Not everyone shows up to Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge expecting to become a drag racer. Demi Bagby certainly didn’t. The 2025 event’s Direct Connection Grudge Match introduced the fitness athlete and social media personality to competitive drag racing for the first time.
What started as a new experience became something she wanted to pursue. And in the last year, she has gained valuable seat time, learned the nuances of launching a high-powered car, and developed a newfound appreciation for the skill required to be consistent. Now, she’s back, with confidence, and ready for another shot at grudge-match glory on Detroit’s fabled Woodward Ave, when RKN 2026 goes down on August 8.
Making Upgrades and Maintaining Appeal
Helping her with that preparation is SRT Autoworks in Phoenix, Arizona, a shop that specializes in modern Mopar performance. Together, the team’s goal is to build a 2026 Dodge Charger that customers can realistically duplicate without sacrificing drivability and technology that make the new platform so appealing.
Understandably, that objective has created its own set of challenges. Modern hot rods feature elaborate electronics and various safety features that make powertrain tuning one of the biggest challenges the team has faced. They’ve also been battling with high transmission temperatures on the dyno, while trying to maintain the car’s drive modes (Auto, Sport, Track, Drag, Wet/Snow, Custom) and eliminate DTC-triggered warning lights.
Knowledge and Appreciation
Beneath the skin, the focus is on improving horsepower, torque, cooling capacity, and consistency so the Charger can make repeated blasts down Woodward without issue. The build includes subtle aerodynamic updates, while a “Salute to Detroit/Dodge”–themed vinyl wrap gives the car a unique identity.
Pink, machined beadlock wheels, along with brake calipers wearing Demi’s name instead of Brembo, complete a totally custom look.
Demi says she’s coming to this year’s Direct Connection Grudge Match with a better understanding of what it takes to be a player and a stronger overall appreciation for the high-speed contest on Woodward Ave. Combined with a Charger that’s being engineered for both performance and real-world drivability, she’s hoping to see a big improvement over last year’s first-round exit.
