GM recently pulled the sheets on the 2023 Chevy Colorado, introducing a brand-new third generation for the midsize pickup. Now, the 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 is getting its off-road racing chops put to the test in the 2022 Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno race.
The 2022 Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno race marks the inaugural competition debut for 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2, with the pickup facing down a whopping 500 off-road miles in the Nevada desert between Las Vegas and Reno. Kicking off yesterday, August 12th, the race will conclude with an after-race pool party and awards ceremony at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino.
The new 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 race truck was built and piloted by the folks at Chad Hall Racing, who also wheeled the last-gen Chevy Colorado ZR2 to a Best in the Desert championship win in 2021.
As for the 2023-model-year vehicle, upgrades over the standard production model include a set of off-road lights and a prominent front bash bar, while in the bed is a set of spare wheels and tires, as well as spare steering and suspension components (knuckles and tie rods). Additional spares include new fluids and engine accessory belts. Safety stuff includes fire extinguishers and a full roll cage. Fuel is kept in a 50-gallon tank. Finally, the whole shebang is covered head to toe in a special Chad Hall Racing livery.
Production-spec 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2
As for what’s under the hood, the racing-spec 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 is running the top 2.7L High-Output tune for the turbocharged 2.7L I4 L3B gasoline engine, all of which is included as standard for the production ZR2. Peak output is rated at 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. The race truck weighs approximately 6,200 pounds.
The interior of the race truck maintains the factory dash and center console, as well as the vinyl floor mats from the Colorado WT trim level, and the factory air conditioning system. Although the factory A/C works well, the team will likely upgrade it for the next race, similar to the Chad Hall Racing Chevy Silverado ZR2.
Last year, Chad Hall Racing not only took the previous-generation Chevy Colorado ZR2 to a class win in the Best in the Desert racing series, but also managed to do the same with the Chevy Silverado ZR2. Now, the team is back with the next-gen 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2.
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Comments
There we go again… Mary is hiking her skirt… If she is going to really tease us, put out a video of this truck doing Ford Raptor-type (lots of air) jumps. Put it through its paces… Let us see it earn its pedigree. Then put the race truck in a dealer’s lot and I will buy it,,, But the little flirt will not do that…
Somebody doesn’t like foreplay
Oh, no… I do love foreplay… It’s a great build-up, gets me all excited… But I do not like having to walk away with “blue balls”. Mary has been doing just that lately… Make a truck and put it on the dealer’s lot that will make me blow (spend) my wad! Then I will smile!
you can’t tell me that’s this 2.7 engine will compete with ford or dodge , get some power in this truck please
Awesome!
No comment on the truck but Vegas to Reno is one of my favorite races. My good buddy just got 1st in 6100 class. I chased for him years ago when he had a class 10 car. It’s definitely a fun race.