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Writer's pictureNick Cavanaugh; Editor-in-Chief ( @Car_Sick_Nick )

Fourth Annual Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge Continues to Draw Tens of Thousands of Enthusiasts to


Two Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcats face off at Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge.

It never gets old. In fact, interest continues to grow as this year’s Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge attracted more than 44,000 enthusiasts from around the country to watch and participate in legal street racing on historic Woodward Avenue.

  • Bigger than ever, more than 44,000 enthusiasts celebrated performance car culture at the fourth annual car festival located at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan

  • Woodward Avenue transformed into a specially prepped 1/8-mile drag strip for legal street racing

  • 128 street-legal cars competed in high-powered drag racing, which featured two classes, Big Tire and Small Tire, and a cash purse of $30,000

  • ​Heavy rains ended the races early, so 16 total finalists split $20,000 in cash prize

  • Quickest Dodge (Big Tire): James Pranis from Pennsylvania: 1968 Dodge Charger took home a $5,000 prize

  • Quickest Dodge (Small Tire): Peter Bokedon from Michigan: 1972 Dodge Dart took home a $5,000 prize

  • As part of the overall $40,000 purse, the largest cash purse ever offered at Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge, $10,000 was awarded to Bill Goldberg in the celebrity showdown race, who donated the winnings to his charity Ahero, which connects veterans with patriotic members of local communities by organizing outdoor events and social activities

  • Leah Pritchett in her Top Fuel Dragster and Matt Hagan in his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat NHRA Funny Car wowed the crowd with exhibition runs

  • Fans from all over tuned in to the livestream of Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, totaling 4.1 million views of the event

  • Roadkill Nights is an event produced by ROADKILL, a brand of Motor Trend Group, with a hit show that delivers a one-of-a-kind taste of "Automotive Chaos Theory" on the Motor Trend App and Velocity network

"Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge is an absolute larger-than-life event that represents what Dodge is all about: power, performance and excitement,” said Steve Beahm, Head of Passenger Car Brands – Dodge//SRT, Chrysler, and FIAT, FCA – North America. “Going beyond the need for speed, this event offers an incredible opportunity for pure enthusiasts to come together and share their passion for classic and performance car culture in a sanctioned environment.”

In addition to cash prizes for the fastest racing finalists and Dodge cars on the drag strip, the fourth annual car festival gave passionate car enthusiasts the chance to get in the passenger seat of a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat or Challenger SRT Hellcat for thrill rides and drift rides. Challenger SRT Demon simulators ranked those with the fastest virtual ¼-mile times. The car festival also included a chance to check out more than 250 custom and classic cars in a show 'n shine and to watch freestyle motocross dyno, flamethrowers and wheelstander exhibitions. Leah Pritchett in her Top Fuel Dragster and Matt Hagan in his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat NHRA Funny Car wowed the crowd with an exhibition run. Bill Goldberg won the celebrity showdown challenge, taking the $10,000 prize home to his charity Ahero, which connects veterans with patriotic members of local communities by organizing outdoor events and social activities.

“Only the combination of Dodge, the City of Pontiac and a worldwide car phenomenon, such as ROADKILL, can create an event with such amazing energy and atmosphere for so many passionate automotive superfans,” said Motor Trend Group Automotive Events Senior Director Michael Deer. “We appreciate everyone joining us this year for another epic event.”

128 street-legal cars hit the specially prepped 1/8-mile drag strip on Woodward Avenue between Rapid Street and South Boulevard to compete in high-powered drag racing for cash prizes. Racing ended early due to heavy rains, so the top 16 total finalists split $20,000. The quickest Dodge cars in both the small and large tire categories also took home $5,000 each.

Quickest Dodge

  • James Pranis, Pennsylvania: 1968 Dodge Charger (Big Tire)

  • Peter Bokedon, Michigan: 1972 Dodge Dart (Small Tire)

Top 8 Finalists (Big Tire)

  • Gary Box, Ohio: 1965 Chevrolet Corvette

  • Craig Groebner, Minnesota: 1971 Chevrolet Nova

  • Leon Hudson, Virginia: 1965 Plymouth Barracuda

  • Jimmer Kline, Michigan: 1966 Pontiac GTO

  • Jim Kline III, Michigan: 1996 Chevrolet Arcadian

  • Mike Mislivec, Michigan: 1982 Pontiac Trans AM

  • Bryan Rosario, Michigan: 1972 Chevrolet Camaro

  • Mark McGill, Michigan: 1978 Chevrolet Camaro

Top 8 Finalists (Small Tire)

  • Peter Bokedon, Michigan: 1972 Dodge Dart

  • William Gill, Michigan: 1966 Shelby Cobra

  • Adam Hodson, Indiana: 1973 Chevrolet Camaro

  • Kenny Laflower, Indiana: 1970 AMC Javelin

  • John Lopez, Ohio: 1988 Ford Mustang

  • Justin Spiniolas, Illinois: 1991 GMC Sonoma

  • Carl Stancell, Michigan: 1984 Chevrolet s10 Blazer

  • Rick Steinke, Pennsylvania: 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle

Fans from all over tuned in to the livestream of Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, totaling 4.1 million views of the event.

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