ROCKINGHAM — Drivers in the MB Drift series will kick off the 2024 competitive season Saturday on a newly repaved road course for “The Initiation” at Rockingham Speedway.
A section of the course had new paving last month for the grassroots series’ Spring Matsuri and the additional paving was completed afterward.
During a video posted Wednesday evening, Marshall Eggerling and Zach Sebald said the course layout for the competition wouldn’t be decided until Friday when they can test out the new paving.
There will be a few changes to qualifying, competition and points this year, with MB Drift mirroring Formula Drift.
Many of last year’s drivers — including 2022 and 2023 season winners Justin Bauer and Nick Abbott, respectively — have moved up and will not be competing this year, leaving the field open to new faces.
Click here to read about the end of the 2023 season.
Eggerling estimates there will be about a dozen drivers from last year, “and those drivers, based on their finish position, will go into the top 12” on the bracket. The remaining drivers will be determined through open qualifying.
Prizes for each round include:
- First place – $500 from MB Drift, a prize from BridgeMoto, and a dyno pull from Cruzin Auto.
- Second Place – $250 from MB Drift and a $100 gift certificate from Powder Coating by C-Ray.
- Third Place – Free driver entry to a MB Drift event weekend.
A “fun run” course will also be open during the competition for drivers to build their skills, and night drifting will be open when the sun goes down.
MB Drift is also partnering with Klean Exhibition to add a car show element to the event and, as Sebald said, “bring you the best automotive experience that we can at the historic Rockingham Speedway.”
This is the second of six MB Drift events at the track this year.
Click here to read about the Spring Matsuri in March.
The second round is scheduled for June 1-2 and the third and fourth rounds will be Aug. 24-25. MB Drift will also be hosting a Summer Matsuri July 27-28 and its annual Halloween Havoc Oct. 19-20.
Free ride-alongs are available to spectators 18 and older during non-competitive runs.
Gates open at 8:30 a.m., practice starts at noon, qualifying begins at 1 p.m., and the competition is set to start at 2:15 p.m. The track will also be open to drivers from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available for both days at the gate, and kids 12 and under get in free.
