As the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season comes to a close at the 59th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at legendary In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Gaige Herrera is on the brink of another crowning moment, as the young rider will attempt to claim his second consecutive world championship.
Herrera, rider of the RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki, has dominated the field for the past two seasons, winning 11 races a year ago en route to his first world title. With 10 event wins to his credit in 2024, he heads into the final race of the season with another commanding points lead, leading former champion Matt Smith by 123 points.
If Herrera keeps the margin above 120 points by the end of qualifying, he will clinch a championship on Saturday, much like he did a year ago. As sweet as that first title was, a second championship would be just as special for Herrera.
“If I’m able to win the second championship, I think this one will mean a lot more,” Herrera said. “I had to earn it a lot more this season. Last season, I kind of ran away with it and came out of nowhere with Andrew [Hines, tuner]. We just gelled so quick, and we were dominating right away. This year was definitely a lot tighter racing. There wasn’t much room for error. It’s going to mean a lot more for me, showing that last year wasn’t a fluke or just a one-time thing. It’s pretty amazing, honestly.”
The 2023 In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals had Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Chad Green (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock), and Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) take home event wins, while Kalitta (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock), and Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won world titles. The year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1 to close the season in style, including eliminations at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 17.
It is the last of six races in the Countdown to the Championship, and after a slow start in the playoffs, Herrera has come on strong, winning the past three events.
Herrera is one of only four riders to have collected wins this season: 2023 NHRA Rookie of the Year Chase Van Sant, who won in his first career event in Seattle, Reading winner Hector Arana Jr., and six-time champion Smith, who claimed victories in Sonoma and at the fall race in Charlotte.
Smith grabbed the points lead after the Charlotte playoffs win, but Herrera, who boasts an incredible 47-4 round-win record this season, bounced back with wins in St. Louis, Dallas, and Las Vegas. He has now won 21 races over the past two seasons with one race remaining, recording an other-worldly 97-8 record during that time. Now, Herrera hopes to finish off this run with another title in Pomona.
“It means a lot to have done what we have,” Herrera said. “We’ve won a lot of races in back-to-back years. I go home, and I see all the Wally trophies, and I remember just dreaming to be able to hold one, and now I’ve got 21 of them. It’s insane, and for us to do the same in back-to-back seasons, and to have 10 wins this year, it’s incredible, and it just showcases [tuners, past champions] Andrew and Eddie Krawiec and all the guys back at the Vance & Hines shop. None of this is possible without them. I feel like these are more their wins than mine, and I’m very thankful to be a part of it.”
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will feature two qualifying rounds at 1 and 3:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 15, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 17. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday and then live eliminations on FS1 at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday.
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