Hall Racing has once again finished the brutal Mint 400, racing in a nearly stock Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 and Chevrolet Colorado ZR2.
What Is The Mint 400?
The Mint 400 is a renowned annual desert off-road race that takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, and was first established in 1968. Originally both for motorcycles and four-wheel vehicles, it became famous as “The Great American Desert Race”. After a 20-year hiatus, the event was revived in 2008, and since then, it has grown significantly, now recognized as one of the largest off-road races in the world. The race features a diverse array of vehicle classes and attracts competitors and spectators from around the globe.
Racers make two laps of a brutal 200-mile loop in the Nevada Desert south of Las Vegas, racing for around seven hours in total. Motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, heavily modified trucks, and stock vehicles compete together in a multitude of classes. Forget winning—just finishing the 400-mile course is a feat all by itself. If something breaks on course- you don’t have any help. The vehicle Driver and Navigator must get out and fix things themselves. A durable machine that can perform in the worst conditions imaginable is an absolute must.
Who is Hall Racing?
One of those competitors is the Chevrolet Performance-backed team of Hall Racing. Led by Chad Hall, Hall Racing has competed using factory and preproduction Silverado ZR2 since 2020 and Colorado ZR2 trucks since 2017. They’ve not only helped Chevrolet develop the vehicles we now enjoy right off the showroom floor but also put them to the test in the most intense way possible. The pickups they race are largely the same as you would find rolling off the factory production line, with only modifications for safety and Chevrolet Performance parts (that you can buy from your dealer) used to finish the race.
Chad is the son of Rod Hall, who “competed in 50 Baja 1,000 races — and has had a relationship with GM that dates back to the HUMMER line, first racing an H1, then an H2, and later an H3 with his father and brother.”
A few years ago I had the amazing chance to ride with Chad in the Chevy Silverado Race Truck during a previous running of the Mint 400. Unannounced to me, they were testing parts that would ultimately be used on the future Silverado ZR2. The course was brutal, the skill needed to finish was top-tier professional level, and the trucks were beaten to within an inch of breaking. Just watch my video above to see what the experience was like.
2024 Mint 400 Results
Once again, this year Hall Racing completed the Mint 400 with both trucks entered. The Silverado ZR2 #851 and the Colorado ZR2 #7330. That is absolutely no small feat- especially for trucks that began as production ZR2 models.
The Silverado ZR2 was driven by team-mate Chris Woo and finished the Mint 400 in 7:18:47, which placed him first in the Stock Production Truck, Full Class. Chris finished 136th over-all.
Chad drove the new 2023 Colorado ZR2 and finished the Mint 400 in 6:18:49, which also placed him first in the Stock Production Truck, Mini/Mid Class. Chad finished 132nd over-all. The 2024 Mint 400 marks the 44th consecutive race the Hall Racing Colorado ZR2 has finished in its class- which is every race the truck has entered since 2017! Very impressive.
So the next time you drive your brand new ZR2, whether Silverado or Colorado, don’t be afraid of taking it down that muddy, rocky, or dirt road. Chad’s done a lot, a lot worse, and we can thank him for the durable, capable pickups we drive today. Thank you, Chad!
