Chevrolet Blazer EV.R Prototype Debuts Ahead of Daytona 500

NASCAR has a rich history of pace cars, many of which sourced from General Motors: Corvettes, Camaros, and even the Pontiac Aztek back in ‘01. The roar of the 2025 Daytona 500 will be spearheaded by a silent pace car, the Chevrolet Blazer EV SS, the first all-electric pace car in NASCAR history. It’s currently the quickest SS model Chevrolet has ever produced thanks to its “Wide Open Watts” mode delivering up to 615 horsepower for a 3.4-second 0-60 time. But there’s always a flash before the thunder, and in this case it’s another Blazer EV revealed ahead of the race.

The Blazer EV. R prototype is a rolling test bed of sorts, showcasing the emerging technologies the Bowtie is exploring, from which the lessons learned may one day benefit race programs and production cars.

Under the tricked out body work is a trio of six-phase electric motors and a 78-kWh, liquid-cooled battery, synergizing for a total system output “over 1,300 horsepower.” Its all-wheel drive system is programmable, and its electrified muscle meets the road through Goodyear Racing Eagle tires. The EV. R relies on NASCAR’s next-gen chassis and suspension setup as its foundation, with Chevrolet working closely with NASCAR and other manufacturers to get things right.

“While we will continue to race our proven and winning V8 technology in NASCAR for years to come, we continually look for ways to improve the combination of power, durability, and efficiency to transfer learnings from the racetrack to the showroom, especially as we bolster Chevy’s consumer EV lineup,” said Eric Warren, executive director, global motorsports competition for General Motors.

According to Chevrolet, the Blazer EV. R has already run test laps “at race pace” at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina, with Team Chevy driver and 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier behind the wheel.

“There are so many things you don’t think about until you’re in the car actually testing it,” said Allgaier. “I’m used to knowing my speed through gearing and listening to engine revs, so I had to totally change how I judge corner entry speed. With this platform we’re learning how to strategically adjust regenerative braking, which has a big impact on braking sections and cornering balance.”

This weekend, Chevrolet will also pace the Xfinity Series United Rentals 300 with a Corvette Stingray, and the Craftsman Truck Series Fresh From Florida 250 with a Silverado RST.