A year after winning at The Big Go for the first time in his career, Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Gaige Herrera set the track E.T. record on the opening night of the race, going 6.739 at 200.98 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki taking the provisional No. 1 position at the prestigious Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals. Herrera, the back-to-back world champion, is after his fourth No. 1 qualifier this season and 27th in his career as he looks to get on track to make a run at his third straight title.
Last year’s Indy win was another special moment for Herrera and he would love to repeat it this weekend, especially after Friday’s strong start.
“It’s hard to prepare for five runs here at Indy because you know anything can happen. I was shocked that we ran 6.73, but we just treated it like a test lap and we hit it hard,” Herrera said. “I don’t think we could have run any faster. That’s all she’s got. I don’t think that will be beaten the next two days.
“This is Indiana, so you never know what you’re going to get as far as weather. It’s perfect today. We figured that we might run 6.75 or 6.76, but that was a picture-perfect run. I don’t think the bike moved a quarter of an inch from side-to-side and that almost never happens.”
Matt Smith is currently second with a 6.779 at 199.88 and Richard Gadson, who won the most recent PSM race in Sonoma, is third after his run of 6.782 at 200.47.
Qualifying continues at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.739, 200.98; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.779, 199.88; 3. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.782, 200.47; 4. John Hall, Beull, 6.786, 189.34; 5. Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.795, 199.17; 6. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.817, 199.29; 7. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.835, 197.86; 8. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.857, 200.26; 9. Dystany Spurlock, Buell, 6.867, 197.25; 10. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.874, 193.96; 11. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.885, 195.85; 12. Malcolm Phillips Jr., Suzuki, 6.888, 195.73; 13. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.905, 195.00; 14. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.927, 195.68; 15. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 7.153, 189.73; 16. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.156, 189.12.
Not Qualified: 17. Hector Arana Jr, 7.186, 192.77; 18. Charles Poskey, 7.213, 188.38; 19. Wesley Wells, 7.277, 182.72.
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