ROCKINGHAM — MB Drift cranks up its three-round competition series this weekend at Rockingham Speedway with “The Initiation," pitting veteran drivers against ambitious rookies for a shot at the season championship.
Derick Gaskins, the 2025 season champ, recently commented on social media about defending the title, although he told the RO last year after winning that he was going to focus on helping his son, Cameron, make it to the podium.
Cameron Gaskins — who was 17 at the time — came close last year, finishing fourth in the final round behind third-place finisher Levi Kottwitz, who was 18. The younger Gaskins was also a challenge for Dustin Walker in Round 2.
Kottwitz finished the season in eighth place and a three-way tie for points with Brandon Goodman (7) and Max Czibere (6). Cameron Gaskins was 14th for the season, tied in points with five other drivers.
Landyn Dysart backs his Freedom Stang out of the Papa Joe Hendrick Garage to gain seat time at the track during MB Drift's Spring Matsuri in March 2026.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
Another young driver is Landyn Dysart, of Pinebluff, who has waited several years to be old enough to compete in the series.
Dysart spent several years sim drifting, and won at least one competition. He first drove competitively in real life late last year at Off Grid Motorsports Park in Gresham, South Carolina and was able to get in some seat time at the Rock during MB Drift’s Spring Matsuri in March.
Both Dysart and Cameron Gaskins come from motorsport families.
Dysart’s father, Brett, was previously a circle-track driver and took up drifting because of his son’s interest. Brett Dysart’s brother, Mark, competed in regional road races in the Midwest during the late ‘80s through the mid-’90s before switching to dirt-track racing. Mark Dysart was also a solid competitor in the Crown 9 Series at Rockingham, placing second in four of the five races and finishing third in the other.
Cameron Gaskins is a third-generation wheelman. His grandfather, Steven “Smokey” Gaskins, started racing at the age of 13 and spent a decade on dirt tracks — once winning two races in the same day at separate tracks. Both Smokey and Derick Gaskins also competed in the Crown 9 series, with the latter winning the first round in 2025.
Nathan McDuffie drifts along the road course at Rockingham Speedway in September 2025.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
In addition to Derick Gaskins, there are several seasoned drivers slated to be at the track this weekend, including: 2025 second-place finisher Wade Smith; 2024 season champion Andy Lacause-Wright; Max Czibere, who has finished in the top 10 the past three seasons; longtime competitor Dan Stoneburner; husband and wife drifters Dustin and Taylor Walker; and Belarusian native Anton Shenderov, who finished the season at second in 2024.
Gate B (on U.S. 1) opens at 8 a.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. on Sunday. Qualifying for the competition is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the competition slated to start at 2:15 p.m.
This is the sixth season for MB Drift at Rockingham Speedway. The grassroots series previously ran for 15 years at Myrtle Beach Speedway until the track’s closure at the end of 2020.
The other two competition dates are June 4-5 and Sept. 26-27, with the winner being crowned at the latter event. Competitions are on Saturdays with open track time on Sundays. MB Drift also runs a separate layout for drivers not competing.
MB Drift will also host its Summer Matsuri July 18-19 and Halloween Havoc Oct. 24-25.
Free ride-alongs are available for anyone over 18 during all events.
Smoke pours from a truck rolling down the track at Rockingham Dragway during Rudy's Spring Truck Jam in 2023.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
Across the highway at Rockingham Dragway, Rudy’s Spring Truck Jam returns with racing in the Outlaw Diesel Super Series.
Two new series records were set during the event in 2023.
Rudy’s Spring Truck Jam starts on Friday with a gamblers race and qualifying. The event, which concludes Saturday, also includes a burnout competition, monster truck rides and drift ride-alongs — featuring 2022 MB Drift season winner Justin Bauer.
See Rockingham Dragway’s social media pages and website for more information.
Earlier this week, drivers were at the dragway testing for the upcoming NHRA Nationals at the Rock in September. See photos of the testing at visitrichmondcounty.com.
