Roadkill Season 7, Episode 9: From the Junkyard to Pikes Peak!

Project-Car Showdown at DirtFish!

Surprise! Fans assumed we’d do this for the 75th episode of Roadkill powered by Dodge, but we jumped the gun and served it up here in Episode 74: yup, it’s a Roadkill project-car showdown at DirtFish Rally School. This location became famous on Episode 32 when Subaru challenged Roadkill to a showdown and we went head-to-head on the rally course with a Subie versus the General Mayhem 1968 Dodge Charger. It made for some of the best action scenes in the history of Roadkill, leaving fans demanding more. So, on this episode, the General Mayhem is back—complete with its new 707hp drivetrain from a 2015 Dodge Charger Hellcat. We also brought a number of other cars chosen loosely because they have appeared on the show since the last project-car showdown on Episode 50. You’ll see the off-road Hornet from Episode 71; the Disgustang from Episode 66; the Crusher Impala from Episodes 60 and 65; Laphonda from 59; the frame-dragging Datsun mini-truck from 58; the Mazdaratti from 45, 50, and 51; and Nascarlo from Episode 46. Time for big action on Roadkill.

The Original Vette Kart Returns!

This is Roadkill, powered by Dodge! Way back in 2010 before Roadkill was even a thing, hosts David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan built (or unbuilt) the Vette Kart, a 1985 Chevy Corvette that was stripped to nothing but a chassis and powertrain to save weight and go fast for cheap. The Kart contraption was first seen on Roadkill, Episode 35, and later on Episode 47, and it inspired a legion of people to build similar rides. The Vette Kart has proven itself on the autocross, big track, and dragstrip, and now the guys are bringing it back to round out its motorsports accomplishments with sand-dune blasting and Roadkill’s least-predictable stunt yet: skiing a car, which means driving on two wheels! Joining the guys for the adventure is stuntman James Smith, a ski-car specialist. He thinks Roadkill picked the worst car possible for learning to ski, and after watching the episode, you’ll probably agree. Roadkill is supported by Jegs, Pilot Auto Transport, Optima Batteries, Gearstar Transmissions, and EBC Brakes.

The Ugly Truckling Dragster!

Is it the effort that counts? If so, Roadkill powered by Dodge wins again on this episode! In the early ’50s, the first dedicated drag-race cars were ’rail jobs—vehicles stripped down to nothing but the frame and drivetrain to build the lightest setup for speed. Applying that concept, David Freiburger figured that a big-block pickup would make a great modern-day ’rail job. He scored a cheap GMC Crew Cab, and things got out of control in a way that ended up with Lucky Costa, Steve Dulcich, and Calin Head helping to lay the groundwork of a monster before Mike Finnegan showed up to zap the whole thing together. Then Freiburger and Finnegan drove the mid-engined, road-going dragster 500 miles to the Roadkill Zip-Tie Drags at Tucson Dragway. All we can say is the whole thing performed as expected. Or at least probably as you expected, not so much for Freiburger.

Ice Drag Racing Redemption!

Here's another episode of Roadkill powered by Dodge, this time with special cohost Tony Angelo alongside Mike Finnegan. This time the guys got together to install a new Gearstar automatic trans and attempt a road trip to the Merrill Ice Drags on a frozen river in Wisconsin.

60 min

Junkyard Big-Block Samurai!

A 440-powered Suzuki Samurai? Yup! This episode of Roadkill powered by Dodge features David Freiburger and guest host Steve Dulcich achieving a long-held Roadkill dream: building a car entirely out of a junkyard. The result is a ludicrous Suzuki Samurai tiptop powered by a 440 Chrysler big-block out of a B300 1-ton van.

Hit the Road, Worry Later!

This is about a good ol' road trip in random, unreliable junk! On this episode of Roadkill powered by Dodge, David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan wanted to buy a car sight-unseen and take a big adventure.

Bonus Roadkill Episode! Muscle Truck Showdown

Celebrate Father's Day with this special extra episode of Roadkill powered by Dodge! There's big action as David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan scheme some chaos in hot-rodded pickups. They invite Steve Dulcich from Roadkill Garage as well as Lucky Costa and Tony Angelo from HOT ROD Garage to join in.

Vintage Circle-Track Charger Rescue!

Mike Finnegan has had Charger lust since his childhood exposure to the General Lee on The Dukes of Hazzard, so he recently bought a 1968 Dodge Charger that had been wrecked when new, then hacked into a circle-track race car, all highlighted here on this episode of Roadkill, powered by Dodge.

Automotive Cliff Diving!

Ranking as one of the most ridiculous Roadkill episodes of all time-and yet still powered by Dodge-this is a tale of David Freiburger, Mike Finnegan, and Steve Dulcich taking a vacation to Alaska for the Fourth of July to visit the legendary celebration in the remote area of Glacier View where they throw cars off a cliff for the sheer hilarity of it.

Roadkill Nights to the NHRA Nationals!

Witness the epic return of the Roadkill Draguar on a journey from the Roadkill Nights event on Woodward Avenue in Michigan all the way to racing at the NHRA Nationals in Minnesota! This episode of Roadkill powered by Dodge kicks off with the fourth annual Roadkill Nights event at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan, where 40,000 people show up to see us drag race on the famed Woodward Avenue.

1,700 Miles in the Vanishing Paint Challenger!

On this episode of Roakill powered by Dodge, the Vanishing Paint Challenger is back on the road with an upgraded suspension and it's ready to dominate the autocross! David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich rekindled their love for the VP Challenger on Roadkill Garage Episodes 34 and 36, and now they are putting it to the ultimate Roadkill road trip test.

Roadkill Shootout Special: Battle of the Network Stars!

It's a Roadkill challenge like no other. David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan are joined by Motor Trend originals' hosts for an all-out war on tires on this episode of Roadkill powered by Dodge.

60 min

The World's Only"C-Body" Road Runner!

The Road Runner is a highlight of Plymouth's B-Body platform, sought after by many a hot rodder and collector alike. It's valuable classic muscle with parts that can be worth more than the whole. Luckily, on this episode of Roadkill powered by Dodge, that's the case as David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan have found the world's only C-Body Road Runner.

60 min

Mazdarati's Final Run-So Hot It's Stolen!

The rear-engine, 455 Oldsmobile-powered Mazdarati mini-truck is back! David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan couldn't run it into the 10s on the dragstrip on Episode 51 (even though the previous owner claimed it would). On this episode of Roadkill powered by Dodge, the guys give it another shot by rebuilding the engine, repairing the transmission, and adding a bigger nitrous kit, of course!