Ford Takes Title from Chevy in Flag Pulling War

Ford pulls out a win against Chevrolet in the latest skirmish over pulling an American flag behind a heavy-duty pickup truck.

Pulling a big American flag

Chevy can brag all it wants about how tough the Silverado steel bed is compared to the aluminum one found on Ford's latest F-Series pickups. But earlier this week it lost bragging rights to something that might be equally as important – the record it held for towing the largest American flag around a racetrack.

It all started back on September 28th of this year when Chevrolet issued the following press release:

"Chevrolet today set the Guinness World Records™ title for the World's Largest Flag Pulled by a Moving Vehicle, and did it with a 2017 Silverado HD powered by a new, more powerful version of the Duramax 6.6L V-8 turbo-diesel engine."

The U.S. flag used in that event, which measured 40 by 80 feet, was actually one of two as Chevy had also created a State of Texas flag. A pair of Silverados then pulled the flags, completing four laps each of the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway oval.

As it turns out, that particular Guinness World Records title lasted for less than two months.

Ford measures, Chevy comes up short

That's because Ford snatched the title away from Chevrolet at Homestead-Miami Speedway's 1.5 mile track Saturday morning, November 21st.

"At Ford and with Ford trucks in particular we are used to being number one,” said Doug Scott, Ford Truck Group Marketing Manager. "Towing the largest banner here today and setting the Guinness World Record in the category certainly fits with our DNA and what we are all about when we talk about Ford trucks and their towing power. This is a great accomplishment, another to add to the list of distinctions. Earlier this week we received the 2017 Motor Trend Truck of the Year award so we will add this to the list."

Ford was quick to point out that the U.S. flag "flown by the F-450 Super Duty for the record-setting drive measured 45’ by 92’ feet" and that "The record (now) eclipses the previous mark set earlier this year by Chevrolet with a 40 by 80-foot flag at Texas Motor Speedway on September 28th."

Here are some additional facts:

• To set the record, the F-450 Super Duty had to travel beyond the 100 meters (328 feet) previous record mark, without the flag touching the ground.
• The F-450 more than exceeded that requirement, officially covering a verified distance of 109 meters (360 feet) and also completing four full laps around the Homestead-Miami Speedway 1.5-mile oval.
• To accommodate the record setting flag, 45-foot riggings from eyelet to eyelet were constructed enabling the F-450 a driving roll-out of the massive flag.
• A team of 20 launched and retrieved the flag, ensuring it did not touch the ground.