Gaige Herrera again raised his performance on Sunday in Pro Stock Motorcycle, extending his NHRA record with an 11th straight win, defeating Matt Smith in the final round on his RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki with an impressive run of 6.704 at 200.77. The dominant points leader and defending world champion remained undefeated since last September and for all of 2024, winning his sixth straight race this year and first at Summit Motorsports Park.
Herrera qualified third heading into eliminations, but was incredible on Sunday, going a track-record 6.698 at 200.95 to open the day. He added round wins against Chase Van Sant and John Hall to reach the final round before the marquee matchup with Smith. But Herrera left the starting line first and rolled to the victory.
“I have an awesome team behind me, and they deserve more of the credit than I do. I get the spotlight but all in all, it’s them. It shows their hard work. It’s just been a lot accomplished in a short time and it’s really hard to take it all in, but I’m enjoying it. It’s unbelievable but it makes me feel like all my hard work is paying off. I’ve always wanted to be here since I was a little kid.
“I actually grew up one city over from John Force. You grow up watching John, hearing about him, to have my name in that same area – it’s still John Force, you can never compare yourself to anyone like that, but to have my name mentioned in the history books like that, it’s incredible. I never would have dreamed anything of it as a kid and I still don’t believe it.”
Smith earned his second trip to the finals this year and the 77th in his career thanks to round wins against Wesley Wells and Richard Gadson.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action July 19-21 with the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Seattle.
ROUND ONE — John Hall, 6.829, 197.77 def. Hector Arana Jr, 7.332, 192.25; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.786, 196.50 def. Eiji Kawakami, Suzuki, 7.565, 151.85; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.814, 196.79 def. Marc Ingwersen, 6.901, 194.13; Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.754, 200.53 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 14.183, 38.77; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 7.029, 161.59 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 10.048, 81.26; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.698, 200.95 def. Ron Tornow, Foul – Red Light; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.779, 200.00 def. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.435, 179.97;
QUARTERFINALS — Hall, 6.798, 198.99 def. A. Smith, 6.872, 198.90; Gadson, 6.862, 198.20 def. Evaristo, 6.871, 200.26; M. Smith, 6.817, 199.32 was unopposed; Herrera, 6.760, 199.64 def. Van Sant, 6.812, 197.68;
SEMIFINALS — M. Smith, 6.798, 198.82 def. Gadson, 7.608, 124.27; Herrera, 6.720, 200.80 def. Hall, Foul – Red Light;
FINAL — Herrera, 6.704, 200.77 def. M. Smith, Foul – Centerline.
Pro Stock Motorcycle Points
1. Gaige Herrera, 738; 2. Matt Smith, 467; 3. Richard Gadson, 442; 4. John Hall, 406; 5. Angie Smith, 350; 6. Chase Van Sant, 348; 7. Hector Arana Jr, 301; 8. Jianna Evaristo, 299; 9. LE Tonglet, 233; 10. Steve Johnson, 218.
