ROCKINGHAM — Two motorsports worlds will collide this weekend as Stock Car Classics teams up with MB Drift at Rockingham Speedway.
Both organizations provided exhibitions at the track for its open house in March.
Click here to read about and see photos from that event.
SCC founder Brinkley Whiteside has roots in Richmond County — his mother is from Ellerbe — and said Rockingham and Darlington Raceway in South Carolina are the home tracks for the group.
According to Whiteside, track management suggested the cooperation between SCC and MB Drift.
“It’s a perfect relationship that helps both groups put on an event,” Whiteside said. “They drift in the infield and we make spirited but less-than-race-speed laps on the oval.”
The MB Drift crew is equally anticipating the partnership.
“MB Drift is excited about the opportunity to team up with another form of racing at The Rock,” organizers said. “We feel that giving our spectators a more diverse type of event will draw in the local crowd we are hoping to accommodate.
“It also gives us the ability to cross-promote another type of racing. Stock Car Classics brings many different types of circle-track cars that give people variety and nostalgia at the race track. We’re looking forward to a great event and hope to see y’all there!”
The open house wasn’t the first time the two worlds came together.
NASCAR driver Alex Bowman came to MB Drift’s Icebreaker Challenge in 2021. With NASCAR having an off weekend, some are wondering if he’ll make another appearance with his Corvette at the Rock.
SCC drivers will be making exhibition laps around the freshly paved oval while the drifters go head-to-head in the second competitive round dubbed “All The Smoke,” with Formula Drift PROSPEC driver Alex Lichliter serving as a guest judge.
A promotional video posted earlier in the week plays up the friendly competition between 2022 season winner Justin Bauer and this year’s first-round winner Nick Abbott.
Bauer qualified first in Round 1, but fell to Paul Smith in the top 16. Abbott bested 2021 season winner Joe Busam for his second podium — he placed third in last year’s fourth round — and inaugural first-place win.
Drew Riggins, who slid into the top spot in 2022’s first round, came in third.
Click here to read more about Round 1.
Drivers qualify solo and compete in tandem runs — with each driver taking turns leading and following — in an elimination bracket.
For this competition, scheduled to start around 2 p.m. Saturday, MB Drift will be using the “Dale Lane” layout — named in honor of the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. and in the shape of the number 3 — which is described as a “technical and challenging course,” which will allow lower-power cars to keep up with those that have more horsepower.
SCC will also be honoring Earnhardt with Bill Simpson of Bethlehem, Georgia, running a No. 3 2003 Monte Carlo.
Other drivers registered include: Nick Moody of Port Orange, Florida, with a No. 71 Dodge Charger; Mike May of Powhatan, Virginia, with a No. 21 Ford Thunderbird (co-owned by Whiteside); Chris Brown of Largo, Florida, with an ‘06 Charger; and Scott Kiser of Gastonia with 1939 Ford Coupe.
In all, Whiteside said Thursday evening that 11 cars were confirmed. There were 25 at the open house. He added that several drivers are participating in the Hot Rod Power Tour, which made its third stop at Rockingham Speedway on Wednesday.
Click here to see photos from the Hot Rod Power Tour.
MB Drift co-founder Marshall Eggerling posted a video Thursday afternoon showing some of the corners that have been widened and some that will be by Saturday — including a section referred to as the “Utsey Oopsie,” a rut that caused driver Jody Utsey to break an axle and lose a wheel during the third round in 2001.
The organization has been making improvements to the road course since making Rockingham its home in 2001 after the closing of Myrtle Beach Speedway.
The track will be open for “fun runs” after the competition and on Sunday with different courses. Free ride-alongs with drift drivers are available for spectators 18 and older during the “fun runs.
