Tesla Model 3 and Y Drag Chevy Corvettes and Ford Mustangs. Someone Gets Smoked, or Not?

In America, it seems that just about every passenger car nameplate is living on borrowed time, is on the endangered list, or has already gone the way of the dodo. Soon, it feels like there will be only the C8 Chevy Corvette and S650 Ford Mustang when speaking of ICE-powered icons from bygone areas.

The rest of the pack is either in the retirement home or has adapted to the EV lifestyle, but these two nameplates seem like the final knights of the round table, still resisting the science-based age for the magical ICE-powered kingdom. Anyway, it is pretty obvious these two will severely clash with all representatives of the novel EV current, especially Tesla.

And what better way to prove one's worth, in America, rather than duking it out at the local dragstrip? Yep, we couldn't find a more perfect venue, either, so that's why we are currently looking at a couple of nice drag racing videos to show you - one from the perspective of a C8 Chevy Corvette owner and the other from a Tesla driver's point of view.

First, the videographer behind the SSDracer channel on YouTube has prepared quicker action of the 1/8th mile variety at Barona Dragstrip in Lakeside, California, with his latest acquisition – a 2023 Chevy Corvette Stingray Z51. In the other lane resides an equally dark crimson Tesla Model Y – the description says it's a Performance model, but someone in the comments mentioned the Long Range.

Either way, the Tesla driver wasn't quick to take advantage of the massive, instant torque offered by the electric motors, or put simply, the C8 Corvette racer had a lot more experience and delivered a much better reaction time. However, as the 1/8-mile race progressed, the Model Y quickly regained composure and ultimately (but narrowly) defeated the feisty C8 Corvette Stingray Z51. Yes, it was close, but not close enough.

Secondly, the YouTuber behind the Rich on Track channel on YouTube, who loves discussing Tesla and electric vehicles, showcased an entire ensemble of ICE-powered models in his most recent feature. First and foremost, he also raced a Chevy Corvette – however, that one was most likely a C7 and one that was highly modified. As such, no wonder Rich thought – and for good reason – that he would get smoked (10.27s versus 11.55s).

Secondly, he raced – just for good fun – an old, derelict-looking Chevy Avalanche pickup truck. He won, of course, but not by quite the margin anyone would imagine, given the 11.69s versus 12.8s quarter-mile ETs! Thirdly, his next opponent was a Ford Mustang – though also of the vintage variety, as we are dealing with a Fox Body.

Well, that race isn't all that interesting (11.76s versus 13s ETs), so let's skip to the part where Rich and his Tesla Model 3 Performance go head-to-head at the Famoso Dragstrip at Famoso Bakersfield Raceway in McFarland, California, with the 2023 Ford Mustang, presumably of the GT variety. As it turns out, this was the race for the ages that Rich was looking for all along – he got a much better reaction time than his opponent and ended the brawl with a clear 11.67s versus 12.59s victory!