Full segment and a Colorado ZR2 in the Stock Production Mini/Mid category.
Powered by the all-new 6.6L V8 engine, delivering 481 horsepower and 501 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2027 Silverado ZR2 put its strengths on full display. For 2027, the ZR2 raises the bar with more capability than ever. The Silverado ZR2 is engineered as the off-road flagship of the Silverado family, building on the nameplate’s unique blend of proven off-road capability and on-road comfort. Standard equipment includes 35-inch Mud Terrain tires, a 2-inch lift with a more aggressive stance, front and rear electronic locking differentials, and a dedicated off-road hood with an enhanced power dome.
In the midsize class, the Colorado ZR2 was powered by a tried-and-true 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It also included 17-inch wheels with mud-terrain tires, Multimatic DSSV dampers that provide enhanced control on challenging terrain, a 3-inch lift, and front and rear locking differentials.
Both race trucks are run with nearly all stock parts, says Program Manager, Offroad Racing Performance and Race Integration Nicole McKinnon.
“We prepared the truck thoroughly, using the Legends Rally in July as a shakedown opportunity for the Silverado ZR2,” McKinnon says. “We put the truck through its paces to the point that we were comfortable with its readiness for all 505 miles.”
Veteran drivers Chad Hall and Chris Woo competed for Chevrolet, and Performance Engineering Group Manager Tim Demetrio says they’re the team’s competitive advantage in a crowded field. Years of experience reading and anticipating terrain makes a big difference when it comes to crossing the finish line with the truck intact.
“It’s about driving within the capability of the vehicle,” Demetrio says. “The trucks have plenty of power, and our drivers know how hard they can push them. It’s really an art; they have to be able to read the terrain in front of them. When a dip is ahead, they have to understand whether they can hit it at 40 or 4 miles per hour.”
Off-road racing is a dusty, thrilling spectacle requiring both great drivers and extremely tough vehicles, and the 2026 Casey Folks Vegas to Reno race is a prime competition opportunity for both trucks. The event spans nearly 505 miles of challenging terrain that includes dry lake beds, rocky canyons, and desert valleys threading through the mountains of Nevada.
CAPTION: Powered by the new Gen-6 6.6L V8 engine, the 2027 Silverado beat its own record pace across tough terrain.
While the race typically starts under the neon lights of Las Vegas and ends in Reno, this year marked the event’s 30th anniversary and ran Reno to Vegas for the first time in reverse. As a result, competitors tackled a slower, rockier area off the starting line in Dayton, Nevada instead of the flatter landscape surrounding the Vegas area. Chevrolet driver (and Silverado owner) Woo says he has been looking forward to driving the new Silverado.
“The new truck takes everything that was great about the 2026 ZR2 and elevates it even further,” Woo says. “It’s super familiar but better than ever. Also, I was really impressed with the new Baja drive mode.”
Both Chevy trucks were equipped with desert-race-proven Multimatic DSSV dampers. For the production 2027 Silverado ZR2, the damper system has been enhanced and paired with jounce control dampers to help the truck remain composed over demanding terrain. Chevrolet has been working with Multimatic for over a decade, and the company has made significant improvements over the years that help race teams up their game. The jounce control dampers now featured on the Silverado ZR2 were first introduced on the Colorado ZR2 Bison, giving drivers more capacity to tackle bigger whoops and potholes with confidence.
“The updated DSSV dampers continue the tradition of no compromise in performance,” Demetrio explains. “Their unique architecture allows solid off-road capacity while on-road performance is held to the standard our customers expect.”
At the end of the race, the next-generation Silverado logged a very successful first outing, completing the 505-mile race in 11 hours, 43 minutes at an average pace of 43.1 mph. That’s 1.1 mph faster than our record pace, even including a full brake pad change at a pit stop about 300 miles in.
“The truck has lots of space and it’s super nimble,” Woo says. “We had the air conditioner going, and it’s just so comfortable in the cabin. That helps a lot when you’re racing, because you get mental fatigue; having those standard features of a Chevrolet production vehicle makes it more comfortable to drive.”
Chevrolet live streamed this race at www.youtube.com/@Hall_Racing on August 14, 2026; you can relive the action in our 2027 Silverado ZR2 and Colorado ZR2 as they traveled 505 miles of Nevada’s desert.
Team Chevrolet driver Chris Woo pilots the Next-Generation Silverado through the Nevada desert.
