said. "It has not been easy. You
know, it's always nerve-wracking,
especially when I know what
kind of bikes are in the other
lane, caliber-wise."
Herrera also added another
first in his spectacular run, win
-
ning the regular-season title and
taking the points lead into the
playoffs. He'll open the six-race
Countdown to the Champion-
ship playoffs in first place for the
third straight year as he seeks a
third consecutive World title.
Herrera's massive points lead
will all but evaporate as the
points are reset prior to the next
event in Reading, Pennsylvania.
"Winning Indy is big. It's our
biggest race, and it's the one
that everyone wants to win, but
at the same time, we're out here
racing for the World Champion
-
ship, and we've still got work to
do. We've got six races left, and
none of them are going to be
easy. We've got to stay focused
and just keep winning rounds."
Davis, who went to the semi
-
finals in back-to-back races
earlier this season in Bristol
and Richmond, returned for a
third event aboard the Vance
& Hines customer lease bike
and nearly made history. Davis
reached the final for the first
time in his career after defeating
Dystany Spurlock, Hector Arana
Jr and Vance & Hines teammate
Richard Gadson, who enters the
Countdown to the Championship
second in points.
Although he competed in
just four events during the
regular season, Davis managed
to qualify for the Countdown
to the Championship playoffs,
although it's unclear if he'll race
in the remaining events as he
continues to look for funding to
race a full season in 2026.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag
Racing Series opens the Count
-
down to the Championship play-
offs with the 40th annual NHRA
Reading Nationals, presented by
Nitro Fish, on September 11-14 at
Maple Grove Raceway in Read-
ing, Pennsylvania.
Kevin McKenna
FINAL
1. Gaige Herrera
(0.003) 6.834-199.32 mph
2. Brayden Davis
(0.043) 6.799-198.93 mph
WIND
IN THE
P64
With the win,
Herrera was
crowned the NHRA
regular season
class champion.
Now it's playoff
time.
