At Roadkill Nights, silence is unusual.
With fans cheering, engines roaring, and tires screeching, hundreds of people gathered at the M1 Concourse on Saturday for the annual drag racing event hosted by Dodge and MotorTrend. Since its start in the Pontiac Silverdome parking lot in 2015, the event has featured 11 hours of high-speed action.
This year marked the first time the event was held on the M1 Concourse’s straightaway. From 2016 to 2022, it took place on Woodward Avenue outside the venue. Last year, it moved to downtown Pontiac. This year, it returned to M1 but was held inside the venue due to restrictions on using Woodward Avenue.
Dave Witham, 57, from Grand Blanc, has attended almost every Roadkill Nights with his son.
“I love high performance and horsepower,” Witham said. “How could you not?”
Initially disappointed about the event moving from the street to the track, Witham’s attitude changed after seeing the racing. “Oh, I love it, man,” he said. “It’s great!”
The event began with hours of drag races featuring a variety of cars, from modern Shelby Mustangs and classic Nissan Skylines to quirky old Crown Victorias.
Matt Hagan, a four-time Nitro Funny Car World Champion, brought his 12,000 horsepower car to the track. Capable of reaching 330 mph, Hagan wowed the crowd with a burnout. “The car, it makes your mind go boom,” Hagan said. “We push the limits of engineering.”
The car, built by Dodge and its performance subsidiaries, always attracts attention. “So many folks want to see something go 330 miles an hour with Dodge on the side,” Hagan said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Whether it’s a powerful, high-tech car or a quirky, turbo-charged pickup, fans love hearing the roar of engines and the smell of burning rubber.
Steve White, 59, traveled from Pittsburgh for the event, drawn by his love of cars. “I love naughty things to do with cars,” White said.
His wife, Tami, enjoys seeing his excitement. “I love to see his face when he gets excited about stuff like this,” she said.