At the site of his first career Pro Stock Motorcycle victory a year ago, Gaige Herrera was simply dominant on Sunday in Gainesville, capping off a spectacular day with a run of 6.636 at 204.39 on his RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki in the final round to get past Matt Smith to kick off the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season at the 55th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Herrera, who was also the No. 1 qualifier, won his sixth straight race dating back to his remarkable championship season in 2023, and earned his 12th career victory and not much was in doubt on Sunday. He put together four straight runs in the 6.60s at more than 200 mph, defeating Joey Gladstone, John Hall and Angie Smith leading into the final round.
That included a track-record best of 6.629 at 204.54 in the second round, which was the second-quickest run in class history, behind only his record-setting run last year in Dallas.
“Today was good and we ran really well,” Herrera said. “The weather was really close to Dallas (last season), where I set the national record. Everyone kind of picked up in the class and we expected to as well. Overall, I had a very consistent motorcycle. We actually hurt the motor in the semifinals, so we had to swap motors for the finals. Overall, I had a very consistent, smooth motorcycle all day. As long as I didn’t miss a beat, the bike didn’t miss a beat. Even though I didn’t do any testing during the off-season, it felt like I didn’t even have an off-season and I’m glad to come home with a win.”
M. Smith went to the finals for the 76th time in his career thanks to round wins against Chris Bostick, Mark Ingwersen and LE Tonglet.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action March 21-24 with the 64th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, Calif.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Gaige Herrera; 2. Matt Smith; 3. Angie Smith; 4. LE Tonglet; 5. John Hall; 6. Richard Gadson; 7. Steve Johnson; 8. Marc Ingwersen; 9. Hector Arana Jr; 10. Kelly Clontz; 11. Ryan Oehler; 12. Chris Bostick; 13. Chase Van Sant; 14. Joey Gladstone; 15. Bud Yoder II; 16. Jianna Evaristo.
ROUND ONE — John Hall, 6.785, 197.77 def. Hector Arana Jr, 6.775, 200.83; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.691, 203.61 def. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 15.402, 45.78; Marc Ingwersen, 6.834, 197.16 def. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.897, 197.31; LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.756, 201.40 def. Bud Yoder II, Buell, 7.049, 186.33; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.724, 201.97 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.829, 197.39; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.765, 199.14 def. Ryan Oehler, 6.859, 196.67; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.751, 203.22 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.867, 196.62; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.639, 204.35 def. Joey Gladstone, Buell, 6.949, 194.16;
QUARTERFINALS — A. Smith, 6.737, 202.12 def. Johnson, 6.831, 197.91; M. Smith, 6.826, 199.40 def. Ingwersen, Foul – Red Light; Tonglet, 6.878, 197.80 def. Gadson, Foul – Red Light; Herrera, 6.629, 204.54 def. Hall, 6.801, 201.37;
SEMIFINALS — M. Smith, 6.722, 201.43 def. Tonglet, 6.777, 200.95; Herrera, 6.684, 202.27 def. A. Smith, 6.735, 202.91;
FINAL — Herrera, 6.636, 204.39 def. M. Smith, 6.748, 200.83.
Pro Stock Motorcycle Points
1. Gaige Herrera, 127; 2. Matt Smith, 103; 3. LE Tonglet, 77; 4. Angie Smith, 74; 5. Steve Johnson, 56; 6. (tie) Richard Gadson, 54; John Hall, 54; 8. Marc Ingwersen, 52; 9. Chase Van Sant, 33; 10. (tie) Hector Arana Jr, 32;
Kelly Clontz, 32; Jianna Evaristo, 32.
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