Rain Shortens Fourth Annual Roadkill Nights – Street-legal Drag Racing on Woodward Avenue

Okay so it was Roadkill day...

It’s an old, but now legal tradition. 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.

 A total of 128 street-legal cars were on a 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. Heavy rains ended the races early, so 16 total finalists split $20,000 in cash prizes.

In addition to cash prizes for the fastest racing finalists and Dodge cars on the drag strip, the fourth annual car festival gave 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 provided 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.

Quickest Dodge

• James Pranis, Pennsylvania: 1968 Dodge Charger (Big Tire)
• Peter Bokedon, Michigan: 1972 Dodge Dart (Small Tire)

Top 8 Big Tire Finalists

• 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 Small Tire Finalists

• 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 a claimed 4.1 million views of the event.