The ninth annual Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge delivered a weekend of high-octane thrills at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan. Despite having two days to find an alternative way to set up a new track due to complications with shutting down part of historic Woodward Avenue, the event was moved inside M1 Concourse to the back straightaway of the facility’s 1.5-mile road course.
The new setup included a walkable pit area, giving attendees the chance to interact with racers and see the vehicles up close. The spectator area was designed to bring fans even closer to the racing action, enhancing the overall experience.
Unfortunately, there was no official livestream of the event this year due to technical issues.
Despite the challenges, the event drew more than 40,000 drag-racing enthusiasts and offered a blend of speed, stunts, and automotive culture that kicks off the week of the Woodward Dream Cruise.
“The shift to M1 Concourse was a game-changer,” said Matt McAlear, CEO of Dodge. “It brought fans closer to the action and created an atmosphere that was both electric and immersive. From the debut of the Dodge Charger Daytona to the first-ever Dodge Hornet Rally Rides, this year’s event was one for the history books.”
Eric Schwab, MotorTrend Group’s Senior Vice President, echoed the excitement. “This year, we introduced some thrilling firsts, including the debut of the Dodge Charger Daytona and drag racing inside M1 Concourse. The new experiences, combined with the adrenaline-fueled atmosphere, drew over 40,000 fans, proving that Roadkill Nights continues to set the bar for automotive excitement.”
The 2024 Dodge Direct Connection Grudge Race was a key event of Roadkill Nights, with seven drivers vying for the top spot using Direct Connection HurriCrate engines. In the final round, Morgan Evans’ 1987 Dodge D150 outpaced Garrett Reed’s 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, securing Evans the win.
Reflecting on his victory, Evans said, “We worked hard over the last two months, and the truck performed incredibly. The HurriCrate engine is a beast—I love how it spools fast and delivers the power when you need it.”
The excitement began on Friday with Sick Powerfest, the official Roadkill Nights pre-party. The event drew over 10,000 attendees, offering Dodge Drift Rides, Dodge Hornet Rally Rides, and the World Burnout Championship, where $25,000 was up for grabs. Combined with Roadkill Nights, the two-day event attracted over 50,000 fans.
The Big Tire and Small Tire classes saw fierce competition on the ⅛-mile drag strip at M1 Concourse. Jimmer Kline and Mikael Borggren, both repeat winners, took top honors in their respective classes, each earning $5,000. The fastest Dodge cars in both classes received an additional $5,000, showcasing the skill and power required to excel on the unprepped surface.
“It was a huge win for the event to come inside M1 Concourse,” said Brian Lohnes, Roadkill Nights announcer and NHRA broadcaster. “The unprepped surface required a higher skill set, and the winners were pushed to their limits. It was honest, no-prep style drag racing at its finest.”
Despite being off of Woodward Avenue, the M1 Concourse setup this year allowed for a much better experience for those in attendance. Hopefully, next year, if they decide to return to the M1 Concourse straightaway instead of Woodward, they can have more time to make the event even better.
