{"id":29663,"date":"2022-08-17T09:46:22","date_gmt":"2022-08-17T13:46:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=29663"},"modified":"2022-08-17T09:46:22","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T13:46:22","slug":"roadkill-nights-taylor-defends-grudge-match-crown-hot-rods-shine-pickups-roar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2022\/08\/roadkill-nights-taylor-defends-grudge-match-crown-hot-rods-shine-pickups-roar","title":{"rendered":"Roadkill Nights: Taylor defends Grudge Match crown, hot rods shine, pickups roar"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pontiac \u2013<\/em>\u00a0Roadkill\u2019s centerpiece Dodge Direct Connection Grudge Match was everything it was cracked up to with thrills, spills, and upsets.<\/p>\n

But in the end, the favorite kept her crown for the second year in a row.<\/p>\n

Defending champ Alex Taylor squared off against Westin Champlin is an intriguing showdown of opposites on Woodward Avenue. The diminutive lass from Arkansas versus the big \u201cRedneck Science\u201d driver from Kansas. Favorite versus underdog. 1955 Plymouth Savoy versus modern Dodge Challenger Hellcat. Tube-frame race car versus stock chassis with leather seats and AC. Shoulder-length hair might be the only thing the pair had in common.<\/p>\n

\"Roadkill<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

But they put on a show for 40,000 fans that had descended on Detroit\u2019s main street for a day of street legal racing in perfect drag racing conditions: an overcast, 65-degree August day that was hot enough for slicks to stick and cold enough for engines to breathe.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be able to come back and win was an intimidating task because I had a target on my back,\u201d smiled Taylor, 25, afterwards. \u201cTo build a fast car like this in such a short time and win is a weight lifted off our shoulders.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Taylor<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

After taking practice runs earlier in the day, Taylor had to wait while the other eight competitors brawled for the opportunity to take on the queen. All nine racers had been given $10,000 and 30 days to build the race car of their choice as long as it was a Chrysler group product propelled by a 6.2-liter, supercharged Hellcat engine and 6-speed manual gearbox. The charismatic Champlin was a big underdog as he took on American Legends\u2019 Tony Arme from Phoenix – the early favorite ina wicked-looking 1969 Barracuda complete with wheelie bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cLoad up the nitrous!\u201d yelled Champlin to his crew as he prepared for the shoot-out. Nitrous oxide boosted his horsepower from 1,000 to 1,250 \u2013 but the stress on the clutch meant that racers were careful on when to use it. Now was the time.<\/p>\n

Champlin dusted Arme with a time of 5.35 seconds own the sticky southbound lanes at the corner of Woodward and South Boulevard.<\/p>\n

\"Opposities:<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Ricki Fernandez was next in his beautiful, red Dodge Viper \u2013 claimed to be the only Viper in the country with its stock, V-10 engine exchanged for a Hellcat V-8. No matter. The real Hellcat beat the Viper down the strip by a whisker, setting up the final match-up with Taylor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe made it a lot further than I thought we would,\u201d roared Champlin as he emerged from his hellion.<\/p>\n

The final would be no contest as Taylor\u2019s Savoy hooked up immediately and rocketed down the 1\/9 mile in just 5.09 seconds, leaving the Kansan behind at 5.6.<\/p>\n

1,200-horsepower commuter coupe<\/h2>\n

In addition to the action on the track, the adjacent M1 Concourse infield showed off plenty of muscle car hardware in the Show \u2018n\u2019 Shine parade of cars.<\/p>\n

\"Roadkill<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Jake James, 33, drove his race-prepared, 2016 Challenger Scat Pak from Monroe \u2013 skinny front drag race tires and all – to take in the day\u2019s festivities. And to support his man Champlin on the race course. James\u2019 Leviathan Group does marketing for many of Roadkill\u2019s YouTube racers.<\/p>\n

James\u2019 ride is no shrinking violet with turbo-boosted, 6.4 Hemi-V8. Cooled by a chiller located in the trunk, the Challenger makes a formidable 1,200 horsepower.<\/p>\n

James recently tested at Milan Dragway \u2013 a legendary Michigan track dear to local racers\u2019 hearts \u2013 that was recently left for dead. But under new ownership the track has been repaved and refurbished.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s awesome,\u201d said James.<\/p>\n

Dragsters, Hellcats, hot rods … and pickups?<\/h2>\n

Dodge muscle cars are the stars at this weekend\u2019s Woodward drag race-palooza, but sister-brand Ram is here for the first time with an off-road thrill-ride course to compliment the traditional, tire-squealing, rubber-burning Charger and Challenger Hellcat rides on M1 Concourse.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

And why not? The Ram 1500 TRX (pronounced T-rex) is stuffed with same demonic, 700-horsepower-plus, 6.2-liter, supercharged V-8 as the as the muscle cars.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ram ride might be better, because you get air,\u201d said Nick Urhauser, 53, who came all the way from Chicago to see the spectacle with his son, Nicholas, 18.<\/p>\n

