Zac Quinn 
Roadkill Nights powered by Dodge was last weekend, meaning street-legal racing in downtown Pontiac, Michigan, took hold of the town. But, despite the excitement for the event, things were off to a rocky start, thanks to some rain. Despite that, thousands descended upon the downtown area once the skies cleared up to listen to some engines roar, eat food, and watch thrilling drag races. If you couldn’t make it to the event and missed the Livestream, don’t fret; it has been archived on YouTube for your enjoyment.
Who Won 2023 Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge?
The Direct Connection Grudge Match took place towards the end of the evening, which saw rookie influencers and racers take one another on. Ultimately Tony Arme of Corruptt Builds in a ’69 Plymouth Barracuda beat out in the final match-up with Throtl’s Rickie Fernandez in a ’01 Dodge Viper. However, it wasn’t Arme or Clark that launched off the starting line. It was Arme’s rookie, Camaro enthusiast Kayla Rundle, that beat out Fernandez’s rookie, Quinn Clark.
Another significant event during the Roadkill Nights festival was the big tire competition. Jimmer Kline from Go Fast Productions became a three-time winner of Roadkill Nights in a ’66 Pontiac Acadian. Meanwhile, the smile-tire contest saw Mikael Borggren defend his title in an ’87 Volvo Wagon. Both won a top prize of $5,000.
Despite the event moving locations, it was still a huge success, and it’s entirely possible that we could see Roadkill Nights take place there again next year. Dodge and Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis refrained from committing to the event next year due to needing the approval of multiple parties. That said, despite the construction being a hindrance to the location, the M1 concourse provided parking with a shuttle for attendees of this year’s event. That said, despite the lack of comment from Kuniskis, Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel, a huge supporter of the event, said he hopes Roadkill will become an annual event downtown.
Racers came from in and out of state in classic and modern muscle cars, powered-up trucks, and even classic dairy trucks to compete for $10,000 in prizes for both the small and big tire categories. The event was thrilling, and if you get the time, we recommend you watch the stream to listen and see the great builds people have tucked away in their garages.
Of course, who could forget the nightcap of the greatest auto enthusiast event of the year? None other than Ice Cube took to the stage on Saturday evening, playing for the more than 42,000 people that attended. A new record for the high-octane event that’s taken place since 2015.
How will Dodge top this for Roadkill Nights 2024? We’ll have to stay tuned to find out.
