2019 Chevy Silverado Is The First-Ever Truck To Pace Daytona 500

A production Chevrolet Silverado will become the first-ever truck to pace the Daytona 500 this weekend, with the company also debuting the first new Silverado race truck since 2014.

The Chevrolet Silverado pace truck is powered by a standard 6.2-liter V8 with 420hp and 460lb-ft of torque and will be driven by two-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. in front of the pack.

Chevrolet has paced the race 12 times in the past, but this will be the first time it uses a truck for the job.

“The Daytona 500 weekend is home to some of the most memorable moments in racing,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. vice president of Performance and Motorsports. “This is an exciting opportunity to introduce the strongest, most advanced Silverado ever to race fans all weekend long.”

The new Silverado NASCAR race truck will debut with a fresh livery and a new design that brings it in line with the all-new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado RST. Having achieved 232 wins, nine Manufacturers’ championships and 13 Drivers’ championships, the Silverado is the most successful truck since the series launched back in 1995.

Chevrolet has also set up a ‘Hotel Silverado’, parking six trucks fitted with tents on the Daytona Motor Speedway infield. The company will host Joey Miller and his family, who will camp out on the bed of the Silverados for the weekend.