ROCKINGHAM — This past weekend was one of firsts for Nick Abbott during MB Drift’s Metal on Metal at Rockingham Speedway.
Abbott qualified first, placed first in the competition and became the first driver to have three consecutive wins since the grassroots series moved to the Rock in 2021.
Click here to read about Round 1.
Click here to read about Round 2.
In the two years he’s been competing with MB Drift, this was Abbott’s first time as the top qualifier.
Drivers qualify in solo runs before facing off in an elimination bracket for the competition.
On his way to the top of the bracket, Abbott had to go head-to-head with Paul Smith, Said “Bussin” Maharramov, 2022 season winner Justin Bauer and Wade Smith — all of whom were in the top 10 heading into the event.
Of those, Abbott said the most challenging tandem was with Bauer, who placed third at the end of the day.
It was Wade Smith who would take the second spot after sliding past Carter Spaniel, Andreas Messner and Drew Riggins — winner of 2022’s first round — to earn his first top-three finish.
Just a week before, Abbott competed in Catch My Drift CMD and Clean Culture’s Autofest at zMAX Dragway in Concord where he fell in the top 16 to pro drifter Jonathan Nerren.
“I can’t really compete against him,” Abbott said. “I don’t mind losing to Nerren, he’s a pro driver and a good dude.”
MB Drift organizers have lauded the drivers’ skills all season and Round 3 was no exception.
“There was some amazing driving,” MB Drift co-founder Marshall Eggerling said in a post-event video on Sunday. “The guys just keep stepping their game up every time in competition.”
The layout on the speedway’s infield road course for this round was the heart-shaped Kokoro Circuit, a highly technical route which several drivers said was more difficult than a pro run.
Judges had several match-ups go “one more time” including second-qualifier Cameron Griffin and Tony Martin, and Abbott and Paul Smith.
Derick Gaskins, who has had trouble with his Corvette in the previous rounds, qualified third but fell in his first battle against Trevor Rhodes. Bauer and 2021 season champ Joe Busam qualified fourth and fifth, respectively.
Click here to see more photos from Metal on Metal.
With one event to go, Abbott leads Busam by 105 points.
“I don’t know if he (Abbott) could completely miss the next round and still win … but it’s mostly a race for second and third place at this point,” Eggerling said.
Despite qualifying higher and making it to the podium in Round 3, Bauer still trails Busam in overall points for the season.
Wade Smith is only 11 points behind Bauer’s bumper, followed by Riggns (5), Griffin (6), Paul Smith (7), Maharramov (8), Tevin Baysa (8), and Max Czibere (10).
The fourth and final competitive round will be Sept. 9 on the quarter-mile loop of Little Rock, which is a favorite among the drivers.
Following his first-round victory, Abbott said he was aiming to win all four rounds.
In addition to the cash and other prizes, this year’s winner receives a championship belt.
Competitions are on Saturdays with the track open for fun runs afterward and on Sundays. In recent events, the track has been sectioned off for those not competing to get seat time. During open drift times, free ride-alongs are available for spectators 18 and older.
MB Drift’s final event of the season will be Halloween Havoc Oct. 21-22, which typically includes a trunk-or-treat and costume contest.
