Texas Heat: ZR1 Record Run At Big Bend Open Road Race

Car Junkie October 20, 2025 2 min read 0

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Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes speed. Twice a year, the Big Bend Open Road Race (BBORR) turns a quiet stretch of U.S. Highway 285 into one of the fastest public-road racing events in the country. The 118-mile round trip from Fort Stockton to Sanderson and back draws competitors from across the nation to push their machines to the limit. This past weekend, the “Unlimited” class saw history made as John Anhalt piloted his 2019 ZR1 Corvette to a new record-setting average speed of 173.004 mph.

A Record-Breaking Run

The BBORR was first held in 1998 and takes place twice annually, once in the spring and again in the fall. The event transforms 59 miles of Texas highway just outside Big Bend National Park into a high-speed battleground, hosting speed classes ranging from 85 mph to the no-holds-barred Unlimited class. Anhalt’s record broke the previous benchmark of 172.249 mph, set back in 2013 by Tom Whalen in a 2002 Z06 Corvette.

During the record Big Bend Open Road Race run, Anhalt’s ZR1 clocked a top speed of 213 mph an incredible feat for Chevrolet’s factory supercar. The ZR1’s 6.2-liter supercharged LT5 V8 proved up to the challenge, but not without consequences. The intense heat generated during the nearly 41-minute wide-open run literally scorched the Corvette’s rear fascia, leaving behind what many jokingly refer to as “battle scars” from the record-breaking effort.

Battle Scars Of Speed

While the ZR1 was the headline-grabber, the Big Bend Open Road Race remains one of the most unique motorsports events in the U.S. The field includes everything from daily drivers to purpose-built exotics and pro-touring muscle cars. Each class tests both driver skill and mechanical endurance over long distances and varying terrain, all under the unforgiving Texas sun.

Anhalt’s 173 mph average is more than just a number, it’s a testament to Chevrolet’s engineering prowess and the unrelenting spirit of open-road racing. Even with heat damage marking the finish, the record run showcased the perfect blend of precision driving and raw horsepower. In Texas, where speed is a way of life, John Anhalt and his ZR1 just set the new standard.