Richard Gadson Wins at Thunder Valley

Richard Gadson’s Maiden NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Victory

Richard Gadson wins—four words that finally became a reality in Bristol, Tennessee, as the RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines rider powered his Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa to his first NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle victory. After years of near-misses and heartbreak, Gadson stood tall at the Thunder Valley Nationals, where perseverance, precision, and pure reaction time converged into an unforgettable triumph over teammate and reigning champion Gaige Herrera.

Gadson’s .014-second reaction time on the line proved decisive, edging out Herrera’s quicker 6.882-second run with a 6.884-second pass that delivered the win by a mere two thousandths of a second. Richard Gadson wins not just the race, but also the respect of fans and competitors alike, marking a pivotal milestone in his Pro Stock Motorcycle career.

Qualifying second with a 6.859-second run at 197.62 mph—tying his best starting position of the season—this victory didn’t happen by luck. In the opening round, he dispatched Charles Poskey with a commanding 6.869-second run. A solo bye in round two was followed by a semi-final win over Chase Van Sant, advancing Gadson to his fifth career final round.

Gadson had faced Herrera in a final before and come up short. This time, he attacked the tree with intent. “I knew I couldn’t outrun Gaige. I had to take it from him,” Gadson said. “Being aggressive on the tree was the only way.” That calculated aggression paid off, as Richard Gadson wins the race on a hole shot, finally breaking the barrier that had eluded him.

Richard Gadson Wins, Herrera Reflects, and Suzuki Dominates

Even in defeat, Gaige Herrera was gracious, acknowledging the gravity of Gadson’s win. “I looked over at the 1,000-foot mark, and he had a wheel on me. I thought, ‘he got me on the light,’” Herrera admitted. “He deserves it. He’s been working his butt off.” The camaraderie between the two teammates reflects the class within the RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines camp, which saw all three of its Suzukis in the semi-finals—including rookie Brayden Davis, who qualified number one in just his second NHRA start.

Crew chief Andrew Hines credited the team’s performance despite Thunder Valley’s notoriously tough tuning conditions. “Richard was on point all weekend, shifting and riding great. It all finally aligned,” Hines said. “This win is a huge confidence booster for him.” With Herrera’s consistency and Gadson’s upward momentum, the team has shown that the Hayabusa fleet is a serious threat in every lane.

Richard Gadson Wins, Shakes Up Championship Standings

After four rounds, he sits third in the championship standings with 346 points, while Herrera remains at the top with 430. Gadson’s breakthrough reshapes the narrative heading into the Virginia Nationals later this month, where all eyes will be on whether this long-overdue victory was the beginning of a new chapter.

This victory at Bristol wasn’t just about clocking the quickest time—it was about outsmarting one of the best on the line, executing perfectly under pressure, and silencing the doubts that linger after near misses. Richard Gadson wins, and the sport is better for it.

---

About The Author