Russ Harrison had taken delivery of his 2016 Camaro SS just four days prior to running 10.62 at 128mph at Tulsa Raceway Park. I’m not sure that Chevrolet would call this proper break-in procedure, but racers and hot rodders are a different sort. Russ and the crew at B&R Performance in Oklahoma City, OK planned to hit the ground running with a list of modifications before heading to the track. To get the most out of the new direct-injected 6.2L Gen V LT1 and 8-speed auto, James Karger (of Calibrated by Karger) tuned the factory computer. Using a set of drag radials and skinnies mounted on Weld Racing wheels, Russ went 11.77 right off the bat. Things escalated quickly from there. Planning ahead, B&R installed a nitrous system. Seeing as though the Gen6 had just hit the streets, B&R and Nitrous Express started with the C7 Corvette plate kit with a stand-alone fuel cell for nitrous enrichment. Race gas was dumped into the cell to fend off detonation. With jetting for a 150-shot, the red Gen6 became the first to run 10s, clicking off a quick 1.55 sixty-foot in the process.
Well, that escalated quickly. But anyone familiar with late model Camaros would have expected as much. Many big shops have just gotten their hands on the Gen6 as well, so you can expect this record to be broken soon enough. In the mean time, Russ, B&R and CBK will not be standing by idly. Ported heads and a camshaft are in the works to push this car into the single digits. According to Karger, the purpose of the project is to serve as R&D for a Fireball Edition Camaro, which “will be a package that delivers supercar performance out of GM’s most recent pony car offering.” Stay tuned!
