I’m used to losing, I just want to lose to someone new,” says Mike Finnegan when we sit down to talk about the upcoming Roadkill Nights Celebrity Shootout race happening August 12, 2017 at Roadkill Nights Powered By Dodge. He’s pretty stoked about shutting down Woodward Ave and racing on the street, and this year we have a new challenge–a shootout in Dodge Hellcats, Vipers, and the wild drag Demon. “Last year we raced Mike Musto, and he beat us,” says Fin. “This year it’s a whole deal, we’re rematching Musto, and adding the other show hosts like Lucky and Tony and some guests like Chris Jacobs who was on Overhaulin’ and Schumacher Racing Top Fuel and Funny Car drivers Matt Hagan and Leah Pritchett. All I want is to tree Hagan. I just want to saw off a piece of a professional top fueler.”
Freiburger, as usual, is cautiously pessimistic. “I’ve never even driven the Demon,” he says. “Leah helped test it. She’s gonna have some advantage. She’s gonna beat us.”
Does Pritchett feel so confident about her ability to destroy F&F? “Oh, the guys are all worried about losing at their own event, but I actually think I’m coming in as the underdog! I have no experience on the street at all, and I’m not just saying that. My dad was always really strict about my behavior in a street car, and I never wanted to lose the chance to race on the track, so I really don’t know what it will be like. Plus, those guys have done this. I wouldn’t be doing justice to them if I came in all hot and heavy saying I was for sure going to win.”
What about her teammate? Matt has had some time in the Demon, is she worried about losing to him? “Well, I don’t want to lose to Matt, but I think he’s in the same boat as me. He’s only driven the Demon at Denver, and we didn’t have to worry about hooking up there. I don’t think he’s done any street car stuff either. And I heard Mike Musto is in Arizona practicing right now in a Hellcat!”
So how mad will she be if Freiburger takes her out? “Look, I’ve followed Roadkill Nights but I never thought I’d have the opportunity to be involved. I’m just excited to meet those guys. They are like, real car heroes. It doesn’t get any realer.”
In that case, what’s the Leah launch plan? “I’m not going to tell them what I’m planning to do! This is street cred on the line!” Yeah, she wants to win.
Matt Hagan doesn’t bother with the niceties before declaring his aim for the victory. “This is a big deal. I got people here in Virginia asking me about it. I know the surface will be different than Denver. There will be a learning curve, I’m wondering how hard to hit the pedal and how hard to roll in, but you have to go into these things with confidence. I need to visualize myself in the winner’s circle, and go in cool, calm, and collected. Also, we should put some weight in Leah’s car.”
How about the rest of the hosts, are they stoked?
“There will be no victory here,” says The House of Muscle host Mike Musto, who is the only one of the group who took a car out to practice. “I’ve been spinning drag radials at half track all week. Still, I want to try and beat Chris.” Bear in mind that he said he was for sure going to lose last year too, and very much did not.
“I look at it like this,” says HOT ROD Garage’s Lucky Costa. “I’m getting to hang out with my friends, meet tons of cool people and drive Hellcats. The only competition is who’s going to have the most fun. I will try not to let the smoke out.” It will be a challenge. Those Hellcat tires seem to have faulty smoke valves.
“I’m going to try to take Lucky out for sure,” says Tony Angelo, co-host on HRG and reoccurring guest host on Roadkill. “I’m mostly afraid of the pros. I’m thinking they will crush us. Did you know I had only been on a dragstrip twice before starting work at The Enthusiast Network? All the same, I’m super excited to race everyone.”
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” says Fin. “Tony is going to blow something up, Lucky is going to get distracted by something shiny, David is going to outsmart himself thinking of a way to get an advantage, and I’m going to team up with Leah, Survivor-style to take out the rest.”
Tune in on Saturday to find out if Finnegan’s predictions come true, or come by M1 Concourse and watch it all in person!
Spectators will pay $10 per person—$5 per person for Pontiac residents ($5 price available on-site only)—and children 12 and under are free.
10:00am Gates open to the Public
Dodge activation opens (Come see all the new products and games!)
Live Music Performances begin onstage
Dodge Hellcat and Viper Thrill Rides begin (Get in line early!)
Dyno testing begins
11:00am Drag Racing begins – qualifying session
11:30am Pro–BMX show
1:30pm World Premiere Pennzoil Demon Video
3:00pm Pro–BMX show
3:30pm Leah Pritchett & Matt Hagan exhibition runs on Woodward
6:00pm Open Drag Racing qualifying session concludes
Pro–BMX show
Flame thrower exhibition run
6:15pm Celebrity shootout begins (Can the hosts of Motor Trend on Demand beat the NHRA pros?)
7:30pm Quick 4 announced (Who will take home all the money?)
Exhibition drag runs
Flame thrower exhibition run
7:45pm Quick 4 shootout begins
9:45pm Quick 4 Winners Awards Ceremony
10:00pm Drag racing concludes
10:30pm Dodge Hellcat and Viper Thrill rides close
11:00pm Gates Closed
11:30pm Shuttle bus operation finishes for spectators (FREE)
The post “I Just Want A Piece Of Matt Hagan,” Roadkill Nights Celebrity Shootout Smack Talk appeared first on Hot Rod Network.