The first Corvette rolled off the Chevrolet production line in mid-1953. Chevrolet intended the car to compete (in sales) with imported small sports cars. Initially, performance aspects were of secondary importance. Gradually, Chevrolet came to realize that racing success would help showroom sales.

Zora Arkus-Duntov began working for Chevrolet in 1953, and was quickly put in charge of high-performance development. In 1956, John Fitch was hired to help Chevrolet's racing team for Sebring in 1956. Early successes did indeed help improve the Corvette image, performance, and sales. Unfortunately, in 1957 General Motors signed on to the Automobile Manufacturers Association ban on factory-supported racing.

Small groups and individuals within Chevrolet continued development of racing options, with "back-door" help to outside racers. Results were mixed. In 1962, work began on a special series of lightweight Corvettes designed specifically for racing in Europe. When upper management learned of it, they forced the project to be stopped. Five Grand Sport Corvettes were completed, and sold or loaned to private racers.

At some point, the racing-support ban was lifted within General Motors. In the early 1980s, Chevrolet began development work on a Corvette GTP race car with a Lola T600 chassis and a Chevrolet V-6 turbo-charged engine. The two cars built usually qualified at or near the top, but rarely won, and often ended a race early. The program was abandoned at the end of 1988.

A new factory-based Corvette Racing team was initiated in 1996, with first races of the Corvette C5-R at the 24-hour race at Daytona in 1999. One car finished 3rd in class, followed by 2nd in 2000, and finally 1st in class and 1st overall in 2001. Factory-supported and individual racing continues today, with the Corvette C6-R and production Z06 options.

Recorded here are all known (to my research) top-three finished of Corvettes in sanctioned races. My sources are books and magazines, so this is an incomplete list. If you can point me to additional information please do!

See my Chronology of Chevrolet Corvettes for a more complete list of all things Corvette.

Last updated: 2007 JAN 1.

1953-1957	1958-1960	1961-1963	1964-1969	1970-1972	1973-1975	1976-1977	1978-1979	1980-1982	1983-1989
1990-1992	1993-1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006

1955

A car race at Thompson.

• 3rd: Addison Austin in a 1955 Corvette with V-8 engine and automatic transmission.

1955

A car race at Hagerston.

• 1st in class: Addison Austin in a 1955 Corvette with V-8 engine and automatic transmission.

February 18, 1956

The Daytona Speed Weeks races are held at Daytona Beach, Florida.

• 1st in Flying Mile, Production Class: John Fitch in a 1956 Corvette with a two-way average speed of 145.543 MPH, a new record.
• 2nd in Flying Mile, Production Class: Betty Skelton in a 1956 Corvette at 137.773 MPH.
• 1st in Flying Mile, Modified Class: Zora Arkus-Duntov in 1956 Corvette (255 hp, 307 ci engine) at 147.3 MPH.
• 3rd in Standing Mile, Production Class: John Fitch in a 1956 Corvette at 86.782 MPH.
• 1st in Standing Mile, Modified Class: Zora Arkus-Duntov in 1956 Corvette at 89.753 MPH.

March 24, 1956

The Florida International 12-Hour Grand Prix of Endurance race is held in Sebring, Florida.

• 1st in Sports 8000 class: John Fitch and Walt Hansgen in 1956 Corvette (307 ci engine).

April 22, 1956

The first race of the year of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) is held, at the Pebble Beach raceway in Monterey, California.

• 1st in class, 2nd overall: Richard Thompson in #46 1956 Corvette.

April 1956

SCCA race in Palm Springs, California.

• 1st overall: Richard Thompson in #46 1956 Corvette.

June 24, 1956

SCCA race for C-Production class cars at the Road America raceway in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

• 1st in C-Production class: Bark Henry in a Corvette.
• 2nd in C-Production class: Fred Windridge in a Corvette.

July 7, 1956

SCCA race at Beverly, Massachusetts.

• 1st: Richard Thompson in #111 Corvette.

July 1956

In New Hampshire, the Mount Washington hill climb race is held.

• 3rd: a Corvette.

August 11, 1956

In Bremerton, Washington, the Seattle Seafair Class C-Production race is held.

• 1st: Richard Thompson in #106 1956 Corvette.

November 3, 1956

At the Palm Springs raceway, the last SCCA race of the season is held.

• 1st: Richard Thompson in #106 1956 Corvette.

November 1956

End of SCCA racing seacon.

• 1st in C-Production: Richard Thompson in a 1956 Corvette.

December 9, 1956

The Nassau Trophy race is held in the Bahamas.

• 1st in class: Richard Thompson in #15 1957 Corvette.
• 1st in S8.0 class: Ray Crawford in a Corvette.

February 7, 1957

At Daytona Beach in Florida, the Speed Week Performance Trials are held.

• 1st in Standing Mile, Production class: Paul Goldsmith in a Corvette at 91.301 MPH.
• 2nd in Standing Mile, Production class: Johnny Beauchamp in a Corvette at 89.798 MPH.
• 3rd in Standing Mile, Production class: Betty Skelton in a Corvette at 87.4 MPH.
• 1st in Standing Mile, Modified class: Buck Baker in the Corvette SR-2 at 93.047 MPH.
• 1st in Flying Mile, Production class: Paul Goldsmith in a Corvette at 131.941 MPH.
• 2nd in Flying Mile, Production class: Johnny Beauchamp in a Corvette.
• 3rd in Flying Mile, Production class: Betty Skelton in a Corvette.
• 2nd in Flying Mile, Modified class: Buck Baker in the Corvette SR-2 at 152.866 MPH.

February 10, 1957

At the New Smyrna Beach municipal airport in Florida, car races are held, for professionals and amateurs.

• 2nd in production class: Paul Goldsmith in a 1957 Corvette.

March 23, 1957

In Sebring, Florida, the Florida International 12 hour Grand Prix for the Amoco Trophy race is held, round 2 of the World Sports Car Championship.

• 1st in GT 5000 class: Richard Thompson and Gaston Andrey in #4 1957 Corvette.
• 2nd in GT 5000 class: John Kilborn, Jim Jeffords, and Dale Duncanin #3 1957 Corvette.

1957

Pike's Peak Hill Climb.

• 1st in sportscar class: Ak Miller in a Corvette, time 15:23.

1957

Bonneville salt flat races.

• 1st in Sports Car Class: George Hanson in a Corvette, new record of 144.322 MPH.

July 6, 1957

At the Watkins Glen race course, Race #5 is held for B-Production and C-Production classes.

• 1st in B Production class and 1st overall: Dean McCarthy in a Corvette.
• 2nd in B Production class and 3rd overall: Homer Deasey in a Corvette.
• 3rd in B Production class: Don Yenko in a Corvette.

July 14, 1957

In Marlboro, Maryland, an SCCA race is held for B, C, and D Production cars.

• 1st in B Production class and 1st overall: Richard Thompson in the Corvette SR-2.
• 2nd in B Production class and 2nd overall: Bark Henry in a Corvette.
• 3rd in B Production class: Bob Muat in a Corvette.

1957

End of SCCA racing seacon.

• 1st in B-Production: Richard Thompson in a Corvette.
• 1st in B-Modified: J.E. Rose in a Corvette.

December 1, 1957

The Nassau Tourist Trophy race is held in the Bahamas.

• 1st in S8.0 class: Curtis Turner in the #92 Corvette SR-2.

December 1, 1957

The Nassau Governor's Trophy race is held in the Bahamas.

• 1st overall: Curtis Turner in the #92 Corvette SR-2.

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