At the Racing Capital of the World, Chevrolet used a hypercar, 250 pyrotechnic candles and a bottle of milk to honor America’s 250th birthday ahead of the 110th Indianapolis 500.
Chevrolet had a birthday party to plan, and it did things its own way. On May 23, the company sent a Corvette ZR1X down a nearly 200-foot stretch of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course to blow out 250 pyrotechnic candles arranged along a stand designed to look like a cake. The stunt served as both a tribute to America’s semi-quincentennial and a very loud introduction for Chevy’s newest hypercar.
Behind the wheel was Cody Bulkley, a Corvette senior controls and software engineer who doubles as an experienced stunt driver. Bulkley has done events at Rockefeller Center with the E-Ray and set a lap record at Sonoma Raceway, but he said this assignment carried a different kind of weight.
“To get asked to come back here to do the U.S.A.’s birthday in the almighty ZR1X, to be able to put smoke up in the air like that and really celebrate this moment together is so special,” Bulkley said after completing the run, which finished with a few burnouts for good measure.
The crowd watching from the infield sang “Happy Birthday” to America as Bulkley walked to the car. When it was over, he reached for a glass bottle of milk and poured it over himself, nodding to one of IndyCar’s most recognizable traditions. He noted with a laugh that only two people would drink from that bottle this weekend.
Scott Bell, vice president of Global Chevrolet, framed the moment as part of a longer story. “Corvette has long been a symbol of the American dream, so it is a privilege to celebrate this moment at the Racing Capital of the World by having a Corvette ZR1X blow out 250 candles in a display of power and precision,” he said.
The candle stunt was one piece of a broader campaign Chevrolet has been running all year. The brand released a limited-edition Stars and Steel Collection, a lineup of vehicles built around a patriotic design theme with dark metallic finishes and celestial accents. It also revived the classic “See the USA in your Chevrolet” campaign, leaning into the brand’s 114-year history in American culture.
For the race itself, the official pace car was a Corvette ZR1X finished in Arctic White and Admiral Blue with a stars-and-stripes design. It led the field to the green flag at the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500, cementing its place in the race’s history during a milestone year for the country.
As for Bulkley, he was quick to share the spotlight. “I’m part of the most special crew. I work with the best teammates. Without them, none of this would happen,” he said. The ZR1X, assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky, will continue to serve as the centerpiece of Chevrolet’s anniversary celebrations through the rest of 2026.
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