Gaige Herrera 2024 NHRA Champion

In only his second full season, Gaige Herrera’s status has been confirmed once more. Herrera rode his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa to a back-to-back Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship win at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona, CA. Despite shortened qualifying sessions and pressure from the rest of the field, Herrera secured his title by clinching the championship in round one.

For Herrera, the first round was his biggest hurdle. With a comfortable yet not insurmountable points lead, all he needed to do was turn on one win light to render any competitor’s challenge irrelevant. He did that with a 6.779-second run at 200 mph over Clayton Howey—a pass that sealed his second consecutive title. Although Herrera later lost in the final to Matt Smith, his record-setting season stands tall: 10 wins in 12 final-round appearances, a 50-5 round-win record, and 100 career round wins.
Herrera also notched a string of historic achievements, including a run of 11 consecutive event wins that spanned two seasons, as well as a staggering 46 straight round wins—establishing records rarely seen in professional drag racing. He credits his ability to remain focused and relaxed for his success, along with the camaraderie he shares with crew chief Andrew Hines and the entire Vance & Hines team.

Meanwhile, rookie Richard Gadson kept the Pro Stock Motorcycle competition lively. Qualifying fourth and ending the season third in points, Gadson showcased serious potential with three runner-up finishes. He now hopes to snag the NHRA Rookie of the Year award—an honor determined by on-track performance, fan engagement, and a display of promise.

As the season wrapped, Hines reflected on the challenges they faced, including rule changes and missed qualifying opportunities. Despite the hurdles, Gaige Herrera and Gadson finished first and third, respectively, in the standings. Their team returns to action on March 6-9, 2025, at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, FL, ready to defend Herrera’s status as the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle World Champion.

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