Herrera Riding Towards NHRA History

It’s easy to bash Gaige Herrera and the Vance and Hines Motorsports’ RevZilla team. Since coming to the NHRA’s Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Motorcycle class late in the 2022 campaign with little fanfare and no speakable results, Andrew Hines’ decision to hire the (now) 30-year old from La Mirada, California seemed puzzling.

After all, Herrera made his debut at the 2022 U.S. Nationals on a Gary Stoffer/Underdahl team Suzuki but didn’t qualify. Hines, who had decided to retire at the close of that season, saw poise and capabilities from this rider, who had been racing a no-bar bike prior to getting his initial opportunity to race in NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class. A third-generation racer, Herrera didn’t look like the stat killer he’s become. He fooled a lot of people – starting at the 2023 season opener in Gainesville, Fla.

During the PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park (VMP), Gaige Herrera could be capable of setting new all-time records.; not just in his class, but throughout the scope of NHRA drag racing. He’s currently tied with Bob Glidden, the legendary Pro Stock driver for the most consecutive wins and round wins in NHRA’s history. At Bristol’s Thunder Valley Nationals two weeks ago, Herrera earned his ninth consecutive Wally winner’s trophy – and his 35th straight round win.

In a sport that’s nearly three quarters of a century old, Gaige Herrera has already broken Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Dave Schultz’ record of eight consecutive wins, which beats seven-time Top Fuel champ Tony Schumacher’s seven straight wins and the equal number of victories for another legend, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, who scored seven straight in his Funny Car career. To give this some perspective, Dave Schultz has 34 straight round wins, Tony Schumacher has 31 and Don Prudhomme claimed 30 straight during his time in a Funny Car.

A win this weekend gives Herrera 10 consecutive victories – an achievement no one has been able to claim in the sport’s 73 years. On his V&H RevZilla Suzuki Hayabusa3, Herrera has not lost a single run down the quarter mile this year. There have been four races in his class thus far in 2024; he’s won them all and, in fact, hasn’t been defeated since last September, winning the final five races in NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship as he raced to his first title.

Lining up against the best of the best in NHRA’s two-wheeled professional category, Gaige Herrera is staring down six-time champ Matt Smith and a host of riders who could have challenged the North Carolina over-achiever, but weren’t able to do that with Herrera in this class. The balance of the field is challenged to challenge Herrera. It’s no easy task.

This is Gaige Herrera’s first time on the Virginia Motorsports Park drag strip in NHRA competition. He wasn’t on the tour when it came here in 2022. Matt Smith won this race that year as he barreled towards his sixth title; Smith was the No. 1 qualifier in Bristol two weeks ago but lost to Herrera in the semifinal round of that contest. The duo will have their re-match on Saturday during Mission’s #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on the hot drag strip. Jianna Evaristo and Herrera’s new teammate, Richard Gadson are the other two competitors for this race within-a-race for bonus points and, of course, money.

Making solid runs is what Herrera is doing every time he comes to the starting line. “That’s the approach I have to go with,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen and it’s hard to say you’re just going to go out and break the record. There’s so many different aspects that play into it as far as the bike, myself and all the other competitors. But,” Herrera continued, “leaving Bristol, I feel like I conquered something. Last year, it beat me in the ground a little,” when he lost to Steve Johnson on a red-light foul. “To get the win there, I was ecstatic. It almost felt like I won the championship all over again!”

Dating back to the start of the 2023 season when he made his first runs on the Vance and Hines Motorsports Suzuki Hayabusa3, Herrera now has 15 victories in class. While he’s raced at VMP in other series, this is his first time here and the format is so different it could upset anyone’s rhythm.

There are three qualifying sessions on a single Saturday, that also includes the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Herrera thinks the single day of qualifying, “brings a lot more excitement for the riders and the fans. I like it a lot. As a competitive person, it keeps you in the groove and keeps you ready. I’m really looking forward to it. I think it will be great.

“Richmond has a nice, smooth surface and it’s fast,” he reminded. “Even with the heat, it’s going to be a nice surface and it should be really good. It’s a great facility and I’m glad the NHRA is going back there.”