Silverado held the early lead, but the F-150 Lightning overcame traction troubles to get the win on the top end.
The video above comes to us from the Franklin8806 YouTube channel and it features a Ford F-150 SVT Lightning taking on a Chevrolet Silverado in a half mile battle. While most drag races take place over the course of an eighth mile or quarter mile, half mile racing has become more popular across the United States, as it allows vehicles to reach significantly higher speeds in a safe venue. In most cases, half mile races like those organized by the WannaGoFast group are dominated by supercars, but these two trucks show that even the bigger vehicles can build big speed.
Lightning versus Silverado
There are no details on the two trucks included in the video details, but in reading through the internet shouting match in the comments, we can gather some information on the Ford and Chevy in this race.
According to the angry commenters, the Chevrolet Silverado is built, with one person claiming that it has “full bolt-ons” while another claims that it is cammed. It is clearly lowered with huge chrome wheels, and based on the urgency with which it gets down the track, we would guess that the Chevy V8 is making a bit more power than stock.
As for the Ford F-150 SVT Lightning in the near lane, there are claims that it has a larger supercharger and a tune, but again, we don’t know if the commenters actually have any idea what they are talking about. The truck whines more than stock, but that doesn’t guarantee any upgrades beyond a cold air intake. That being said, this Lightning pulls hard on the top end, so it could be modified as well.
Half Mile Battle
After an artsy introduction that kind of shows us most of the race, the video jumps back to the starting line right as the green lights drop. The Silverado jumps out to an early lead as the F-150 struggles to get traction, allowing the Chevy to hold the lead when the two roar past the cameraman, but not long after, the screaming, supercharged F-150 roars into the lead and drives off into the sunset, eventually beating the Silverado by a pretty comfortable margin.
"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.
