Tales From the Desert: Chevy Just Raced a Silverado EV in ‘The Great American Off-Road Race’

Racing has long been a place for companies to test their products in harder-than-real-world conditions, where vehicles and parts can be pushed to their limits. The Mint 400, held in Primm, Nev., is one of those races. It was first held in 1968, and it continues to attract racers, vehicle manufacturers, and spectators from around the world.

This includes racer Chad Hall and his Chevrolet-backed racing team. While Hall isn’t a stranger to the Mint 400 or desert racing, he and his Chevy race team did something new for 2025: they raced an electric truck — a made-for-desert-racing Chevrolet Silverado EV ZR2 Concept pickup.

What Is the Mint 400?

The Mint 400 is a desert race in Primm, Nev., outside of Las Vegas. It’s billed as the Great American Off-Road Race. First run in 1968, the multiday event started March 1 with a desert cleanup. On Wednesday afternoon, there was a pre-race parade taking racers right down the Las Vegas Strip for all to see.

Thursday brought a festival-like atmosphere with vendors, food, and a mandatory tech inspection for race cars in old Las Vegas. Friday was back to the desert in Primm for the Limited race, and Saturday was the competition for Unlimited-class cars.

The event attracts 65,000 people to watch 500 racers in over 50 diverse classes. From motorcycles and Volkswagen Beetles to million-dollar trophy trucks and even ex-military vehicles, there’s a little bit of everything. People come from 25 different states and 15 countries, and the whole thing is broadcast to over 800,000 race fans across the globe.

Who Is Chad Hall?

Chad Hall is an accomplished off-road racer based outside Reno, Nev. He is Chevrolet’s driver of record for the Mint 400 and other desert races. He’s the son of legendary off-road racer Rod Hall, who won the first Baja 1000 in 1967 and had 25 class wins through his 50 entries at that event.

The younger Hall continues his family’s off-road racing legacy as one of the sport’s premier drivers. His big break happened in 1993 when he, his father, and his brother Josh, competed in a race-spec Hummer. Through a variety of classes, the team had 10 consecutive class wins in the Baja 1000.

In 2017, Chevrolet proposed racing production trucks with Hall using its performance parts. The team has finished 54 of the 55 races they’ve entered since.

In the 2025 BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400, Hall raced in three classes: Unlimited Truck SPEC, Stock Production Truck Mini/Mid, and EV Open Production. The Silverado EV ZR2 race truck was in the EV Open Production class.

Why Race an Electric Vehicle?

“There is no better proving ground to test the limits of our vehicles than competitive racing. The Silverado EV ZR2 race truck concept, which uses 98 percent GM production parts, showcases some of the best of Chevrolet to produce a beyond-capable pickup to tackle a challenging race of the Mint 400’s magnitude.”

— Scott Bell, Vice President, Chevrolet

“Working with the Chevy engineers is always a good day at the office,” said Chad Hall, primary driver and owner of Hall Racing. “What we learn from racing is applied to vehicles consumers can buy. An off-road race like the Mint 400 is equivalent to a lifetime of vehicle wear and tear,” says Hall.

About the Desert Racing Chevrolet Silverado EV ZR2 Concept

Of course, this isn’t just a stock Silverado EV, but it also follows the formula that the Chad Hall Racing team uses for the Colorado ZR2 and Silverado ZR2 ICE vehicles.

This recipe for success includes a lifted suspension using GM’s semi-active prototype Multimatic Adaptive Spool Valve dampers with 13 inches of travel. According to Chevy Performance Engineering and Motor Sports Competition Manager Tim Demetrio, the team achieved it by using much of the Hummer EV’s suspension system (sans airbags). The Silverado EV ZR2 race truck concept also has locking differentials and an array of stout underbody skid protection plates.

The Silverado EV ZR2 concept rolls on 37×12.50 R18 BFGoodrich KM3 Mud-Terrain tires wrapped around Method race wheels and has a tri-rotor propulsion system that Chevrolet says makes a staggering 1,100 horsepower and an incredible 11,500 pound-feet of torque. Being a legitimate race vehicle, it has a cage, racing seats, and a slew of safety equipment.

Despite the overhaul, it’s not that far off from what rolls off the assembly line. Chevrolet said the desert racing Chevrolet Silverado EV ZR2 came together in only 5 months. I was also told it tips the scales at just under 10,000 pounds.

FYI, the company is preparing for a more off-road-centric Silverado EV for the public in the “bowtie brand’s” Trail Boss trim. This more capable version will include a lift, 18-inch wheels, 35-inch tires, and red tow hooks. It’ll also have a new Terrain Mode for better maneuverability.

How Did the Chad Hall Race Team Do at the Mint 400?

The Mint 400 has different routes and course lengths depending on the vehicle class. Entering the Limited Race and EV Open Production class, the Silverado EV race truck was scheduled for one lap of competition, which was 73 miles. While 73 miles may not sound very long, the course is exceptionally grueling.

The team moved faster around the track than many had anticipated. In fact, we tried to keep up with the truck by visiting a number of pit and spectator areas, but were only able to see it once. We made it back to the start/finish line in time to see Hall take the Silverado EV race truck to its first completed desert race victory. While it was a class of one, simply finishing in such a rig is cause for celebration.

Interestingly, the team finished with 40% battery life left and was able to gain back 17 miles using the vehicle’s regenerative braking.

How Does a Chevrolet Silverado EV ZR2 Compare to a Gas-Powered Race Truck?

“It’s really different,” said Chad Hall. “When you take your foot off the gas of a regular vehicle, they kind of coast. This does not coast.” Hall remarked it took him a bit to get used to the idea that if he took his foot off the throttle, it was going to slow down faster than an ICE-powered truck.

This was despite Hall not using the truck’s one-pedal driving function in the race, as he’s accustomed to racing an ICE truck. One-pedal driving allows drivers of many EVs to simply let off the accelerator pedal to begin automatically braking, which also adds extra battery regeneration ability.

“The suspension was good, but it could be better, but they only did a couple days of tuning,” said Hall. “All in all, it was fantastic.” The team remarked that they didn’t have any problems during the truck’s maiden race.

What’s Next for the Desert Racing Chevrolet Silverado EV ZR2

So, is the truck off to conquer yet another desert race using nothing but electricity? Not yet. The electric race rig’s next stop will be the New York International Auto Show in April, where it’ll be on display for other race fans to see. Chevrolet didn’t rule out the truck competing again, however.

“The truck is an extreme test bed for future products, accessories, and items people can buy in the showroom,” says Shad Balch, Director, Chevrolet Communications. So, while racing this truck undoubtedly adds credibility to the truck’s durability and performance, its ability to be a test bed is invaluable to the brand.

Racing a vehicle like this at The Mint 400 shows that Chevrolet is pushing the boundaries of the Silverado EV. What the automaker learns from torture tests like this will only lead to a better product for the consumer, as well as increased off-road performance enhancements for future electric trucks.