ROCKINGHAM — With the MB Drift season title on the line, 32 drivers on Sunday swerved their way around the Rockingham Speedway infield road course.
Although the name of the event was “Last Man Sliding,” the fourth and final competition of the 2022 season saw Taylor Walker as the lone female drifter.
Drivers, judges and MB Drift organizers met at the Thunder Alley pit area to set the elimination bracket, with judges saying the qualifying scores were the highest they’d seen all season.
Landing in the No. 1 spot was Durham’s Justin Bauer, who was the points leader heading into August’s “Battle of Little Rock,” but fell to fifth following that round.
Click here to read about the “Battle of Little Rock.”
Drivers qualify on solo runs, but run tandem during the competition with each of the two drivers taking turns leading and following.
Bauer, who previously placed second in Round 2, eliminated first-year competitor and former circle track driver Brett Dysart of Pinebluff.
Taylor Walker — having switched cars after a mechanical issue — qualified second and took the win over Christian Anavisca.
Qualifying third was Drew Riggins, of Burlington, the winner of the season’s first round in May. He advanced to the top 16 with a win over Anthony Woods of Marlboro County, South Carolina.
Click here to read about Round 1.
Nick Abbott was third in points — despite not making it to the podium in the first three rounds — and scored the fourth-highest in qualifying. He moved up the bracket after sliding past MB Drift staffer Tony Martin.
Wade Smith, who also hadn’t placed in a comp but was fourth in points, qualified fifth and won over Lanahan. (Note: Lanahan is the only name listed for the driver on the bracket.)
Burlington’s Brandon Goodman, who was the points leader heading into the final contest, qualified seventh and defeated Derick Gaskins, another new driver from Rock Hill, South Carolina. Goodman won Round 3 both in 2021 and 2022.
Joe Busam, winner of 2021’s fourth round and season and this year’s second round, qualified 10th and got the win over Nathan McDuffie.
Click here to read about Round 2.
Click here to read about the 2021 season-ender.
Other drivers advancing to the top 16 were: Andy Wright; Dan Stoneburner, who placed second in Round 2; Dustin Walker; Drake Carter; Cameron Griffin; Paul Smith; Max Czlbere; James Adkins; and Corey “Shake” Mendenhall.
The RO will have more on the competition later this week.
See more photos from the first elimination round below.
