Herrera Sweeping Through Seattle
F
ew things in NHRA drag rac-
ing are as coveted as a sweep
of the annual Western Swing,
and second-year sensation
Gaige Herrera is now two-thirds
of the way there following his
most recent win at the NHRA
Northwest Nationals at Pacific
Raceways in Kent, Washington.
The Western Swing is NHRA's
grueling three-races-in-three-
weeks marathon with stops in
Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, and
Herrera is now just one win away
from a sweep. For the record,
this is the first time the Pro
Stock Motorcycle class has been
included in all three events.
Herrera raced his Vance &
Hines/Mission Food Suzuki
teammate Eddie Krawiec in the
final round and scored his fifth
win in seven races, running a
6.80 to hold off Krawiec's com
-
petitive 6.84. Herrera also be-
came the first racer in any class
to clinch a spot in the Count-
down to the Championship.
"That was probably one of my
toughest finals," said Herrera. "
You know, I've raced Ed in the
semis, but when it's a final, it's
totally different. Having to race
the boss and one of the guys has
helped me so much this season
to be as good as I am, it's really
overwhelming. I know he's shoot
-
ing for his 50th [NHRA victory]
and I held him back from that."
Herrera was the top qualifier
for the sixth time in seven races
this season and then kicked off
the weekend by winning Sat
-
urday's Mission #2Fast2Tasty
Challenge, and he then went into
Sunday's final eliminations with
wins against Lance Bonham and
GETTRX Buell's Hector Arana Jr.
WIND
IN THE
P44
Gaige Herrera won
again in Seattle and has
already clinched a spot
in the play-offs.
