RevZilla/Vance & Hines’ Gaige Herrera didn’t win the 2025 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship, nor did he win the first race of the 2026 season in Gainesville. For a guy who has won almost everything over the past three years, that was unacceptable.
Story by Kevin McKenna
Thankfully for Herrera, it didn’t take long to right the ship, as he won the annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway in Charlotte. Racing in a unique once-a-season format that features four bikes racing at once with the top two advancing, Herrera came out on top in a final quad that included his Vance & Hines teammate, Richard Gadson, as well as Trick Tools Suzuki’s Chase Van Sant and Clayton Howey.
Herrera capped off the win with a competitive 6.758-second run at 199.88 mph. Both Gadson and Howey left before Herrera, but he quickly tracked them down, rolling to his third NHRA Four-Wide Nationals victory.
“I knew we all were going to push the [Christmas Tree] in the final, and I think that’s the tightest I’ve seen a four-wide final in the bike category,” Herrera said. “It’s pretty cool to have all Suzukis in the final, too. I had a bracket bike all day long, same with Richard and Clayton, and it’s awesome to get the four-wide win here at zMax and to get my first diamond in Wally. It’s pretty cool to win in NHRA’s 75th anniversary.”
Herrera’s career numbers continue to set new standards, even among traditional four-wheel NHRA drag racers. He’s now got 29 wins in his career, including just four years of NHRA competition and just 52 starts. Herrera also admitted that a rare early loss in the season opener last month provided all the motivation he’d need heading into Charlotte.
“Losing the second round in Gainesville lit a fire under me, and I didn’t want that to happen to me again this weekend,” Herrera said. “I knew I had to be better as a rider at everything and feel like this weekend I proved it to myself.”
The Vance & Hines bikes finished first and second at the event, but in qualifying, it was Denso Buell’s Matt Smith that set the pace with a quick 6.739-second run that set the pace for the weekend. Smith also clocked a booming 203.09-mph speed, the fastest run so far this year. Smith’s shot at victory ended in round one when he left early, drawing a rare red-light start.
Gadson, who won the season-opening Gatornationals, managed to hold on to the championship lead thanks to his runner-up finish. Gadson had the quickest reaction time in the final quad, but his 6.809-second run was not fast enough to hold off Herrera.
The event was also significant for Howey, who made the jump from the Sportsman Motorcycle class to Pro Stock Motorcycle last season. Howey, riding a Vance & Hines-powered Suzuki for owners Chris and Kelly Clontz, reached the semifinal round in each of the first two events of the season. Howey also posted a competitive reaction time in the final quad but was third quickest with a 6.854.
The final semifinal finisher was Van Sant, a former Rookie of the Year, who entered the event ranked number eight in the championship standings. After a solid qualifying effort, Van Sant reached the final round, where a red-light start ended his hopes for a second career victory.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and the Pro Stock Motorcycle class return to action May 1-3 for the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Georgia, a new event for the series. CN
2026 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 2 Results
ROUND ONE — Jianna Evaristo, Buell 1190RX, 6.788, 199.37 and Angie Smith, 1190RX, 6.909, 197.68 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki Hayabusa, 6.979, 192.58 and Brayden Davis, 7.717, 127.29; Gaige Herrera, Hayabusa, 6.775, 198.17 and John Hall, Beull 1190RX, 6.833, 197.80 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki TL1000, 6.967, 193.93 and Marc Ingwersen, broke; Ryan Oehler, 6.802, 197.86 and Richard Gadson, Hayabusa, 6.858, 197.88 def. Kelly Clontz, TL, 6.850, 197.57 and Wesley Wells, Suzuki GSXR, broke; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki TL 1000, 6.810, 197.59 and Clayton Howey, Hayabusa, 6.828, 197.28 def. Matt Smith, 1190RX, 6.773, 200.53 and Michael Ray, broke;
SEMIFINALS — Howey, 6.815, 198.47 and Van Sant, 6.824, 197.88 def. Evaristo, 6.825, 196.13 and A. Smith, 6.906, 194.66; Herrera, 6.756, 200.08 and Gadson, 6.785, 199.55 def. Hall, 6.821, 200.47 and Oehler, 7.575, 132.99;
FINAL — Herrera, 6.758, 199.88 def. Gadson, 6.809, 198.17, Howey, 6.854, 196.87 and Van Sant, foul.
