Roadkill Nights is splitting its August 8 event across two tracks for the first time, with street-legal drag racing on Woodward Avenue and a timed road course shootout inside M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan. Tickets start at $25.
The new road course competition opens to a wider field than the Woodward drag strip allows. Racers will run gate-to-gate timed laps in three classes: Forced Induction, Naturally Aspirated, and Under 3L N/A. Cash prizes go to the top three in each class. Registration information is posted at HotRod.com/RoadkillNights.
The Direct Connection Grudge Match, dormant after a five-year run, returns with eight competitors and a format that extends past Roadkill Nights into a multi-event season. Each racer will modify a 550-horsepower Dodge Charger Scat Pack, powered by the 3.0-liter twin-turbo SIXPACK High-Output engine. Direct Connection provides technical help and a build allowance. Competitors race at Roadkill Nights in August, then at least one additional event during the season, before a final-four showdown at the Mopar NHRA Las Vegas Nationals scheduled for October 29 through November 1, 2026. The winning vehicle will be displayed at SEMA 2026.
The eight-racer field includes Rob Dahm, known for rotary engine swaps; Bryan Kiefer of Kies Motorsports; John O’Malley of Boosted Motorsports; Johnathan Rimbo, a Dodge Badassador and HEMI machinist; Evan Shanks, a grassroots builder; Dave Sparks of Diesel Brothers; Titan Motorsports, a Florida drag shop; and Demi Bagby, a returning Grudge racer and social media athlete.
Woodward Avenue will host Big Tire and Small Tire street-legal drag racing, the format Roadkill Nights has run since the event moved from the Pontiac Silverdome parking lot to M1 Concourse. Roadkill Nights historically draws more than 40,000 attendees.
Beyond racing, the event will include NHRA drivers Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan performing burnouts in their 12,000-horsepower Dodge Nitro-powered drag cars, a Dodge Charger 60th anniversary celebration, Charger and Ram thrill rides, and appearances from Roadkill hosts David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan.
Source: Stellantis. Images courtesy of Stellantis.
