MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge Hits Woodward Avenue This Week – What to Expect, and a few of the Favorites Expected to Tame the Streets of Pontiac, Michigan
The history of the automobile should no doubt include a big chapter on street racing, as long before purpose-built tracks and airport became a safer option, street racing was how a pair of enthusiasts ‘settled the score’ on who had the quicker ride.
Today, there are hundreds of active drag strips around the world, but street racing still commands attention.
Combining the best elements of street racing with the accuracy and safety of a closed race track, Roadkill Nights has brought a new meaning to the street racing world. In nine years, thousands of competitors have participated in legal ‘street racing’ at a couple different locations in Michigan.
But Woodward Avenue in Pontiac, Michigan has been the proving ground of choice, and for 2024, competitors and spectators alike will converge on M1 Concourse to see who will reign supreme at the end of a day of racing.
The racing action will be just one part of the abundance of activities planned for the 2024 edition of MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge. A full day of activities starts at 10 am at M1 Concourse, as the facility will be packed with a plethora of both modern and vintage rides on display.
But it’s the side by side action of the drag strip that will command much attention! The Big Tire and Small Tire heads-up racing classes will also return to Woodward, and to get the chance to be the best on the street, competitors will be vying for a coveted top eight spot in each class. Score a spot, and those sweet sixteen will battle for a total purse of $30,000!
When it comes to the Big Tire class, odds are good to bet on Jimmer Kline and Joe Barry for a potential winner. Kline’s ’66 Acadian (Canada’s version of the Chevrolet Nova) is a two-time winner in the class (2021 and 2023), and brings enough nitrous to fog out the competition.
Barry, who is also a past winner and last year’s runner-up, looks to put his knowledge of Woodward and all the power from his twin-turbo ’56 Chevrolet back on the winner’s list for 2024.
On the Small Tire side of things, competitors are limited to a 275-spec radial, or a mx 28-inch tall x 10.5-inch width slick. Mikael Borggren has been at the top of the Small Tire pack at Roadkill Nights, winning the last two years, and the single turbo LS-swapped Volvo station wagon has made its mark in the drag-and-drive world as well.
With 6-second and 200 mile-per-hour runs on Hot Rod Drag Week and Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, Borggren’s Volvo has made the transition to running more eighth-mile small tire and no-prep events very well, and recently picked up a win in the Anything on 28s class at Lapeer International Dragway in Michigan on the final weekend of July. Can Borggren pull off the hat trick and grab a third-straight victory at Roadkill Nights in 2024?
There will be plenty of competition for Borggren, and one of the front runners should be Adam Wright, a former Hot Rod Drag Week competitor, and last year’s Roadkill Nights Small Tire runner-up.
The turbocharged 2001 Chevrolet Camaro made its way to the final round last year on a new engine combination, and after a year to fine tune some things, Wright will be back to try his hand on Woodward Avenue once again.
Away from the strip, fans will be able to check out displays from Dodge, bringing a number of cool things to the mix, including the Dodge Demon drag racing simulator, Dodge Thrill Rides available in several vehicles, and a new car line up, including the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack and 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T.
There will also be a vendor midway, entertainment, appearances by Roadkill hosts David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan, plus autograph sessions to include NHRA Funny Car and Top Fuel racers Matt Hagan, Leah Pruett and Ida Zetterstrom.
Hagan and Zetterstrom will also take their 11,000 horsepower, nitro-burning rides down Woodward Avenue, an experience not to be missed!
The highly popular Direct Connection Grudge Race also returns for the fourth time, with six drivers bringing their own unique vehicles powered by the new ‘Hurricrate’ engines to see who will emerge the champion.
The six-pack of contestants include Grudge Match alums Westen Champlin, Herman Young, and Tom Bailey, as well as newcomers Morgan Evans, Allison Kovalik and Garrett Reed.
Roadkill Nights will once again be preceded by Sick the Magazine’s Sick Powerfest on Friday August 9th, which includes the World Burnout Championship for a $25,000 purse!
For more information and tickets to attend MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge, CLICK HERE!
For more details and to purchase tickets for Sick Powerfest Powered by Dodge and M1 Concourse, CLICK HERE!
Don’t delay; get your tickets for both events and we’ll see you on Woodward Avenue and M1 Concourse this week!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com