The 2025 edition of Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge marked the 10th anniversary of the popular automotive pop-up and for the first time, the event went off without a hitch. Over the years, we have seen rain hamper the fun on multiple occasions, legal issues forcing the organizers to move the racing off of the street, and insanely long lines for entry and issues with logistics that sent some attendees away unhappy, but in 2025, Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge was just about perfect.
The weather was a little warm, but it was dry, so the racing program went as smoothly as ever, thanks in part to no lengthy clean-up sessions caused by Mother Nature or broken race cars. The entry process was streamlined, so the wait to get in wasn’t extensive and re-entry after checking out the Cruise-In area was much simpler than in past years.
The grandstands were larger and raised, so the folks in the seats could clearly see the track over the people standing at the fence and the race pits were accessible to spectators who wanted to get a closer look at the machines in action on Woodward Avenue between runs. It really was a great deal, pretty much devoid of issues that cut into the fun, and for those who couldn’t make it, here is what 2025 Roadkill Nights by Dodge had to offer.
Thrill Ride Program
Thrill Rides have been a main attraction at Roadkill Nights almost every year, but there was a big change for 2025. In past years, professional drivers took attendees for rides in Hellcat-powered Challengers and Chargers, but this year, Dodge used Roadkill Nights to introduce the new Hurricane straight-six-powered 2026 Charger SIXPACK. Rather than just letting people look at them while parked, the Thrill Ride area gave people a chance to ride in the brand new cars as the drivers drifted around the tight course.
Between the drifting and some nasty burnouts, the people who waited in line to ride in the 2026 Dodge Charger SIXPACK came away with a glowing opinion of the new car. The new engine doesn’t offer the same roar as the supercharged Hemi, but the 550-horsepower Charger Scat Pack has no issue drifting like the Hellcat cars.
Cruise-In Area
Just outside of the venue, the Cruise-In area lined Saginaw Street, starting at the entry gate and traveling several blocks north. The first block was entirely Mopar (mostly Dodge), with a hefty dose of modern muscle. There was an example of every modern Challenger and Charger, from base model cars to Hellcat Redeyes and Demons, but there was also a nice mix of other modern and classic Mopar products.
As you got past Pike Street, the Cruise-In added non-Mopar vehicles, but even at the end of the show area opposite the Dodge area, there were still tons of gorgeous Mopars.
Ram Joins the Fun
For the first time, the Ram Trucks brand was prominently displayed at Roadkill Nights. We have seen the TRX on display and in action in the past, but for 2025, there was a big Ram display area inside of the venue. There were a few new trucks on display, including the return of the Hemi-powered Ram 1500, and there were small scale trucks for the kids to drive on a little oval track.
There was also a monster truck that crushed some cars and the new NASCAR truck, but the highlight of the Ram area was the Bucking Hemi – a mechanical bull designed to look like the new Ram Symbol of Protest Hemi logo.
The Racing Program
The centerpiece of every Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge is the street racing program and in 2025, the racing action was fantastic. The program was broken up into three groups – Big Tire, Small Tire and Hurricane Grudge Match, with the top Mopar product in Big Tire and Small Tire taking home a $5,000 check.
The Hurricane Grudge Match pitted six automotive influencers against each other and the only rule was that they had to use the Hurricane Cat3 crate engine. The teams were allowed to do whatever they wanted to the engine and they were allowed to install the engine in whatever they wanted – allowing non-Mopar products for the first time.
Grudge Match Field:
- Morgan Evans – 1987 Dodge Ram D150
- John O’Malley – 2000 Dodge Viper ACR
- Garrett Dobbs – 2005 Dodge Magnum R/T
- Deshown Luckey – 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody
- The Hooligan Brothers – 1991 Ford Mustang
- Demi Bagby – 1987 Buick Grand National
For the second year in a row, Morgan Evans and her Hurricane-powered D150 took the win, beating O’Malley’s Viper in the first round, Dobbs’ Magnum in the second round and the Fox Body Mustang in the third round.
The Big Tire and Small Tire classes are both decided by a Quick 8 shootout and sadly, there were no Mopars in the Small Tire Quick 8 and there was just one Mopar in the Big Tire Quick 8. That sole Quick 8 Mopar was the Ripatuned Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk of Antonio D’ Angelo and for that, he won $5,000. Meanwhile, the quickest Small Tire Dodge was Peter Bokedon for the seventh year in a row. You read that right – Bokedon and 1972 Dodge Dart have won Quickest Small Tire Dodge seven straight times.
As for the Big Tire and Small Tire winners, Jimmer Kline won Big Tire with his Pontiac Acadia and Jeffery Kalo won Small Tire with his Chevrolet Camaro.
Finally, there were plenty of celebrities on hand, including Tony Stewart, Matt Hagan, Leah Pruett, Ida Zetterstrom, David Freiburger, Mike Finnegan and Stellantis execs including Dodge boss Matt McAlear and Ram boss Tim Kuniskis. Of course, there were also plenty of Dodge and Direct Connection displays, including apparel stands, crate engines race cars and free spray-on tattoos.
