ROCKINGHAM — Despite never finishing in the top spot of any event, Gabe Broyles slid to the top of the leaderboard to become MB Drift’s 2026 season champion Sept. 27 at Rockingham Speedway.
Broyles, of Lexington, said he was “still in shock” two days later.
“Winning the series has been a very surreal moment for me,” Broyles said, “but we put in the work needed to make it happen.”
Boyles said he’s always “had a draw” to drifting, “and fortunately got surrounded by people that helped encourage me into doing it as well.”
This was Broyles’ first full season competing in a series, though he’s been drifting on and off for the past eight years. He’s also competed in events hosted by Piedmont Drift and Catch My Drift.
Broyles hasn’t participated in any other motorsports, but said he “wouldn’t mind.”
Throughout the season, Broyles remained consistently competitive behind the wheel of his 1998 BMW 328i —which he referred to as “the most superior chassis”— finishing third in the first round and seventh in Round 2.
Heading into the season finale double-header, Broyles was second in points behind 15-year-old Landyn Dysart.
Broyles finished third in Round 3, behind Cam Gaskins (2) and sim sensation Zack O’Sullivan (1); and fifth the following day for Round 4, falling in his battle with the eventual winner, Levi Kottwitz.
Gabe Broyles, left, leads in a tandem run with Zack O'Sullivan during MB Drift's final competition weekend at Rockingham Speedway.
Courtesy Wally Lore
The toughest opponent for Broyles during the season and championship weekend, he said, was O’Sullivan.
“We drive together all the time and know each other's driving very well,” Broyles said. “But he has (a) much better understanding of set up and a lot of seat time on the sim.”
O’Sullivan’s first competition in a real car was in Round 2 — when he was defeated in the final run by Dysart — after 16 years of sim drifting. During that time, O’Sullivan competed in more than 200 Pro level events and is a four-time Esports sim drifting champion. He has also served as a spotter for Formula Drift drivers like James Deane.
Although he finished 15th in Round 4, O’Sullivan’s previous two podiums were enough to propel him to third place for the season.
Belarusian native Anton Shenderov was also consistent throughout the year, ending in second place. He finished 18th in Round 1, third in Round 2, fourth in Round 3 and second in Round 4.
A former third-place national winner in his home country, Shenderov started competing with MB Drift in 2024, finishing in second that season, as well. He ended the 2025 season at No. 18.
Broyles, O'Sullivan and Shenderov all drive BMWs.
Max Czibere, who missed one MB Drift event to compete with Catch My Drift, finished the season in the No. 4 spot. He placed second in Round 1 and third in Round 4.
Czibere finished third for the season in '24 and sixth last year.
Round 2 winner Dysart finished fifth for the season, his first being able to compete.
Other drivers finishing in the top 10: Kottwitz (6); Ivan Herrera (7); Gaskins (8); Andy Lacause-Wright (9); and A.J. White (10).
“I genuinely couldn’t thank my friends and family enough for being there for me and supporting me through all of it, pushing me to do better and to make sure I was ready for whatever battle we lined up for,” Broyles said. “Without my friends, family and partners this wouldn’t have been possible, but I fortunately have the right people in my corner to make sure we make it to the top.”
MB Drift will conclude its sixth season at Rockingham Speedway with its annual Halloween Havoc event Oct. 24-25.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Special thanks to the photographers who contributed and offered while I was covering the NHRA Nationals at Rockingham Dragway. See more photos from the event on the MB Drift Chats and Media group page on Facebook.)
