Herrera Re-Takes Lead in NHRA
Pro Stock Motorcycle
R
evZilla/Vance & Hines Su-
zuki's Gaige Herrera hasn't
lost many races this season,
but after going winless in the
last two NHRA Pro Stock Motor
-
cycle races, the defending World
Champion found himself in an
unfamiliar spot, in second place
in the championship standings.
Herrera, who set a record
earlier this season with 11 con
-
secutive victories, quickly righted
the ship at the NHRA Midwest
Nationals at World Wide Tech
-
nology Raceway in Madison, just
east of St. Louis, Illinois, on Sep-
tember 27-29, returning to the
winning groove with his eighth
victory of the season. Herrera is
back in the lead after riding to
a 6.805 elapsed time at 198.12
mph to defeat the 6.868 of Trick
Tools Suzuki's Chase Van Sant.
Herrera also qualified number
one and made four consistent
runs during final eliminations to
earn the 19th win of his career
and his second straight win in
the St. Louis round.
"This means a lot," he said.
"St. Louis is the halfway point
in the Countdown, and to leave
here with the points lead and get
the win just gives me and the
whole team a big boost going
into Dallas and the rest of the
races. If you don't do well here, it
sets you back and puts you in a
different mindset."
On his way to the victory,
Herrera topped John Hall and
Reading-round winner Hector
Arana Jr., setting up a rematch
of the Seattle final round against
Van Sant. More importantly for
Herrera, he's back on top of the
points standings, with a 34-point
lead over six-time champ Matt
Smith, who lost in the second
round.
"We're leaving here with a lot
of confidence. I'm glad to say
my bike's back, especially after
struggling the last couple of
races," Herrera said.
Denso Buell's Matt Smith has
been able to keep pace with
Herrera lately, and at times he's
had the quicker bike, but Smith
slowed in his quarter-final race
against Geno Scali, a loss that
could potentially cripple his
chances to win a record seventh
title this season.
Van Sant, the reigning NHRA
rookie of the year who won his
first race earlier this season in
Seattle, made it to the final round
with wins against Chris Bostick,
Vance & Hines rider Richard
Gadson and 2003 world champ
Geno Scali to advance to the
finals for the third time in 2024.
Van Sant has enjoyed a
solid sophomore season, with
a record of 18-11 in elimination
rounds. He's currently ranked
fifth in the standings, 156 points
behind Herrera.
Kevin McKenna
FINAL
1. Gaige Herrera (Suz)
2. Chase Van Sant (Suz)
WIND
IN THE
P34
Gaige Herrera is back at the top of
the Championship leaderboard after
the NHRA Midwest Nationals.
PHOTO: MATT POLITO
