In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera still hasn’t tasted defeat at Route 66 Raceway, knocking off rival Matt Smith in the finals with a run of 6.777 at 198.90 on his RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki. It’s the third straight Chicago victory for the back-to-back world champion and Herrera was stellar when it counted in the championship round against Smith.
He laid down a .005 reaction time, keeping Smith at bay and winning for the second time this season and the 23rd time in his career. He’s on track for another special season, too, it appears, qualifying No. 1 at the first three races, winning two of the first three races and also taking the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday to sweep the weekend in Chicago.
On Sunday, he knocked off John Hall and Chris Bostick to reach the finals before dispatching of Smith and leaving Chicago with the Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead.
“The final was fun. Matt whacked the throttle and then I whacked the throttle and we both played with the stage lights. He brings out the best in me but we’ve got a fast hot rod,” Herrera said. “I had a great reaction time and we came out on top and that’s our main goal.
“I expect games when I race Matt. I actually like it. It takes me back to my grudge racing days when you’d race your friends and blow them kisses on the starting line. Matt and I haven’t got to that point yet.
“It seems like none of this is real. It’s hard to keep track and hard to take it all in. I try to be a humble guy. I don’t want to come out and say it bluntly because I prefer to just show it on the race track.”
Smith advanced to the final round for the third straight race in 2025, defeating Wesley Wells, Jianna Evaristo and Steve Johnson, and leaving Chicago second in points.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action May 30-June 1 with the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H.
ROUND ONE — John Hall, 6.836, 197.88 def. Marc Ingwersen, 6.886, 195.14; Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.085, 191.05 def. Angie Smith, Buell, 7.095, 194.88; Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.831, 196.90 def. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.830, 197.16; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.796, 195.19 def. Ryan Oehler, 6.873, 196.62; Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.868, 195.56 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.943, 181.62; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.723, 200.98 def. Lance Bonham, Buell, 9.263, 134.85; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.730, 202.82 def. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.179, 186.64; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.713, 200.86 was unopposed;
QUARTERFINALS — Bostick, 6.901, 195.22 def. Scali, 7.024, 190.35; M. Smith, 6.799, 200.20 def. Evaristo, 6.832, 198.64; Johnson, 6.809, 195.36 def. Gadson, 6.765, 199.08; Herrera, 6.743, 199.43 def. Hall, 6.836, 197.39;
SEMIFINALS — M. Smith, 6.797, 200.29 def. Johnson, 6.862, 195.39; Herrera, 6.763, 199.85 def. Bostick, 6.886, 195.39;
FINAL — Herrera, 6.777, 198.90 def. M. Smith, 6.805, 199.02.
Pro Stock Motorcycle Points
1. Gaige Herrera, 332; 2. Matt Smith, 324; 3. Richard Gadson, 221; 4. Chase Van Sant, 159; 5. Steve Johnson, 157; 6. Angie Smith, 150; 7. (tie) Kelly Clontz, 139; Jianna Evaristo, 139; 9. John Hall, 137; 10. Chris Bostick, 135.
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