NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Detroit's Woodward Avenue is about to get an NHRA-sized dose of nitro horsepower. MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge returns to M1 Concourse and the legendary Woodward Avenue  in Pontiac, Mich., on Saturday, Aug. 8, with NHRA stars and personalities playing a major role in the 11th annual celebration of horsepower and car culture. 

Leah Pruett and four-time NHRA Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan are scheduled to deliver the day’s loudest moments when they fire their Dodge Hemi-powered Top Fuel dragster and Funny Car for exhibition warm-ups and individual runs. The pair’s 12,000-horsepower machines will bring the sound, vibration, and spectacle of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series directly to one of America’s most famous cruising streets. 

Tony Stewart, Pruett, Hagan, and Top Fuel driver Ida Zetterström are also scheduled to meet fans during an autograph session in Direct Connection Alley from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. NHRA on FOX announcer Brian Lohnes will help call the action as part of the live announcing team, while Roadkill and HOT ROD personalities David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan lead a deep lineup of automotive personalities and special guests. 

"What started as a pop-up drag race and car show in the old Pontiac Silverdome parking lot in 2015 has evolved into a must-attend car culture event of the summer, and in 2026 we're redlining Roadkill Nights with more noise, more power and the most immersive fan moments we've ever delivered, with even more still to come," said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. 

"For the 11th year, we're taking street legal drag racing back to legendary Woodward Avenue, returning to M1 Concourse in Pontiac, and surrounding it all with full throttle Dodge experiences you have to see, hear and feel in person. This is an event you don't want to miss."
 

"Pontiac is a prime destination for signature events, and we're thrilled that we've been the host city for Roadkill Nights for over a decade now," said Pontiac Mayor Mike McGuinness. "We're looking forward to being that destination again on Woodward Avenue for this latest and greatest installment of Roadkill Nights action!"

For the first time, Roadkill Nights will feature two live competition venues. Big Tire and Small Tire racers will again compete head-to-head on a temporary, street-legal dragstrip built on Woodward Avenue, while a new Track Shootout sends competitors against the clock on a closed course inside M1 Concourse. 

The Direct Connection Grudge Match also returns with a new multi-event format built around the 550-horsepower, twin-turbo SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger Scat Pack cars. 

The competition begins at Roadkill Nights and will culminate with a final-four showdown at the Mopar NHRA Las Vegas Nationals powered by Dodge, Oct. 29–Nov. 1. Beyond the racing, fans can explore a car show celebrating 60 years of the Dodge Charger, Dodge and Ram thrill rides, manufacturer displays, a vendor midway, food trucks, live entertainment, and special exhibition runs throughout the day. 

Public gates are scheduled to open at 10 a.m., and the event runs until 9 p.m. at M1 Concourse, at 1 Concourse Drive in Pontiac,Mich.. General-admission tickets start at $25, and children 12 and under are admitted free in general admission. Event details are available at HotRod.com/RoadkillNights