It was mostly a foregone conclusion coming in, but RevZilla/Vance & Hines Suzuki’s Gaige Herrera was crowned the NHRA regular season champion in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class after winning his fifth event of the season at the Cornwell Tools U.S. Nationals, the biggest event in drag racing.
By Kevin McKenna
Herrera was clutch when it counted, using an incredible 0.003 reaction time in the final round to defeat Vance & Hines teammate Brayden Davis on a holeshot. Herrera’s 6.834 elapsed time held off the quicker 6.799 of Davis, who was appearing in his first final round in just his fourth start in the series.
The victory, the 26th of Herrera’s career, capped off another picture-perfect weekend for the back-to-back World Champion, who qualified number one and set the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park track E.T. record twice in qualifying. Earlier this summer, there were moments when Herrera may have seemed vulnerable, but he was able to regain his form at Indy, defeating Chris Bostick, Angie Smith and Matt Smith to reach the final round for the 30th time in 45 events, a pace no other NHRA pro can match.
“It’s very exciting, you know, especially to get a holeshot win like that,” Herrera said. “To get back-to-back wins here in the U.S. Nationals is very special to me, and it was crazy. I mean, I almost was in the sand [at the end of the track] because I was so excited and cheering that I didn’t get on the brakes enough.”
Herrera also spoke of the pressures of competing at Indy, which has been NHRA’s flagship event since 1961.
“I have a strong, level head on my shoulders, and I must thank my parents for that,” Herrera said. “It has not been easy. You know, it’s always nerve-wracking, especially when I know what kind of bikes are in the other lane, caliber-wise.”
Herrera also added another first in his spectacular run, winning the regular-season title and taking the points lead into the playoffs. He’ll open the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs in first place for the third straight year as he seeks a third consecutive World title.
Herrera’s massive points lead will all but evaporate as the points are reset prior to the next event in Reading, Pennsylvania.
“Winning Indy is big. It’s our biggest race, and it’s the one that everyone wants to win, but at the same time, we’re out here racing for the World Championship, and we’ve still got work to do. We’ve got six races left, and none of them are going to be easy. We’ve got to stay focused and just keep winning rounds.”
Davis, who went to the semifinals in back-to-back races earlier this season in Bristol and Richmond, returned for a third event aboard the Vance & Hines customer lease bike and nearly made history. Davis reached the final for the first time in his career after defeating Dystany Spurlock, Hector Arana Jr and Vance & Hines teammate Richard Gadson, who enters the Countdown to the Championship second in points.
Although he competed in just four events during the regular season, Davis managed to qualify for the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, although it’s unclear if he’ll race in the remaining events as he continues to look for funding to race a full season in 2026.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series opens the Countdown to the Championship playoffs with the 40th annual NHRA Reading Nationals, presented by Nitro Fish, on September 11-14 at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania.CN
2025 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 9 Results
FINAL
- Gaige Herrera
(0.003) 6.834-199.32 mph
- Brayden Davis
(0.043) 6.799-198.93 mph
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