Grudge Race Competitor Lineup Set for Roadkill Nights

2023 Dodge Direct Connection Grudge Race will pair an experienced drag racer and online automotive builder with a “rookie” online builder racer

Teams are set and the drag car build projects are in progress for the #Dodge #DirectConnection Grudge Race, scheduled to take place during the annual MotorTrend Presents #RoadkillNights Powered by Dodge horsepower festival on Saturday, August 12, 2023, in downtown Pontiac, Michigan. Tickets for MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge, now in its eighth year, are also now available for purchase at https://www.motortrend.com/roadkillnights-2023/.

MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge is moving to a new location in the heart of downtown Pontiac, as well as featuring a new format for one of the highlights of the event, the popular Direct Connection Grudge Race. Direct Connection is the Dodge performance parts brand, relaunched in March 2022, offering factory-backed performance parts through the #DodgePowerBrokers dealer network.

The Direct Connection Grudge Race pits online automotive builders in head-to-head drag-racing competition. The 2023 Grudge Race will feature a new twist, with pairs of competitors working together to create a Dodge or #Plymouth drag machine using Direct Connection performance parts, including the Hellcrate Redeye 6.2L Supercharged Crate #HEMI engine and a plug-and-play #Hellcrate #Redeye 6.2L Supercharged Crate HEMI Engine Control Unit. While 2023 marks the “Last Call” for the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger in their current HEMI-engine-powered forms, Direct Connection will continue to offer HEMI-powered crate engines.

Product sponsors providing additional parts support for Direct Connection Grudge Race competitors include Mickey Thompson Tires, Garrett, Aeromotive Inc.,Callies Performance Products and Stanadyne.

An experienced drag racer and online automotive builder (The Mentor) will team with a “rookie” online builder/racer lacking previous drag-racing experience (The Rookie). The Mentor will “school” The Rookie on building, tuning and testing their build project before The Rookie ultimately battles it out on the drag strip at the corner of Woodward Avenue and W. Pike St. in Pontiac.

A new winner will be crowned for 2023, as two-time Grudge Race champion and drag racer, mechanic and automotive content creator Alex Taylor will move to competing in the Big Tire class at the event. The six teams of automotive personalities set do battle include:

• Team Sick-Bastards: Experienced racer and Sick The Mag founder Tom Bailey instructs his race shop employee EJ Naegeli as she makes her first-ever drag strip run

• Team Corruptt: Returning Grudge Race competitor Tony Arme (Corruptt Builds) assists adrenaline-loving rookie Kayla Rundle as she goes for the win

• Team Dahminators: Automotive builder Rob Dahmn works with a familiar face — girlfriend and Dodge enthusiast Erica Schrull — as she gears up to compete

• Team Truck Yeah: Performance garage owner Justin Keith coaches truck lover Lacey Blair with a RoadKill Nights first-ever build that’s a must-see

• Team Soul Snatcher: Grudge Race veteran Herman Young (Demonology) thinks his hard-earned race wisdom can help put ScrapLife Garage’s Lee Carter over the top

• Team Throtl: Two-time Grudge Race competitor Rickie Fernandez gives up his seat to school fellow Throtl member Quinn Clark

More information on the full Direct Connection Grudge Race lineup is available at DodgeGarage.com.

All competitors will be linked with a Dodge Power Brokers dealer to assist with their build projects as they use Hellcrate Redeye 6.2L Supercharged Crate HEMI engines as the foundational building blocks of their respective projects. Competitors will also receive VIP access to the Direct Connection Tech hotline at (800) 998-1110 for assistance. More information on Direct Connection and Dodge Power Brokers is available at DCPerformance.com.