Denso Buell’s Matt Smith dominated from start to finish at NHRA’s newest Pro Stock Motorcycle event, the Southern Nationals, held at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Georgia, May 1-3.
Story by Kevin McKenna
The six-time World Champion capped off a picture-perfect weekend with his first win of the 2026 season, defeating RevZilla/Vance & Hines Suzuki’s Richard Gadson in the final round with a run of 6.724 at 202.06 mph. The win marked Smith’s 43rd in 87 career final rounds.
In the final round, Gadson left first, but Smith, who was named to NHRA’s Top 75 Driver list before the season, tracked him down, demonstrating a motorcycle that has been a step ahead of everyone else.
“This is not only rewarding for me, but it’s rewarding for our team, because we worked so hard this winter to find a little bit of power,” Smith said. “We found some power, and we’re showing it. We’ve been the number-one qualifier for three races in a row now. We just hadn’t shown up on Sunday, and I’m glad we showed up today. We needed this win. It was important not to let those other [Vance & Hines] guys get too far out in front of us. We’ve got momentum now.”
As Smith noted, he’d been the number-one qualifier at each of the first two races this season. He did so again this weekend with a 6.699-second run, setting the track elapsed-time record. Smith also made several runs over 203 mph.
In eliminations, Smith was untouchable, including a 6.685-second run in his win over Trick Tools Suzuki’s Chase Van Sant. Smith also got past his wife, Angie, a round later to set up the matchup with Gadson, the reigning World Champion.
“Today was a little hotter, but the air was better, so we had better conditions, which means making more power. I just don’t think a lot of other guys took that into account, and they were probably just overkilling the track. We put our bike in a spot where it would go down the track every time, and it worked.”
As dominant as he was, Smith also admitted he caught a lucky break in round one. Awarded a bye run because of the short 15-bike field, Smith averted disaster when his bike stalled just off the starting line.
“We got our lucky break in the first round,” Smith said. “I had a bye, and as soon as I brought the engine up, the toggle switch on the fuel pump went out. We didn’t get down the track, and we lost lane choice. If there had been someone in the other lane, it would have been all over.”
“As soon as I saw this [special edition 75th-anniversary NHRA Wally trophy], I knew I wanted one. I’m glad we didn’t have to wait long to get it. Now I want to get a couple more for the other riders on our team, and, of course, I want that seventh championship. There are three of us with six titles: me, Andrew Hines and Dave Schultz. To separate myself from those guys, as great as they were, would be an awesome thing to do. That’s my goal this year. It’s been my goal ever since we won the sixth.”
Gadson, who remained in the points lead, advanced to his second final round of the season by defeating Geno Scali, Clayton Howey and two-time World Champion Gaige Herrera.
After a one-week break, the Pro Stock Motorcycle class will return to Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois, May 15-17.CN
2026 Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 3 Results
FINAL
- Matt Smith (Bue) 6.724-202.06
- Richard Gadson (Suz) 6.834-193.24
