Cycle News Staff | November 14, 2023
Coming into the season-ending In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, November 10-12, it was a foregone conclusion that Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Suzuki’s Gaige Herrera was going to win the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle title. All Herrera needed to do was qualify for the 216-bike field in order to make it official, but he had far more ambitious plans and fulfilled them by winning his 11th event of the season.
Story by Kevin McKenna | Photos by Matt Polito
Herrera came to Pomona tied with three-time world champion Matt Hines for the season record with 10 wins and took sole possession of the record by beating teammate Eddie Krawiec in the final round.
Herrera rode to a 6.721 elapsed time at 201.46 mph to seal the win and end his record season on a high note.
“This is very surreal. The whole championship thing, I have to give it up to the whole team, it’s not only my championship, it’s theirs, especially Andrew (Hines, crew chief),” Herrera said. “He works his butt off day and night to make sure my bike, Ed’s bike, all the Vance & Hines bikes are fast. He texted me during the week, and he’s like, ‘I’m ready to go to Pomona and just get this thing done. We had an incredible season, and I’m very excited.’ Just to have someone like Andrew Hines text me and say it was one of his best seasons ever, even though he’s not riding the bike, it’s very cool to get that text message from someone like him.
“I can’t put this season into words. I don’t think it’s set in what’s been accomplished this year, and I think it’s only the beginning. I didn’t expect it to end like this this weekend.”
In what has become a regular occurrence, Herrera set the Pomona track record in qualifying with a 6.661 at 203.80 mph on his Gen 3 Hayabusa and then rode to wins against Blaine Hale, LE Tonglet and Steve Jonson to reach the final round.
By now, most know the story of Herrera, who entered six NHRA events last season and quickly impressed the Vance & Hines team with his calm demeanor and unique riding style. He was hired as a replacement for three-time world champ Angelle Sampey and quickly put together the most dominant season in the history of the class. Herrera won 11 of 15 events and put together a staggering 50-4 record in elimination rounds. His win percentage is the best of any NHRA pro on two or four wheels.
“I knew at the start of the season that I was getting a fast motorcycle, but I never expected to be able to do the sort of things we’ve done this year,” Herrera said. “I always had the confidence that I could do this. I just wanted an opportunity to be able come out here and show it.”
Herrera’s championship is the 14th for the Vance & Hines team since the Pro Stock Motorcycle class was recognized as a professional class in 1988. Andrew Hines (6), Krawiec (4) and Matt Hines (3) helped build the dynasty that now lists Herrera as its champion.
As for Krawiec, he remains steadfast in his pursuit of career win number 50. He’s been sitting on 49 wins since the 2021 U.S. Nationals and, more recently, has lost the last four events and five overalls at the hands of Herrera.
In Pomona, Krawiec qualified in the number three spot with a 6.734 second run and defeated Chris Bostick, Marc Ingwersen and Hector Arana Jr. on his way to the final round. Krawiec finished the season as the class’ number-two ranked rider behind Herrera.
The rest of the top 10 includes Hector Arana Jr., Matt Smith, Jianna Evaristo, Steve Johnson, Marc Ingwersen, Angie Smith, rookie sensation Chase Van Sant and Kelly Clontz.