I saw this movie years and years ago, in a theatre, so my memory of it is probably flawed. But one thing I do recall that no one has pointed out yet, is near the beginning.

As Ash and his friends are driving along the road, some invisible supernatural force rushes at them and nearly runs them off the road. They chatter about this a while, then go the cabin, hear the words recited, and the Evil Dead awaken, yada yada yada.

So, if the Evil Dead weren't awake yet, what was it that nearly ran them off the road?

Response From RinkWorks:

The "Pre-Awakening of the Real Evil Dead" Dead?