MEDIA ADVISORY: ‘Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge’ Brings Legal Drag Racing and Thrill Rides Back to Woodward Ave

WHAT:  
Back for 2019, “Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge,” Motor Trend Group’s popular drag racing event and car festival, which attracted more than 44,000 fans last year, returns to the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan. This year, Roadkill Nights will have additional Friday night activities on August 9, leading perfectly into a full day of street-legal drag racing and activities on Saturday, August 10.
 
WHERE:
M1 Concourse (164 South Blvd. West, Pontiac, Michigan 48341)

WHEN:
Friday, August 9 – ‘Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge’ Media Preview             

  • 9:30 a.m.:  Gates open to media
  • 11 a.m.:  Dodge drift and thrill rides
  • 11:30 a.m.:  Lunch available
  • 3 p.m.:  Gates open to the public – event begins
    • Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge event activities begin: Burnout contest, dyno competitions, free Dodge drift rides on skid pad, Dodge simulators, freestyle motocross stunt shows, food and beer trucks, family-fun Kids Zone
  • 9 p.m.:  Event concludes

 Saturday, August 10 – ‘Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge’

  • 6 a.m.:  Available media opportunities begin
  • 10 a.m.:  Gates open to the public – event begins
    • Photo opportunity as muscle, vintage and classic cars enter the event to set up for Show ‘n’ Shine
    • Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge event activities begin: Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat thrill and drift rides, Dyno testing
  • 11 a.m.:  Drag racing begins – open qualifying session; can be viewed via livestream at dodgegarage.com
  • 11:30 a.m.  Freestyle Motocross show (behind bleachers)
  • 4 p.m.:  Open drag racing qualifying concludes
  • 4:15 p.m.:  Leah Pritchett and Matt Hagan Top Fuel exhibition burnouts on Woodward Ave.
  • 4:45 p.m.:  Celebrity shootout begins on Woodward Ave.
  • 5:45 p.m.:  Top 8 shootout driver announcements
  • 6 p.m.:  Sheriff Showdown – Macomb County’s Sheriff Wickersham and Oakland County’s Sheriff Bouchard will compete in an old-school grudge match
  • 6:30 p.m.:  Flamethrower wheelstander exhibition run
  • 8 p.m.:  Freestyle motocross show
  • 8:30 p.m.:  Top 8 shootouts begin (Small Tire Big Tire)
  • 9 p.m.:  Top 8 Winners Awards Ceremony
    • Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat thrill and drift rides close
    • Event concludes  

WHO:
Bob Broderdorf, Director of Dodge and Alfa Romeo N.A.

  • For interview requests, please contact Claire Carroll (claire.carroll@fcagroup.com)

Kevin Hellman, Dodge brand manager

  • For interview requests, please contact Claire Carroll (claire.carroll@fcagroup.com)

David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan, Roadkill co-hosts

  • For interview requests, please contact Lela Randall (lela.randall@hkstrategies.com)

Matt Hagan and Leah Pritchett, NHRA pro drivers

  • For interview requests, please contact Claire Carroll (claire.carroll@fcagroup.com)

DETAILS:
This year’s “Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge,” Motor Trend Group’s popular drag racing event and car festival, is even bigger and better, bringing back legal drag racing on Woodward Avenue and even more experiences with two days filled with exciting activities, including thrill and drift rides in the 717-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and the 707-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat models.
 
Friday evening will give fans the opportunity for an up close look at the race cars that will tear up Woodward Avenue on Saturday. In addition, there will be a burnout contest, free Dodge drift rides, live music, celebrity meet-and-greets and freestyle motocross stunt shows. An eclectic array of food truck offerings and beverages will be available for purchase to keep the public energized throughout the day.
 
