Ford and Ram are getting plenty of attention in the off-road space with the F-150 Raptor and Ram TRX trucks. Both feature powerful engines, hardcore suspension systems, and rugged styling. They are both impressive trucks, but they’re far from the only options in the segment. The Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 is a brand-new full-size off-roader, and the Chevy Colorado ZR2 is a capable mid-size rig. The pair of Chevy trucks recently competed in the Cal City Desert Challenge and took home Best In the Desert class championships with Chad Hall Racing.

Though we’re just seeing the Silverado ZR2 now, the truck has been in racing and development with Chad Hall Racing since 2019. The team worked with Chevy to validate the components that it installed on the truck. The same was true for the Colorado ZR2, which has been with the team since 2017. Chevrolet says that it has covered more than 22,500 miles in competitive racing since its start.

Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 RaceTruck 005 scaled
The first-ever Silverado ZR2, Chevy’s flagship off-road truck, makes its official racing debut in the Best In The Desert King Shocks Laughlin Desert Classic. Links between the production Silverado ZR2 and the race truck are significant as they share most major chassis and drivetrain components.

The Colorado ZR2 in particular helped test and validate 15 factory race components. The parts are available to truck owners through dealerships, and include Multimatic long-travel DSSV dampers and long-travel leaf springs, jounce shocks, a steel driveshaft, ball-spline half-shafts, and a tie rod sleeve system.

 

The trucks’ next showing will happen on December 3 at the Mint 400 race outside of Las Vegas.