The intersection where Woodward and West Pike Street meet underwent a remarkable metamorphosis overnight, transforming into an authorized public-road dragstrip, hosting an assembly of some of the swiftest street cars America has to offer. The spectacle of professional racers in action was followed by an opportunity for onlookers to partake in the exhilaration themselves, indulging in Dodge Hellcat drift rides and heart-pounding hot laps.
The Roadkill Nights event elevated its status this year with the introduction of the Dodge Direct Connection Grudge Race. This contest brought six distinct squads into the spotlight – Team Sick-Bastards from Detroit, Team Corruptt hailing from Phoenix, Team Dahminators of Los Angeles, Team Truck Yeah stationed in Kansas City, Team Throtl representing San Diego, and Team Soul Snatcher based in Dallas. These teams were joined with a Dodge Power Brokers dealer, collaborating to forge a Dodge or Plymouth drag car by leveraging Direct Connection performance components as their foundational elements. The culmination of their efforts transpired on the drag strip, culminating in Team Corruptt emerging as the triumphant victors.
The victors, Team Corruptt, featuring the seasoned Grudge Race contender Tony Arme as mentor and the adrenaline-charged novice Kayla Rundle, embarked on a journey to infuse their 1969 Plymouth Barracuda vehicle build with a Direct Connection Hellcrate Redeye 6.2L Supercharged Crate HEMI® engine along with its corresponding engine control unit. Marking her inaugural appearance at Roadkill Nights, Rundle outpaced the 2001 Dodge Viper belonging to Team Throtl’s Quin Clark (nurtured by the guidance of Rickie Fernandez), thereby clinching the honor of 2023 Grudge Race champion. Two-time event conqueror Alex Taylor, who this year engaged in the Big Tire category, was also present to extend her congratulations to Rundle for her exceptional victory.
In an expression of pure delight, Kayla Rundle remarked, “Having dedicated the past few weeks to the pursuit of this moment, a profound sense of exhilaration enveloped me as I finally took the wheel.” Rundle’s achievement in securing the laurels for Team Corruptt in the Dodge Direct Connection Grudge Match was a realization of her longstanding ardor for drag racing. As a rookie, female racer, and a newcomer to the realm of Roadkill Nights, this accomplishment held the essence of a long-sought aspiration come to life.
The competition unfolded in two categories – the Big Tire class catering to vehicles with a width exceeding 275mm and the Small Tire class tailored to those with a width at or under 275mm. These spirited competitors contended for both prestige and monetary rewards on the freshly minted drag strip at the crossroads of Woodward Avenue and W. Pike St. in Pontiac. As the dust settled, each victor in these classes was bestowed with a cash prize amounting to $5,000. Additionally, the swiftest Dodge cars in both categories reaped an extra reward of $5,000 each, further fueling the intensity of the event.
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