ROCKINGHAM — Who will be crowned MB Drift’s 2024 season champion this weekend at Rockingham Speedway?
With several top 10 drivers tied in points, the third and fourth competitive rounds in the grassroots drifting series are bound to be a shootout for “Drift Wars, Double Tap.”
Belarusian native Anton Shederov currently sits at the top of the leaderboard, having won the first round in late April and placed third in Round 2 in June.
Teen driver Jake Little and Gray Champion — who placed second and third, respectively, in Round 1 — are tied with 126 points, and Derick Gaskins and Nathan McDuffie — who have yet to make the podium this season — are tied with 112 points.
Paul Smith, the winner of Round 2, sits alone with 100 points; followed by five other drivers — Frank Evans, Tyler Williams, Jeremy Coble, Andy Wright and Dan Stoneburner — all tied with 98 points.
Drake Carter, who placed second in Round 2, is in 14th place, tied with Max Czibere and Oleg Volcov at 84 points.
Click here to read about Round 1.
Click here to read about Round 2.
For Round 3 on Saturday, drivers will be sliding along the tight, technical “chute” layout on the infield road course, starting between Turns 1 and 2 of the main track. MB Drift organizers say this layout is ideal for the drivers with low-power cars and “is guaranteed to put your skills to the test.”
The course for Round 4 on Sunday is a new layout, starting near the backstretch pit area and looping round the center of the road course.
When they’re not competing in Round 3, drivers will be able to get some practice on Sunday’s layout as it will be open for “fun runs.” Saturday’s competition course will also be open Sunday for open drifting.
The layout for night drifting on Saturday will stretch across the entire road course.
The competition is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
This is MB Drift’s fourth season at the Rock since officially making the track its new home in 2021 following the closing of Myrtle Beach Speedway.
Free ride-alongs are available for anyone 18 or older during non-competitive runs.
Although the competition ends this weekend, MB Drift still has one more event scheduled for this year. The annual Halloween Havoc is slated for Oct. 19-20.
MOTORCYCLE MANIA
Across the street, Rockingham Dragway welcomes back the All Harley Drag Racing Association, with action on the track starting Friday with racing in more than a dozen classes.
Racing starts at 2 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday.
Click here to see photos from the 2023 AHDRA Spring Nationals.
There is also a test and tune scheduled for Sunday, as well as Aug. 30, with the inaugural Sandhills Bracket Championship slated for Aug. 31-Sept. 2.
See Rockingham Dragway’s social media pages or website for more upcoming events.
The Dragway recently unveiled a new mural on the back of the large bathroom above the concrete grandstands painted by local artist Daniel Webb, who was putting on the finishing touches Thursday afternoon.
Owners Dan VanHorn and Al Gennarelli have also been making other upgrades to the facility including new showers at the bathrooms between the aluminum grandstands and the concessions building, as well as putting a new roof on the tower and renovating the third floor seating area.
This weekend, Windy Hill Sports in Ellerbe will be hosting the 11th race of the season for the NC Motocross Association.
Riders will be practicing on Saturday, with the racing beginning Sunday morning after another practice.
NCMX kicked off the 2024 season at Windy Hill in February.
Click here to see photos from the 2023 NCMX fall race.