\"Nick<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The Ram ride hits two jumps \u2013 the second at about 40 mph that vaults the truck 30 feet down a dirt jump. The experience wowed young Urhauser, though he insists he\u2019s still a car guy. Dad (a truck guy) has his eye on buying a TRX so that may change when Nicholas gets behind the wheel.<\/p>\n

Judgin\u2019 the Grudge<\/h2>\n

There was a lot of anticipation \u2013 and worry – before the Grudge Match as competitors agree that the course \u2013 and manual transmissions \u2013 were wildcards.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe track is rough and peaked – with the peak sliding you into the right wall,\u201d said Freddy Hernandez of the Tavarish YouTube Channel after a practice session down the Woodward\u2019s southbound lanes. He was competing in a racer that is half-Dodge police car and half-pickup truck.<\/p>\n

\"Roadkill<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\u201cThe manual transmission is different, it\u2019s unusual in a drag car these days,\u201d said Herman Young of the Demonology YouTube Channel. \u201cThese high-horsepower engines are tough on clutch discs, and some competitors may limit their practice runs so they don\u2019t blow up their clutch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Young competed in an \u201809 Dodge Challenger \u2013 hastily assembled starting with a raw, body-on-white along with build partner Jack Pennington.<\/p>\n

\"Roadkill<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\u201cThe track is rough and peaked \u2014 with the peak sliding you into the right wall,\u201d said Freddy Hernandez of the Tavarish YouTube Channel after a practice session down the makeshift, 1\/8-mile dragstrip in Woodward\u2019s southbound lanes. He is competing in a racer that is half-Dodge police car and half-pickup truck.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe manual transmission is different, it\u2019s unusual in a drag car these days,\u201d said Herman Young of the Demonology YouTube Channel. \u201cThese high-horsepower engines are tough on clutch discs, and some competitors may limit their practice runs so they don\u2019t blow up their clutch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Cars<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Young\u00a0competed\u00a0in a 2009 Dodge Challenger \u2014 hastily assembled starting with a raw, body-on-white along with build partner Jack Pennington.<\/p>\n

Saturday fun day<\/h2>\n

That wasn\u2019t an earthquake you felt this morning. It was dragsters on Woodward.<\/p>\n

Roadkill Nights powered by Dodge kicked off at 11 a.m. with every Detroit motorhead\u2019s dream: legal drag racing on public roads. Thousands of spectators gathered to watch 1,000-horsepower monsters dash down Detroit\u2019s most storied street on a makeshift, 1\/8-mile drag strip at the corner of Woodward and South Boulevard north of St. John\u2019s hospital.<\/p>\n

\"Cars<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Shawn Fink, all the way from Casper, Wyoming in his bright orange,1955 Chevy Bel-Air drag racer staged as one of the first down the strip. The bright-orange beast sported\u00a0a 526 cubic-inch, hemi-head Chevy engine under the hood. He recently won Sick Week in Florida, a tour of multiple Sunshine State dragways.<\/p>\n

\"Shawn<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re on the road a lot,\u201d said Fink, flanked by his son who helps him crew. \u201cYou have to travel to a lot race tracks in street racing.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the fans weren\u2019t enjoying Woodward drag races, they were pouring into adjacent M1 Concourse for thrill rides around Champion Motor Speedway in 700-horsepower Dodge Hellcats.<\/p>\n

\"Shawn<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

EVENT INFO<\/strong><\/p>\n

Where:<\/strong><\/p>\n

M1 Concourse, 164 South Blvd. West, Pontiac<\/p>\n

When:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.<\/p>\n

Schedule:<\/strong><\/p>\n

10 a.m.\u00a0\u2014 Gates open to the public,\u00a0event begins<\/p>\n

Photo opportunities as muscle\/vintage\/classic cars enter M1 Concourse<\/p>\n

Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge event activities begin \u2014 Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat thrill and drift rides, dyno testing, and Ram TRX Thrill Ride Experience off-road course<\/p>\n

11 a.m. \u2014 Drag racing begins with open qualifying session (all drag racing can be viewed via livestream at DodgeGarage.com,Dodge.com,Dodge and MotorTrend YouTube channels)<\/p>\n

4:45 p.m. \u2014 Dodge Direct Connection Grudge Races begin<\/p>\n

5:45 p.m. \u2014 Top Eight shootout driver announcements<\/p>\n

6:15 p.m. \u2014 Opening ceremony<\/p>\n

6:30 p.m. \u2014 Top Eight shootouts begin (Small Tire & Big Tire)<\/p>\n

8:30 p.m. \u2014 Top Eight winners\u2019 awards ceremony<\/p>\n

9 p.m.\u00a0\u2014 Event concludes<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pontiac \u2013\u00a0Roadkill\u2019s centerpiece Dodge Direct Connection Grudge Match was everything it was cracked up to with thrills, spills, and upsets. But in the end, the favorite kept her crown for the second year in a row. Defending champ Alex Taylor squared off against Westin Champlin is an intriguing showdown of opposites on Woodward Avenue. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29663"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29663"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29663\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29664,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29663\/revisions\/29664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}