It was a foolproof plan when Vance & Hines announced their intentions for 2023. Pair a rider extremely proficient at racing boosted motorcycles without a wheelie bar and a team steeped in championship heritage.

The result is a series championship, an unblemished record in 2024, and an unprecedented 44-round winning streak. It’s Gaige Herrera’s world, and the rest of the Pro Stock Motorcycle division is just living in it. 

“I wouldn’t call myself [a phenomenon]. I would call myself lucky,” Herrera said after beating Matt Smith in the final round of the Summit Racing Equipment Norwalk Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. “I got an awesome team behind me and they deserve more of the credit than I do. I get the spotlight in it, but all in all, it’s all them. It’s showing the hard work, Andrew’s [Hines] hard work. But, I mean, it’s been incredible this whole ride, eleven straight wins. There’s been a lot accomplished in a short time. It’s really hard to take it all in, but I’m enjoying it.”

If stats are really the benchmark of a career, in less than two seasons, Herrera is on his way to charting territory once reserved for only John Force and Don Garlits. Herrera finds himself soaking in the moment. 

“It’s unbelievable, but it makes me feel like all my hard work has been paying off,” Herrera continued. “I’ve always wanted to be here since a little kid. I actually grew up one city over from John. And my dad actually worked with a good friend of his, with John. So I grew up watching John, hearing about John, all his crazy stories and all that.

“And to have my name compared with him or in that same area, it’s just ... I mean, it’s still John Force. You can never compare yourself to anyone like that, but just to have my name mentioned and in the history books like that, it’s just incredible. I never would’ve dreamed anything of it as a kid, and I still don’t believe it.”

Herrera is not waiting around for the other shoe to drop, and Smith has been knocking on the door for the last few races. The two have shown respect all the while cultivating a good-natured rivalry. 

“I feel like it’s a good rivalry for the class, but everyone’s hashing out a little bit. I mean, on the starting line was a lot of fun,” Herrera explained. “He flickered his pre-stage [bulb], I flickered mine. We’re just going back and forth because we got to have fun with it, and we’re trying to mess each other up. Because he’s got a fast motorcycle. I got a fast motorcycle. Mine seemed to be better on Sundays. This weekend, I really got to thank Mother Nature for blowing in and changing the weather 180 degrees for us, and it’s paid off.

“It’s making a lot of fun between us. And not only that, I mean, I think the top six, seven bikes were very tight this weekend, which makes it even more exciting. You know Chase Van Sant, Richard [Gadson], all of them. And as the season keeps progressing, I think we’re exactly halfway through. It’s going to get tough and get challenging, and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Herrera’s road to the final round included wins over Ron Tornow, Chase Van Sant, and John Hall. 

Smith earned his second trip to the finals this year and the 77th in his career, thanks to round wins against Wesley Wells and Richard Gadson.

Herrera admits he’s not into charting the records and counting points, choosing instead to heed his grandfather’s advice for the long term.

“My grandfather helps me more with that than anything because he always says, ‘Once you’re at the top, there’s only one way to go, so you better be looking at that time because it’s coming.” 

“I hope it never comes, but it’s just one of those things you have to go back to reality, and basically, it could end at any moment. So I’m just having fun with it and enjoying it while I can.”