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Giveaway #7 Winner Profile: Brenad Martin and the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

For Brenad Martin of Wisconsin, the journey to Pennsylvania started with skepticism from everyone around him. His wife Sarah’s reaction when he told her about winning was bewilderment, and his friends weren’t much more encouraging. “My one buddy texted me and was like, ‘Sounds like a scam,’” Martin recalled during his airport pickup with 717 Supply Founder Mike Hyssong.

The doubt was understandable. Martin had never owned a fast car, making his 2011 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 prize almost surreal. When asked about the most powerful car he’d driven, Martin mentioned a Lamborghini Gallardo from years ago during a track day experience. But for daily driving? “I don’t have anything fast right now. I just have my truck,” he remarked.

His current ownership status made Martin’s first in-person encounter with the screaming yellow Corvette more meaningful. “I can definitely hear it,” he remarked, taking in the ZR1’s aggressive exhaust note. “It’s way louder than what I thought.” As the reality of his win set in, Martin chimed in with “That thing is so sick.”

However, Martin kept his emotions in check during the reveal, and his wife called him “low-key.” “I don’t get real animated... but inside I’m shaking,” Martin explained. When he finally got behind the wheel, the understatement continued. “Feels good, man,” he said, though he quickly added, “definitely sounds fast.”

The numbers weren’t lost on him either. Hyssong said the total package was worth about $180,000 between the car, modifications, and cash bonus: “It’s a big one,” he added. Martin’s reply? “I can’t even process it.”

With Hyssong behind the wheel, Martin enjoyed his first ZR1 drive as the copilot. His real-time reaction put the experience in perspective, “I was freaking out for a second. My stomach’s in my throat. It’s fast.” For someone who’d always wanted a fast car but never had one, the ZR1 was exactly what he’d been hoping for.

About the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Brenad Martin’s ZR1 began life as Chevrolet’s C6 supercar flagship, powered by the factory LS9 supercharged 6.2-liter V8 producing 638 horsepower. However, Late Model Racecraft (LMR) transformed this already potent machine via a comprehensive Fereday Edition build package with an almost $60,000 price tag.

The foundation of the transformation centers on extensive engine work. LMR installed custom CNC-ported cylinder heads featuring titanium intake valves, bronze valve guides, and titanium retainers. The precision work extends to custom five-axis CNC porting, competition valve jobs, and chambers milled for optimal compression. Supporting this head work, LMR fitted its custom-ground LS9 camshaft with LS7 replacement lifters and ARP2000 head studs for reliability at higher power levels.

 

The supercharger system received equal attention. LMR CNC-ported the 2650 supercharger and snout, then paired it with a high-flow 5-inch cold air intake and 120mm billet throttle body. An ATI 14% lower pulley and Griptec supercharger pulley optimize boost levels, while a Kong billet dual idler belt tensioner maintains proper belt tracking under increased loads.

 

Fuel delivery required substantial upgrades to support the increased power. LMR installed Injector Dynamics ID1300X flex fuel injectors paired with a complete flex fuel kit, allowing the ZR1 to run on various fuel types, including E85. A Fore Innovations triple pump fuel system rated for 2,000 horsepower ensures adequate fuel flow, controlled by an FC3 staged controller.

The exhaust system features American Racing stainless steel headers with 2-inch to 2-1/8-inch primary tubes feeding into 3-1/2-inch collectors and an X-pipe. This setup not only increases power but also creates the aggressive sound that immediately caught Martin’s attention during the reveal.

 

Handling the increased power meant upgrading the drivetrain. LMR fitted a Monster S Series triple disc clutch rated for 1,150 rear-wheel horsepower. The combined modifications produce over 1,000 wheel horsepower on E85 fuel, with pump gas figures approaching 900 wheel horsepower. Beyond the engine work, Martin’s ZR1 includes two sets of wheels: carbon fiber Brixton Forge wheels currently mounted, plus 18-inch drag radials on Forgestar Performance wheels for maximum traction at the strip.

 

All these modifications turn the ZR1 into a serious drag strip car that can still be driven on the street, which is precisely what Hyssong and 717 Supply intended with this build.