NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

It’s an entirely different situation for Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Gaige Herrera this year heading to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for this weekend’s 25th annual Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection.

The past two seasons, Herrera has shown up to Las Vegas looking to polish off a dominant championship season, winning the race in back-to-back years en route to the world title. This year, however, it’s a different sense of urgency as Herrera needs a big weekend to try and reel in Vance & Hines teammate Richard Gadson with only two races remaining in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Gadson has enjoyed a breakout season in his second year in the category, winning the most recent race in Dallas to take a 72-point lead over Herrera. That puts Gadson in the driver’s seat with two races remaining and it also means Herrera has work to do if he wants a third straight world title on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki.

Herrera has again been impressive this season, winning six races, but Gadson has come up big in the playoffs with two wins, pushing the reigning world champ into what may be a must-win situation this weekend in Las Vegas.

“I’m going into Las Vegas with a mindset to be as consistent and deadly on (the starting line) as I can be,” Herrera said. “There’s a lot of things that can happen. I have an awesome team, so I know I can rely on them and I just have to do my job. The red light (in the semifinals) in Dallas hurt me, so I have to go into Las Vegas with a solid mindset.

“I’m counting every little point I can get. Hopefully I can get some bonus points. I know it’s going to be a fight to the end, but I love racing in Vegas. It’s an awesome facility, a beautiful place and I always look forward to going there.”

Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won the fall race in Las Vegas last year. The race will be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, and is the 19th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Despite his continued success this season, Herrera has just one win in the playoffs through four races, a far cry from the nine he won over 12 playoff races the past two years. There’s still time to rebound and make things tight with Gadson, but it’s certainly a different dynamic for Herrera this year.

Matt Smith was his chief competition the past two seasons and he remains in contention as well, trailing Gadson by 105 points, but now Herrera is trying to track down his teammate. It definitely adds a thrilling layer to the weekend, as it seems to bring out the best in both Gadson and Herrera.

“I’m definitely glad it’s first and second for Vance & Hines, but I feel like it’s almost harder and there’s more pressure,” Herrera said. “He knows the machine I’ve got and I know what he’s got, so I feel like that puts a little more pressure on us as riders. Even as teammates, we’re both very competitive and we want to beat each other.

“That puts pressure on both of us, but with us being teammates, it drives and pushes us against each other, too. You add in (rookie) Brayden Davis (who is fourth in points riding a Vance & Hines rental bike) and he’s killer, too. I feel like the toughest competition is under our own tent, but that makes it fun at the same time.”

NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:30 and 3 p.m. PT on Friday, Oct. 31, and the final two rounds on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 2. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday and then eliminations coverage starting at 5 p.m. ET.

To purchase tickets to the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, please call 800-644-4444 or visit www.lvms.com. For more information on the Dodge brand, visit Dodge.com.