ROCKINGHAM — Engines will be roaring at both tracks this weekend as MB Drifts slides back for its second round at Rockingham Speedway and “PINKS” returns to Rockingham Dragway.
With only three rounds this season instead of the traditional four, the stakes will be high at “The Smoke Show” with drivers battling for the podium and points in MB Drift’s grassroots series.
Wade Smith returned to competition after taking off the 2024 season due to car and personal reasons to take the first win of 2025 at “The Initiation.”
Derick Gaskins, who has been smoking tires for a podium spot for the past several years, finally managed to come in second — soon after winning the first race of the year in the track’s Crown 9 series.
Coming in at third for his third consecutive top three finish was Max Czibere. He placed second and third, respectively, in the final two rounds of ‘24, as well as third for the season, and was honored with the Underdog Award.
Gabe Broyles slides along the course in his first competition with MB Drift at Rockingham Speedway.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
However the other drivers in the top 10 — Tyler Williams, Nathan McDuffie, Dan Stoneburner, Gabe Broyles, Brandon Goodman, Andy Wright and Anton Shenderov — as well as the rest of the field will be gunning to slide up in the points for a chance to win the season championship.
Wright won the 2024 season following two first-place finishes in a double-header weekend.
Goodman finished seventh overall in 2021, MB Drift’s first year at the Rock, and second in 2022. However, he only competed once in 2023 and twice (out of four rounds) in 2024.
McDuffie placed sixth and eighth in 2021 and 2024, respectively; Stoneburner had top 10 finishes in ‘22 and ‘24; and Shenderov, a Belarusian native, ended last year — his first in the series — at second.
This is Broyles’ first year competing with MB Drift at Rockingham.
The competition is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Saturday — with a “fun run” course available for those not competing— followed by night drifting after sundown. Drivers will also be able to get seat time on Sunday.
Even with the potential for wet weather, MB Drift co-founder Marshall Eggerling said the event will go on, unlike most other motorsports.
"It could slow us down if it's torential or lightning, but overall we are rain or shine even in a competition," Eggerling said, recalling one event several years back where nearly every round was in the rain at the Rock.
Free ride-alongs are available for spectators 18 or older during non-competition runs.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
Across the street, one driver is leaving Rockingham Dragway with seven other vehicles.
POWERfest, which begins Friday, will include the return of the groundbreaking motorsports reality show “PINKS” with the winner of each round taking his competitor’s car.
The two-day event will also include:
In addition to the other televised events, an hour-long POWERfest special will air on POWERtube TV, which is available online as well as through Direct TV, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV.
