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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →A modified 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 averaged a reported 173.004 mph over 118 miles at Texas’s Big Bend Open Road Race, then drew attention for melted rear bodywork. The report does not establish what caused the damage: the car had a no-muffler exhaust setup, but driver John Anhalt said he was still investigating the exact cause.
What speed record did the Corvette set?
Road & Track reported that Anhalt and navigator Kelli Hughes recorded a 173.004 mph average over the course, calling it a new course average-speed record. The publication compared it with a 172.696 mph average attributed to Tom Whalen in a 2002 Corvette in 2013. These are the figures and historical comparison reported by Road & Track, not independently verified official event results in the available coverage.
How the 118-mile course worked
The Big Bend route was described as a 59-mile stretch of Highway 285 between Fort Stockton and Sanderson. Competitors ran it once in each direction, covering 118 miles total, with 60 turns in each direction; the two runs were averaged.
Why did the Corvette’s rear bodywork melt?
The exact cause has not been established in the reporting. Road & Track described the car’s exhaust as Kooks headers and AWE straight pipes without a muffler, and discussed exhaust heat, but did not report a confirmed forensic finding connecting that setup to the melted bodywork. Anhalt was still investigating what happened. The reported configuration is a clue, not proof of the cause.
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This was an extensively modified race car, not evidence that a production Corvette ZR1 has a general rear-bodywork defect. Anhalt described his preparation to Road & Track: “I changed every single thing on the car I could to prepare for this race.” The coverage does not identify a confirmed repair or establish a specific heat-management fix.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Was the Corvette traveling at 213 mph?
Anhalt told Road & Track he saw an indicated 213 mph on the straights. That is the driver’s reported indicated speed, not the course average and not an independently verified measurement in the report. The 173.004 mph figure is the average across both 59-mile legs.
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Sources
- Road & Track, “Chevy Corvette ZR1 Sets Open Road Race Speed Record, Melts Own Bumper,” October 21, 2025
- Car and Driver, “C7 Corvette ZR1 Averages 173 MPH in Texas Road Race but Melts Its Butt,” October 22, 2025
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