Driver Mike Smith has set a new top speed record of 225 mph at the Big Bend Open Road Race, while also establishing a record average speed of 175.195 mph, according to an announcement Sunday from race organizers.
The records were set on the stretch of U.S. Highway 285 between Fort Stockton and Sanderson, where competitors race along a closed public highway through the rugged terrain of West Texas.
Smith, driving a gray Nissan GT-R bearing the No. 35, surpassed the event’s previous top speed record, according to organizers.
“Mike has once again raised the bar,” the Big Bend Open Road Race organization announced on Facebook, congratulating Smith on the achievement.
The organization also celebrated Smith’s record average speed of 175.195 mph, highlighting the sustained performance required to achieve such a result on the challenging highway course.
The Big Bend Open Road Race is one of the nation’s best-known open-road racing events, attracting drivers from across the country to compete on a temporarily closed section of U.S. Highway 285.
Unlike traditional motorsports events held on dedicated racetracks, open-road racing takes place on public highways that are closed to ordinary traffic during competition. Drivers compete in various speed classes, with some attempting to maintain a designated average speed and others pursuing the fastest possible performance.
The race course is known for its long straightaways, elevation changes and sweeping curves through the Chihuahuan Desert landscape.
Organizers describe the event as the most challenging open-road race in the world.
Smith’s achievement adds another milestone to the race’s history and underscores the extraordinary speeds reached by competitors on the West Texas highway.
“Mike, congratulations on pushing the limits, raising the bar, and making history at the Big Bend Open Road Race,” organizers said.
The organization did not provide additional details about the previous records in its announcement.
Photo courtesy of Big Bend Open Road Race.