On Saturday, street-legal drag racing on historic Woodward Avenue begins with two classes, Big Tire and Small Tire, competing for a cash purse of $30,000. As part of the overall $40,000 purse, $10,000 will be donated to The United Way. Additional activities include:

  • Exhilarating thrill and drift rides in Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat models in two locations with high speeds over 100 mph
  • Exhibition runs with Leah Pritchett in her “Angry Bee” Mopar Dodge 1320 Top Fuel car and Matt Hagan in his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Funny Car
  • A special celebrity showdown drag race with a $10,000 prize purse benefitting The United Way
  • Sheriff Showdown: Macomb County’s Sheriff Wickersham and Oakland County’s Sheriff Bouchard will compete in an old-school grudge match on Woodward Avenue on Saturday, each driving a 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye with respective County decals
  • Celebrity appearances by MotorTrend’s hugely popular series “Roadkill” co-hosts David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan; Chris Jacobs of MotorTrend’s Overhaulin’; Brian Lohnes of the NHRA; Cristy Lee, Faye Hadley and Bogi Lateiner of All Girls Garage; Bill Carlton of Texas Metal; Joe Martin, Amanda Martin and Jayson “Shag” Arrington of Iron Resurrection; Dave Kindig and Kevin Schiele of Bitchin’ Rides; Jared Zimmerman and Lou Santiago of Car Fix; Steve Magnante of Roadkill’s Junkyard Gold and Barret-Jackson Live; Bill Goldberg and Matt D’Andria
  • Freestyle motocross and street bike stunt shows
  • Dodge Challenger SRT Demon simulators
  • Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody and Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye on display, along with more than 400 vehicles in the Show ‘n’ Shine
  • Dyno runs, family-fun Kids Zone and much more

General admission for spectator tickets is $10 per person, per day; $5 per person for Pontiac residents (available on-site only). Two-day passes are available for $20. Children 12 and under are free.
 
Admission is free for FCA employees with one guest (must show badge at entrance).
 
Spectator tickets, Show ‘n’ Shine participation and package information are available now at hotrod.com/events/roadkillnights

Drag Race Purse Per Class – Big Tire Small Tire ($40,000 in total):
Both drag racing classes will have the same payout structure with $15,000 as the total purse per class. As part of the overall $40,000 purse, $10,000 will be donated to The United Way.

  • Winner – $5,000
  • Runner up – $1,500
  • Semi Finalists – $750 (2 payouts)
  • Quarter Finalists – $500 (4 payouts)
  • Fastest Dodge-powered vehicle – $5,000

For more information on Roadkill and Roadkill Nights, follow on Facebook and Twitter. Fans can also follow the action for Roadkill Nights on Dodge Garage or on social channels with hashtags #RoadkillNights and #poweredbydodge.

PARKING:

  • Friday: For the media preview, parking will be inside M1 Concourse (164 South Blvd. West, Pontiac, Michigan 48341). Staff will be on-site to direct
  • Saturday: VIP and media parking will be available at the South Lot. Contact claire.carroll@fcagroup.com for more information; shuttles will be provided for local event attendees

RSVP:
Please RSVP to Claire Carroll at claire.carroll@fcagroup.com
 
Street racing can have serious legal and safety risks. Both ROADKILL and Dodge want enthusiasts to enjoy performance driving in a controlled environment on a closed course, run by professionals with vehicle safety inspections, driver evaluations and track preparation appropriate for drag racing conditions.
 
About Dodge//SRT
Dodge//SRT offers a complete lineup of performance vehicles that stand out in their own segments. Dodge is America’s performance brand and SRT is positioned as the ultimate performance halo of the Dodge brand, together creating a complete and balanced performance brand with one vision and one voice.
 
For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge, who founded the brand in 1914. Their influence continues today. New for 2019, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is possessed by the Demon. Its 797-horsepower supercharged HEMI® high-output engine makes it the most powerful, quickest and fastest muscle car, reaching 0-60 miles per hour (mph) in 3.4 seconds, and the fastest GT production car with a ¼-mile elapsed time (ET) of 10.8 seconds at 131 mph. It also reaches a new top speed of 203 mph.

Joining the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is the 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, with its more powerful 717-horsepower engine, and the Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody, featuring fender flares from the SRT Hellcat Widebody, which add 3.5 inches of width to the 485-horsepower Scat Pack’s standard body. Also new for 2019 is the Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320 with exclusive drag strip technology from the iconic Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. The Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320 is a drag-oriented, street-legal muscle car and a blank canvas for the serious grassroots drag racer. The 2019 Dodge Durango SRT, America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV with a best-in-class tow rating of 8,700 lbs., completes the brand’s performance lineup. These visceral performance models join a 2019 brand lineup that includes the Durango, Grand Caravan, Journey, Charger and Challenger — a showroom that offers performance at every price point.
 
Follow Dodge, SRT and FCA US news and video on:  
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