Texas is home to the highest legal speed limits seen in the country, but for some drivers it seems 85 mph just isn’t fast enough.
Several drivers clocked some pretty outrageous speeds last year, according to ticket data gathered by the Texas Department of Public Safety in 2022.
A list of the top 10 fastest speeding tickets issued in the Lone Star State was compiled by the Houston Chronicle.
No.10 — 2019 Kawasaki ZX-10R going 146 mph in a 65 mph zone
When: 3:22 p.m. Sept. 2, 2022
Road: I-369 in Bowie County
Kawasaki’s ZX-10R offers a smooth, stable, and powerful ride, which has earned it the name “Ninja.” Its engine also has a two-stage power delivery, meaning that when that throttle is punched you should expect an adrenaline spike.
This makes our heart race, blood pressure rise, and limbs tingle — the very stuff that makes us crave speed in the first place, per Science ABC.
No.9 — 2007 Infiniti G35 going 147 mph in a 75 mph zone
When: 10:07 a.m. Dec. 4, 2022
Road: I-635 Express Tunnel in Dallas County
This is one of the more unusual entries on the list.
Some say the Infiniti G35 offers great value for its price, which starts at $32,000 for the 2021 model — the last to be produced before it was discontinued.
Yet the sedan doesn’t exactly conjure up images of a speedster.
Nonetheless, its 3.5L VQ35HR engine developed by Nissan is known for being powerful, with a maximum torque of 358 Nm at 4,800 rpm.
No.8 — 2022 Chevrolet Corvette going 147 mph in a 65 mph zone
When: 7:32 p.m. April 15, 2022
Road: Chisholm Trail Parkway in Tarrant County
This driver — one of two on the list with a 2022 Chevrolet Corvette — was probably just opening her up to see what she could do when this speed was registered.
The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette is one of the fastest cars on the market, per Capitol Chevrolet in Austin. It can go from 0 to 60 in just three seconds and tops out near 205 mph.
It is equipped with a stability control system, which increases traction and makes for a high-performance ride.
No.7 — 2012 Yamaha R1 going 147 mph in a 65 mph zone
When: 1:14 p.m. March 13, 2022
Road: U.S.-180 in Parker County
Yamaha released its very first RI in 1998 and quickly earned a reputation among speedsters for its quick acceleration. It was also significantly lighter than other models of the time.
When it first came out the 2012 R1 had a hefty price tag but offered greater traction control. This is nothing to sneeze at since greater traction means better maneuverability and the ability to brake.
In 2020, there were 7,481 accidents involving motorcyclists in Texas, with 482 deaths recorded, per TxDOT.
No.6 — 2022 Chevrolet Corvette going 148 mph in a 55 mph zone
When: 12:12 a.m. Dec. 18, 2022
Road: FM-723 in Fort Bend County
As alluded to earlier, another 2022 Chevrolet Corvette made the list.
This midnight driver was one of 37,510 U.S. buyers of a new Corvette in 2022. It was actually a formidable year for the model, which saw a 13.53% increase year over year compared to 2021.
No.5 — 2020 Chevrolet Corvette going 150 mph in a 70 mph zone
When: 10:20 p.m. Oct. 31, 2022
Road: President George Bush Turnpike in Dallas County
Someone was apparently running very late to a Halloween party. What are the chances that the driver was disguised as a stingray? Here’s hoping high!
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette was the carmaker’s first model to allow over-the-air updates to its digital system.
Of course, this technology was pioneered by Tesla, which offered OTA updates on its Model S in 2012.
No.4 — 2016 Yamaha YZF going 150 mph in a 65 mph zone
When: 1:55 a.m. July 2, 2022
Road: SH-228 in Brazoria County
There are actually two Yamaha YZF bikes in the top four fastest speeding tickets recorded in 2022.
The four-stroke race bike is lightweight and has a powerful but compact engine, per Auto Evolution.
The 2016-2017 YZF-R6 has saw improvements to the front-end aerodynamics, resulting in an 8% uptick in drag force efficiency.
No.3 — 2015 Dodge Charger going 155 mph in a 75 mph zone
When: 10:15 p.m. Feb. 21, 2022
Road: I-69C in Hidalgo County
This is one of two Dodge Chargers appearing on this list.
The 2015 Dodge Charger has a 5.7-liter V8 with 370 horsepower, making it a real muscle car.
While blasted for its poor fuel economy, it also comes with the option to upgrade to the SRT Hellcat trim with a 707-horsepower V8 engine.
No.2 — 2022 Yamaha YZF going 155 mph in a 70 mph zone
When: 7:26 p.m. June 19, 2022
Road: Sam Rayburn Tollway in Collin County
Yet another Yamaha on the list, the 2022 YZF-R7 is a more affordable middleweight supersport bike priced new at $8,999 to entice buyers after a sales slump.
Equipped with a narrow chassis and a compact engine, it’s an aerodynamic bike that offers a comfortable and agile ride, per Rider Magazine.
No.1 — 2018 Dodge Charger going 201 mph in a 75 mph zone
When: 10:49 a.m. Dec. 24, 2022
Road: I-10 in Gonzales County
With this ticket logged on Christmas Eve and all, is anyone else almost inclined to let this one slide?
Last-minute Christmas shopping is quite common, with 35% of respondents to a poll from Klarna saying they left it to the very last week in 2020.
There were 80,226 2018 Dodge Chargers sold in the U.S. in the first year they came out.