On August 14, Chevrolet competed in two categories in the 2026 Casey Folks Vegas to Reno race, America’s longest off-road desert competition. The Next-Generation 2027 Silverado 1500 ZR2 debuted in the Stock Production Truck Full segment and a Colorado ZR2 in the Stock Production Mini/Mid category.
Powered by the all-new 6.6L V8 engine, delivering 481 horsepower and 501 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2027 Silverado ZR2 put its strengths on full display. For 2027, the ZR2 raises the bar with more capability than ever. The Silverado ZR2 is engineered as the off-road flagship of the Silverado family, building on the nameplate’s unique blend of proven off-road capability and on-road comfort. Standard equipment includes 35-inch Mud Terrain tires, a 2-inch lift with a more aggressive stance, front and rear electronic locking differentials, and a dedicated off-road hood with an enhanced power dome.
In the midsize class, the Colorado ZR2 was powered by a tried-and-true 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It also included 17-inch wheels with mud-terrain tires, Multimatic DSSV dampers that provide enhanced control on challenging terrain, a 3-inch lift, and front and rear locking differentials.
Both race trucks are run with nearly all stock parts, says Program Manager, Offroad Racing Performance and Race Integration Nicole McKinnon.
“We prepared the truck thoroughly, using the Legends Rally in July as a shakedown opportunity for the Silverado ZR2,” McKinnon says. “We put the truck through its paces to the point that we were comfortable with its readiness for all 505 miles.”
Veteran drivers Chad Hall and Chris Woo competed for Chevrolet, and Performance Engineering Group Manager Tim Demetrio says they’re the team’s competitive advantage in a crowded field. Years of experience reading and anticipating terrain makes a big difference when it comes to crossing the finish line with the truck intact.
“It’s about driving within the capability of the vehicle,” Demetrio says. “The trucks have plenty of power, and our drivers know how hard they can push them. It’s really an art; they have to be able to read the terrain in front of them. When a dip is ahead, they have to understand whether they can hit it at 40 or 4 miles per hour.”
Off-road racing is a dusty, thrilling spectacle requiring both great drivers and extremely tough vehicles, and the 2026 Casey Folks Vegas to Reno race is a prime competition opportunity for both trucks. The event spans nearly 505 miles of challenging terrain that includes dry lake beds, rocky canyons, and desert valleys threading through the mountains of Nevada.
Powered by the new Gen-6 6.6L V8 engine, the 2027 Silverado beat its own record pace across tough terrain.
While the race typically starts under the neon lights of Las Vegas and ends in Reno, this year marked the event’s 30th anniversary and ran Reno to Vegas for the first time in reverse. As a result, competitors tackled a slower, rockier area off the starting line in Dayton, Nevada instead of the flatter landscape surrounding the Vegas area. Chevrolet driver (and Silverado owner) Woo says he has been looking forward to driving the new Silverado.
“The new truck takes everything that was great about the 2026 ZR2 and elevates it even further,” Woo says. “It’s super familiar but better than ever. Also, I was really impressed with the new Baja drive mode.”
Both Chevy trucks were equipped with desert-race-proven Multimatic DSSV dampers. For the production 2027 Silverado ZR2, the damper system has been enhanced and paired with jounce control dampers to help the truck remain composed over demanding terrain. Chevrolet has been working with Multimatic for over a decade, and the company has made significant improvements over the years that help race teams up their game. The jounce control dampers now featured on the Silverado ZR2 were first introduced on the Colorado ZR2 Bison, giving drivers more capacity to tackle bigger whoops and potholes with confidence.
“The updated DSSV dampers continue the tradition of no compromise in performance,” Demetrio explains. “Their unique architecture allows solid off-road capacity while on-road performance is held to the standard our customers expect.”
At the end of the race, the next-generation Silverado logged a very successful first outing, completing the 505-mile race in 11 hours, 43 minutes at an average pace of 43.1 mph. That’s 1.1 mph faster than our record pace, even including a full brake pad change at a pit stop about 300 miles in.
“The truck has lots of space and it’s super nimble,” Woo says. “We had the air conditioner going, and it’s just so comfortable in the cabin. That helps a lot when you’re racing, because you get mental fatigue; having those standard features of a Chevrolet production vehicle makes it more comfortable to drive.”
Chevrolet live streamed this race at www.youtube.com/@Hall_Racing on August 14, 2026; you can relive the action in our 2027 Silverado ZR2 and Colorado ZR2 as they traveled 505 miles of Nevada’s desert.