Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Gaige Herrera continues to rack up NHRA records, becoming the quickest competitor to reach 25 career wins in NHRA history after going a track-record 6.690 at 201.55 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki to defeat Richard Gadson. Herrera reached the milestone victory in just his 43rd career start as the two-time world champion continues to rack up wins at a record and historic rate.
It’s also his fourth win this season and Herrera’s second at Pacific Raceways, knocking off defending event winner Chase Van Sant and Matt Smith to reach the final round. Herrera was in the 6.70s all weekend, but the team dialed up something big in the final round against Gadson, producing the first-ever Pro Stock Motorcycle run in the 6.60s at Pacific Raceways. Herrera was a stout .010 on the starting line and then rode his way to a 25th career win.
“I never would imagine getting to 25 (wins) this quick,” Herrera said. “I’m living the dream. I’m very blessed as far as that. To get 25 wins, I mean, it still feels like my first. Every time I get a win, it’s just one of those things. You never lose the excitement. You always drive and push yourself to get the Wally, because everyone wants to get the Wally.
“It’s honestly hard to keep track of that stuff. It’s been a lot to take in in a short time for me personally. I can’t do without, the whole band, the Vance & Hines team and my crew chief Andrew [Hines] and it was nice to have an all-Vance & Hines final. Plus, I kind of got redemption from last year here. I had the 11 consecutive race wins and then Chase [Van Sant] beat us in the final, so I had a goal coming here to get the win here.”
Gadson reached the final round for the fourth time this season with wins against Angie Smith and Chris Bostick. Herrera will take a 138-point lead to Sonoma, where the class will also take part in the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns July 25-27 with the 37th annual Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge at Sonoma Raceway.
ROUND ONE — Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.748, 199.17 def. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.745, 199.14; Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 7.154, 145.66 def. John Hall, Foul – Red Light; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.722, 202.70 def. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.742, 201.70; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.767, 201.04 def. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.803, 198.23;
SEMIFINALS — Gadson, 6.770, 198.99 def. Bostick, Broke; Herrera, 6.761, 201.37 def. M. Smith, 6.721, 202.39;
FINAL — Herrera, 6.690, 201.55 def. Gadson, 6.743, 200.32.
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