By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
RevZilla-sponsored Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Gaige Herrera has claimed his second win of the season. He defeated Denso-sponsored PSM rider Matt Smith in the final round.
The Vance & Hines driver went 6.777 at 198.90 mph to claim the 25th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance on Sunday at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois. Smith went 6.805 at 199.02 mph.
“The final was fun. Matt whacked the throttle and then I whacked the throttle and we both played with the stage lights. He brings out the best in me but we’ve got a fast hot rod,” Herrera said. “I had a great reaction time and we came out on top and that’s our main goal. I expect games when I race Matt. I actually like it. It takes me back to my grudge-racing days when you’d race your friends and blow them kisses on the starting line. Matt and I haven’t got to that point yet.
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“It seems like none of this is real. It’s hard to keep track and hard to take it all in. I try to be a humble guy. I don’t want to come out and say it bluntly because I prefer to just show it on the race track.”
This final round was a matchup of the lone PSM winners of the season. Herrera won the season-opener at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals on March 9th at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida.
After several weeks off, Smith claimed the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway on April 27th in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Before this final round, Herrera held an 8-2 advantage over Smith in the previous events. Herrera was also 5-1 against Smith in the previous final rounds.
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Herrera had a massive advantage off the starting line with his 0.005 reaction time. Smith had a 0.024 reaction time.
After having a very good light, Herrera never trailed in the race to the finish line. This is his second Wally this season and his 23rd in his career.
Gaige Herrera for the WIN! @gerbercollision #Route66Nats Presented by @peakauto pic.twitter.com/RyVma97lkV
— NHRA (@NHRA) May 18, 2025
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