C6 Corvette ZR1 and C7 Corvette Z06 clash at the Battle Creek Speedfest.
This video features a half mile shootout between a pair of supercharged Corvettes at the Battle Creek Speedfest. Some Internet sleuthing reveals that both car have “mild bolt-ons,” but there could be some sandbagging involved.
What we do know is that the C6 ZR1 was the most powerful Chevy supercar of all time when it was introduced. With the supercharged LS9, it delivers 638 horsepower and 604lb-ft of torque. The C6 ZR1 lost that title when the C7 Corvette Z06 was introduced. The C7Z’s new LT4 supercharged V8 kicks out 650 horsepower and 650lb-ft of torque. Based on those numbers, the C7Z should have a definite advantage over the C6 ZR1, since the newer ‘Vette has considerably more torque. However, there are a few more factors to keep in mind when watching these races.
First, the C7 Corvette Z06 weighs about 200 pounds more than the C6 ZR1, so the older car has a slight advantage there. More importantly, however, the new Z06 appears to be fitted with the Z07 upgrade package. That is significant because the Z07 package comes with the large rear spoiler. That adjustable piece of aerodynamic mastery increases downforce at high speeds. With that downforce comes increased drag, which hurts top speed.
This video shows a few runs between the C6 ZR1 and the C7 Z06 and each race appears to take the same route. The newer Corvette uses its power advantage to jump out to an early lead, but each and every time, the C6 ZR1 comes flying past on the top end to take the time.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
