Inside The National Corvette Museum: '26 Exhibits & Expansion, A C5-R Legend, And A Black Rose ZR-1 Revival

Your National Corvette Museum is never lacking in excitement, from the red-carpet R8C Museum Delivery Program that brings families together to the annual NCM Bash that unites passionate enthusiasts from around the country. If you haven’t made a pilgrimage to Bowling Green, Kentucky, to visit the museum or the NCM Motorsports Park (when your right foot is feeling anxious), you’re missing out on a truly unique Corvette experience. As the NCM races through the beginning of 2026, CorvSport has all the news you need to get pumped up to plan your trip, all conveniently located in one place. We also have two opportunities for you to engage with other Vette enthusiasts, so let’s get after it!

What We Have Lined Up For You

2026 Sets The Pace At The National Corvette Museum
The Earnhardt Story: When NASCAR Royalty Met Corvette Racing History [picture-rich!]
One of Eleven: Reviving A Black Rose ZR-1 Legend [picture-rich!]

This feature is free, and you can enjoy an ad-free experience, get exclusive content, and support CorvSport for only $2.92/month!

1 — 2026 Sets The Pace At The National Corvette Museum

The National Corvette Museum is accelerating into 2026 with a clear sense of purpose and momentum. From Bowling Green to the global Corvette community, the Museum is rolling out an ambitious plan that blends preservation, storytelling, and engagement on a scale that signals a defining year ahead. New exhibitions, expanded facilities, and a far-reaching events calendar collectively underscore that the Museum is not just safeguarding history—it’s actively shaping how that history is experienced.

Driven To Preserve: The Mission Comes Alive

Opening March 12th, the new Driven to Preserve exhibition puts the Museum’s core mission front and center. The immersive display explores both the reasoning and the rigor behind preservation, featuring more than a dozen rarely seen Corvettes, including modified icons such as a 2003 Callaway Z06. As the Museum explains, the exhibition is rooted in “the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of our work,” pulling back the curtain on the science, care, and stewardship required to actively conserve Corvette’s legacy rather than simply display it.

A Reimagined Hall Of Fame With A Human Focus

Debuting alongside this effort is a re-envisioned Corvette Hall of Fame designed to tell a deeper, more personal story. At its heart sits the meticulously preserved 1974 Stingray once owned by Zora Arkus-Duntov, a powerful anchor that reinforces the people behind the progress (see our ’74 Stingray coverage here). This refreshed space sharpens the narrative around innovation and passion, highlighting the individuals whose vision and dedication transformed Corvette into an enduring American icon.

Expanding The Campus And The Community

Supporting these initiatives is a new 66,000-square-foot collections facility rising on the Museum campus, scheduled to open in 2026. Built specifically for conservation, the structure secures the collection’s future and sets the stage for behind-the-scenes educational tours beginning in 2027. Beyond the campus, the Museum will sponsor more than twenty events worldwide, from April’s Michelin NCM Bash to September’s Hall of Fame Induction. The R8C Museum Delivery program, fresh off its 20,000th delivery, continues to connect owners directly to Corvette history, while November’s Military Appreciation Month once again offers free admission to service members in recognition of their service. Together, these efforts signal a year of forward motion—ensuring America’s Sports Car has a home as dynamic as the legacy it protects.

The NCM is waiting for you! Photo sourced from GMAuthority

Additional Source For This Curation: GMAuthority

2 — The Earnhardt Story: When NASCAR Royalty Met Corvette Racing History

A singular piece of Corvette Racing lore is heading to the National Corvette Museum, carrying with it speed, loss, and legacy in equal measure. Soon to be displayed in the E. Pierce Marshall Performance Gallery, this Pratt & Miller–built Corvette C5-R stands as the only racing Corvette ever driven by Dale Earnhardt Sr.—a car forever linked to one of the most emotionally charged chapters in American motorsports. Campaigned by Corvette Racing from 2000 through 2002, its most defining moment came at the 2001 24 Hours of Daytona, where history, tribute, and competition converged.

The #3 C5-R that became part of racing history! Photo Credit: NCM

A Letter, A Pass, And The Birth Of A Team

The story traces back to October 2000, following Andy Pilgrim’s now-legendary winning move at the Petit Le Mans—later immortalized as the “Pilgrim Pass.” Earnhardt Sr., deeply impressed, reached out in a way almost unthinkable today: a handwritten letter sent by mail. In it, he praised the “drive and determination” required to seal the victory, telling Pilgrim that performance was “exactly why I want you for a teammate in the 24 hours of Daytona.” Earnhardt added that the dramatic finish “looked like something we do at Bristol.” Within two weeks, it was official—Dale Sr. and Dale Jr. would join Pilgrim and Kelly Collins in a Corvette C5-R for Daytona.

Daytona, No. 3, And A Race Etched In Time

At Daytona in 2001, the No. 3 C5-R brought together this extraordinary lineup: Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Dale Earnhardt, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Running the iconic number as a tribute, the team delivered a hard-fought fourth-place overall finish and second in class, narrowly trailing another C5-R that captured the overall victory. Just two weeks later, the motorsports world was shaken by the loss of Earnhardt Sr. at the Daytona 500, cementing this C5-R as a rolling memorial and the sole Corvette he ever raced in competition.

Built To Race, Preserved To Remember

While not sharing the production C5’s chassis, the C5-R mirrored its layout, stretched and widened for competition, and powered by a thunderous 7.0L LS1.R V8 delivering 610 horsepower. Developed and constructed by GM partners Pratt & Miller, the C5-R first took the green flag at the 1999 24 Hours of Daytona and quickly became a cornerstone of Corvette Racing’s dominance. Now preserved at the National Corvette Museum, this particular C5-R represents far more than engineering excellence—it captures a rare crossover between NASCAR and sports car racing, and a moment in time that Corvette history will never forget.

The Iconic C5-R Was Recently Displayed At The Rolex 24

*All photos are credited to the NCM

Join In On The Viral Post

The NCM recently posted from the Rolex 24, and the Corvette community responded enthusiastically! Click anywhere on the Facebook post to engage.

3,900 Reactions
98 Comments
382 Shares

3 — One of Eleven: Reviving A Black Rose ZR-1 Legend

Among the Museum’s most meticulous preservation efforts sits an exceptionally rare 1993 Corvette ZR-1 finished in Black Rose—a color seen on just ELEVEN ZR-1s for the entire model year. Now under the care of the National Corvette Museum, this low-production icon is being carefully returned to its former glory, with every step of the process focused on authenticity, craftsmanship, and long-term preservation rather than quick restoration.

Precision Work Beneath The Skin

The mechanical renewal began where it matters most. The Museum’s team has already replaced the fuel pumps, clutch assembly, and the entire brake system, ensuring the ZR-1’s foundation matches its elite status. With the car mechanically addressed, attention turned to the body, which was fully disassembled and painstakingly hand-sanded all the way down to primer—an intensive process reserved for cars of true significance.

Layer By Layer, Back To Full Form

From there, the Black Rose ZR-1 entered the paint phase, receiving two coats of base followed by two heavy layers of clear. Wet sanding and buffing are currently in progress, refining the finish to the level this rare ZR-1 demands. Final assembly is scheduled next, marking the last steps before this rare Corvette once again stands complete—a preservation project that underscores the Museum’s commitment to protecting the most exclusive chapters of Corvette history.