INTERVIEW I 2023 NHRA PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE CHAMPION GAIGE HERRERA
P104
be gunning for him, including his
own teammate, Krawiec.
"I know it's all hearsay, but I
heard that the entire MSR [Matt
Smith Racing] team will be on
Buell's, so that will be good,"
Herrera said. "Matt has domi
-
nated using that platform be-
fore. I know he's coming for me.
I've heard some people
say that
I'm killing the class by winning
so many races, but I think I'm
actually helping it grow. I also
think we'll see some new riders
who haven't tried Pro Stock Mo
-
torcycle before. They've seen
a guy like me, who
had next to
no experience [on an NHRA Pro
Stock bike], come out and do
well, and they know they have
the talent to do it. I'm already
excited for next year, but it will
be a tough season."
As for Herrera, he remains
as humble and unassuming as
the day he started this journey
nearly a year ago. He still works
a nine-to-five job at his home in
Indiana and races primarily on
weekends. He also ultimately got
over his fear of public speaking
and delivered a thoughtful and
sincere victory speech at the
NHRA awards ceremony. As for
the spotlight, he'll just have to get
used to it shining in his direction.
"My boss came to Pomona for
the last race and told me I had
better be at work on Tuesday,"
Herrera said. "I also still have a
wide variety of bikes I ride on
weekends when I can. I'm going
to a big grudge race this winter
to run for $90,000, so I haven't
had time to sit down and think
about everything we've accom
-
plished this season.
"The
first time I showed up
and saw my name on the [Vance
& Hines] hauler, I realized this
was a big deal," Herrera said.
"Just to ride for this team is an
honor. I'm still in shock at all
we managed to do together this
season. It hasn't set in yet. I did
not expect it to go this way, but
I'm glad it did."
CN
Herrera has quickly earned the respect of
drag racing fans across the country.
