Chevrolet’s Blazer EV SS Makes History As First Electric Pace Car At Daytona 500

Chevrolet’s 2025 Blazer EV SS is set to become the first electric vehicle (EV) to pace the prestigious Daytona 500. This historic milestone, scheduled for Sunday, February 16, 2025, marks Chevrolet’s 16th time leading “The Great American Race,” but symbolizes a big shift toward electrification in NASCAR’s premier event.

Blazer EV SS Paces Daytona 500

The Blazer EV SS bringing this innovation to Daytona is no ordinary EV. Chevrolet recently revealed that the production model will deliver even more power than initially announced, hitting 615 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque when utilizing its “Wide Open Watts” (WOW) mode. This represents a substantial increase from the 557 horsepower originally promised when the vehicle was first unveiled in July 2022. The enhanced power enables the Blazer EV SS to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, making it the quickest SS-badged vehicle that Chevrolet has ever produced.

“Chevrolet has a long history with racing – it’s in our DNA – and the Blazer EV SS is a testament to that,” explained Scott Bell, vice president of Chevrolet. “We’re excited for customers to watch the Blazer EV SS — the quickest SS we’ve ever produced — pace such an iconic race this weekend.”

Production-Ready Pace Car

The pace car will be a production-spec Blazer EV SS, requiring no performance modifications for its Daytona duties. The only changes are cosmetic, including custom graphics and embedded strobe lighting. The vehicle features Riptide Blue Metallic paint with a black roof, commemorative Daytona 500 logos on the front doors, and distinctive “SS” decals on the rear doors.

Beyond its pace car duties, the production 2025 Blazer EV SS comes well-equipped with performance features, including Brembo front brakes, a sport-tuned chassis, and GM’s Super Cruise driver assistance technology as standard equipment. The vehicle achieves an EPA-estimated range of 303 miles on a single charge, balancing high performance with practical usability.

Chevrolet’s Electrification at Daytona

The Blazer EV’s Daytona appearance is part of a broader electrification initiative at the speedway. Chevrolet will also debut its Blazer EV.R NASCAR prototype ahead of the race, demonstrating the automaker’s goal to explore new automotive technologies in racing. This development follows Ford’s recent unveiling of a Mustang Mach-E for NASCAR, suggesting a growing embrace of EVs in stock car racing.

Affordable Blazer EV Lineup

The 2025 Blazer EV lineup offers various configurations to suit different needs and budgets. The base front-wheel-drive (FWD) model starts at $45,995 and provides up to 312 miles of range, while the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) variant begins at $56,990 with an EPA-estimated range of 334 miles. The high-performance SS model will be available later this year, starting at $61,995. Notably, all Blazer EV models qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit, making this technological showcase more accessible to consumers.

Frank Kelleher, Daytona International Speedway track president, emphasized the significance of this moment stating, “We’re honored to have Chevrolet as a founding partner of Daytona International Speedway, and that the iconic brand chose to feature the all-new Blazer EV SS at the Daytona 500. The Blazer EV SS is surely going to set the pace for another exciting race.”

Read More: Chevrolet Powers Up Savings: 0% APR Financing On 2024 EV Models

As a result, this historic pace car appearance not only showcases Chevrolet’s expansion towards electrification but also signals a new chapter in NASCAR’s relationship with EVs, suggesting that the future of American motorsport may be increasingly electric.

If you are looking for the Chevrolet models, we can help you get started. Click Here to find the best deals near you. Want to learn more about EV? Thinking of buying an EV? Head over to EV.com and discover more.