Herrera Makes It Two-For-Two
J
ust in case anyone missed
Gaige Herrera's smashing
debut with the Vance & Hines Su-
zuki Pro Stock Motorcycle team
at the season-opening NHRA
Gatornationals in Gainesville,
Florida, last month, there was an
encore performance during the
Circle K Four Wide Nationals in
Charlotte, April 28-30.
The unique nature of the
four-wide event, which features
four lanes of competition with
the top two finishers from each
round advancing, wasn't enough
to stop Herrera, who once again
dominated the field with a string
of quick runs on his Mission
Foods Hayabusa.
In the final quad, Herrera made
the quickest run of the weekend
with a 6.710 at over 202 mph to
defeat a trio of riders who have
combined for 96 career NHRA
wins; five-time and reigning
world champion Matt Smith, as
well as Vance & Hines team
-
mate, Eddie Krawiec, and class
veteran Steve Johnson. Herrera
is now a perfect 7-0 in round
wins to start the season and has
a solid lead in the standings. He
also shows no signs of slowing
down anytime soon.
"This is an unbelievable start
to the season going back-to-
back in Gainesville and here in
Charlotte," said Herrera. "This is
special, especially since I have
my grandparents and my dad
here. The whole Mission Foods
Vance & Hines team is working
their butts off and it shows. I'm
just the lucky guy who gets to
ride this motorcycle; it's like a
dream-come-true for me."
Herrera qualified in the
number-one spot for the second
straight event and easily won the
first quad. His only hiccup came
in the semifinal round when the
kill switch in his Suzuki Haya
-
busa malfunctioned. Herrera
slowed from his earlier pace to
WIND
IN THE
P50
Gaige Herrera made it two wins in
a row on the Vance & Hines Suzuki
after topping the Circle K Four Wide
Nationals.
PHOTOS: MATT POLITO
