Participant registration is officially open for drag racing on Woodward Avenue – one of the most famous muscle car corridors in the country. Racing takes place August 12, 2017, at "Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge," TEN: The Enthusiast Network’s popular drag racing event and car festival at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan.

Once again, Roadkill Nights legal street drag racing is bigger and better than ever, with a total cash purse of $29,000. As part of the overall money up for grabs, $10,000 will be awarded to the quickest Dodge car (must be powered by a Dodge engine).

Race fans will have until Wednesday, July 26, to submit their Roadkill Nights drag racing application. The application asks the drag racing candidates several questions about their vehicle and racing experience and instructs them to submit photos of the car they wish to use. After the Roadkill team has diligently reviewed all submissions, the selected applicants will be given a link and a password to enter the drag race.

The "Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge" event includes thrill rides in the 707-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and Charger SRT Hellcat and 645-horsepower Dodge Viper; a show ’n’ shine area; dyno runs; manufacturer midway; Dodge Demon drag racing simulators; Roadkill stunts and exhibitions; Pro BMX shows; an extensive family zone with activities for all ages; as well as live music, food trucks and much more. Fans will also get to see the new 840-horsepower 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon on the dragstrip and exhibition runs by NHRA Top Fuel dragster driver Leah Pritchett and Funny Car driver Matt Hagan.

This year’s event will also include a first-ever celebrity showdown with "Roadkill" cohosts David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan, drag racing stars Leah Pritchett and Matt Hagan, "The House of Muscle" car guru Mike Musto, and "Hot Rod Garage" hosts Tony Angelo and Lucky Costa. Leading the races will be Freiburger and Finnegan, cohosts of the most-viewed YouTube automotive original series in the United States. The celebrity showdown champion will be awarded $10,000, which will be donated to their charity of choice.

Chris Jacobs of Velocity’s "Overhaulin'," NHRA national event announcer and host of "Put Up or Shut Up" Brian Lohnes, and self-confessed car nut Clarence Barnes will cohost the activities both on and off the dragstrip.  [07/20/17]

Three-time DRO AA/FC Challenge Champ Shawn Bowen was testing Michael Bartone's new Heritage Series F/C in preparation for the car’s debut at a Heritage Series event later this year in Boise, ID. According to the Agent's operative the car made two or three passes and ran an easy 5.90, lifting early.

Reportedly, the Bowen family will bring the car to the second DRO event at U.S. 131 on Sept. 8-9.  [07/20/17]

At this past weekend’s PDRA Mid-America Nationals, Dan Ferguson, driving the Henry Dogay-owned ‘68 Camaro, made history as the first Top Sportsman to make a sub 3.80 run. Ferguson, aided by Dogay and crew chief Rick Fogle, made the most of the post-sundown run on Friday night to take the “Cajun Nightmare” where no Top Sportsman car had gone before.

Despite still having high humidity and water grains in the air, the Musi Racing Engines 959 powerplant plumbed with four stages of nitrous had enough poert to slide into the elusive 3.70-range. Ferguson recorded a 3.799 at 196.53 MPH to etch himself in the history books.

Last season, PDRA apparel provider, Classic Graphix, sponsored a program to reward record-breakers in the Pro Mod classes. A Top Sportsman reward was added on for the first person to make a 3.70 run.

“Last year we came up with the program to reward these racers with $1000,” explained Scott Bathurst, owner of Classic Graphix. “No one was able to do that in Top Sportsman last season and nothing was ever discussed or put in writing for this year. After Dan went 3.79, they came by and asked if the program was still on. I wanted to honor their accomplishment, so I decided to still do the reward, even though it wasn’t really on the table this year. The PDRA is a great organization. I want to do anything I can do to help out the series and racers.”

“I'm really grateful to Scott and Classic Graphix for honoring this deal, even when it wasn't on the program for this year,” thanked Ferguson. “He does our shirts; they are awesome. Scott's been real good to work with. I love his designs. The reward had expired, but he's honoring it anyway. That says a lot about what kind of person he is.”

Although Ferguson had the chance to try for a new Top Sportsman record, he did not try to back up the 3.799, preferring instead to use his other qualifying runs to get a setup for eliminations.  (Gary Rowe/Raceworks photo)  [07/20/17]