The face of Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series’ Pro Stock Motorcycle class is definitely evolving. At nowhere more than at Vance & Hines Motorsports. Last year we saw Andrew Hines, the six-time titleholder step away from his Suzuki Hayabusa3 motorcycle and allow Gaige Herrera to take the handlebars.
That decision led to a triumphant season for the team, which resulted in Herrera’s 11 victories in 12 final rounds, a career best 6.627 run down the quarter-mile and a career best speed of 204.16 mph. Herrera had the championship sewn up before the first round of competition in the season finale at in-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip last November.
At that final race of the season, he beat teammate Eddie Krawiec, a four-time champion who was hoping to earn an elusive 50th race win in the class. It wasn’t meant to be, and now Krawiec, too, is hanging up his helmet in order to bring another new star rider to this stellar team. While Krawiec has stated he’s not completely finished with riding, he is following Hines into crew chief duties, as Richard Gadson joins the team on a second Suzuki Hayabusa3 for the 2024 campaign.
In making this announcement, Vance & Hines Motorsports stated that Herrera will return and be joined by Gadson, who will be a rookie in NHRA racing. Originally from Philadelphia, Gadson has earned championship titles in XDA, NHDRO, SEMDRA and ManCup competition.
The 37-year-old stated he is “honored to join Vance & Hines, a team with a winning history and a commitment to pushing the limits,” Gadson said. “I believe that together we can be successful, and I am excited to contribute my skills and experience to the team. There were moments when reaching my goal of racing an NHRA Pro Stock motorcycle seemed impossible. My road was filled with twists, turns and doubts, but knowing Eddie [Krawiec] for many years, and also finding ways to stay involved with the class made it possible,” Gadson said.
Vance & Hines Motorsports owner Terry Vance weighed in on the changes to his championship squad. “We are thrilled about the next chapter for our NHRA ring program,” Vance said. “With Andrew [Hines] and Eddie’s [Krawiec] expertise, Gaige’s recent dominance and Richard’s move to Pro Stock, we have strengthened our position in the competitive world of NHRA Pro Stock motorcycle racing. We also have a new title sponsor in RevZilla and continued support from Mission and Suzuki for 2024. I can’t wait to see what Gaige and Richard can do on our RevZilla/Mission/Suzuki Hayabusas.”
Krawiec’s final full-time season had to be tough for this very successful rider, whose career has spanned 270 events. Those 49 wins in 96 finals is second only to teammate Andrew Hines’ 56 victories in class. During the 2023 season, Krawiec went to five final rounds and lost all of them to Herrera, including the final four Countdown to the Championship contests; he finished the year with a 29-15 record.
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