Gaige Herrera strolled to the press conference podium, walking with a swagger that hadn’t been as defined as the 19 other times he conducted a winner’s interview. It was as if Herrera had something to say but wouldn’t until a media member asked. 

Herrera responded to the initial cookie-cutter question about his day, which included the quickest run of every round and low elapsed time of race day in beating Angie Smith, wife of his arch-rival Matt Smith. It was barely a contest as Herrera thundered through the lights to a 6.763, 198.70 to 6.829, 197.19.

But that wasn’t what piqued the interest of the reporter, who was well-versed in the Vance & Hines versus Matt Smith Racing rivalry. The fact that Herrera laid down the run after nailing his opponent to the tree with a .000 reaction time inspired the next question. 

“When you have a bike that is already fast, throwing out a trip-zip reaction appears to be sending a message that this is personal,” he asked. 

The usually reserved Herrera didn’t hold back, almost relieved someone asked.

“A lot of it is personal,” Herrera responded. “You know what? I’m not one to start talking or get in my feelings about stuff, but when they’re calling my team a sandbagger or that we’re sandbagging, and then Andrew’s literally just laying it out there every pass. I mean, he likes to show how hard him and his dad and all the guys at the shop worked all the time. 

“After the second round, I think Matt started saying little things here and there, and we all started getting into it. Not really getting into it. We started swapping conversation on the big end.”

So, all those smiles on the top end and the kumbaya comments of good-natured ribbing only make one wonder what happens when the camera turns away.

“It’s getting to the point where it’s kind of getting old, I should say, but it’s definitely getting personal and it puts me in a position where I just got to go up there and do what I do,” Herrera explained. “Try to be as consistent I can on the bike.”

Those who have drag raced for any length of time know Herrera, or any drag racer for that matter. They understand that no drag racer goes to the starting line with the expressed goal of a perfect reaction time. Even Herrera will admit he went to the starting line with the intention of leaving first, and the .000 perfect reaction time turned into a feather in the cap of the drag racer who has now won 18 of his 29 career starts. 

“I really can’t believe I went trip-zip,” Herrera admitted. “I threw the lever, I knew it was good and I was like, ‘Oh, it’s green. I’m good.” 

“I did not expect that, and that’s kind of way too close for me, for my comfort zone at least.”

Herrera’s comfort zone since he began riding for Vance & Hines back in March 2023, and his happiness usually coincides with No. 1 qualifiers and race wins. But this win, ticked-off emotions aside, was different than the others. This was the NHRA U.S. Nationals, a win he’s envisioned since childhood and one of the few which eluded him last year. 

“This race is very special for me,” Herrera said. “I made my debut here two years ago. I mean, two years ago, Andrew (Hines) had COVID sitting on his couch and didn’t even know my name; taught me my first pass here. So, this one’s very special. It’s our home track for Vance & Hines. I don’t live too far from here. 

“For me to be able to get this win, I feel like this was the biggest monkey of all on my back. Last year, I had the simplest part fail, which cost me going past the second round. So, to get the win here, I feel like even though I won the championship last year, I feel like this almost surpasses that, honestly.”

Getting Matt Smith’s goat is one thing, but scoring big in the same place he made his big league debut during the 2022 season aboard a Stouffer Racing bike is another. 

Back then, at least in the NHRA sphere, Herrera was about as unknown of a commodity at the 2022 U. S. Nationals and even lesser known when he failed to make the cut. He was so unheralded the NHRA’s Media department didn’t even put his name on the statistics supplement for 2022.

Herrera was even posed with the question of what he would have said if someone time-traveled back to then to point out just how dominant of a rider he would become, even to the point of winning more consecutive races in a season than the legendary Bob Glidden. 

“I would never believe you,” Herrera said. “When I came out here two years ago, I just came here to have fun and test it out. [Gary] Stouffer came up to me, saying, “Hey, I got this bike. If we get a motor together, we get your license, so let’s just have fun.” And from what it turned into that to now is just, it’s incredible. I mean, I feel like it was the right place, right time.”

Indeed, Hines saw something in Hererra that even Herrera didn’t see. What Hines saw definitely was not a mirage. 

Hines left no doubt what he saw on the starting line after the Indy win when he proclaimed, ““Gaige Herrera is rock solid, that’s why he’s the champion.”

“From what it turned into in such a short time, it’s really, I mean, it’s crazy to even think about it,” Herrera said. “I still don’t think it’s real. It doesn’t seem real what has been accomplished in such a short time. This year, it’s really starting to set in what we’re doing. I mean, as a team, I mean me and Andrew work so well together and I feel like it shows on the racetrack. 

“I don’t feel like we’re done yet. And going into the Countdown now, I feel like Matt’s stepping it up big time. This year’s going to be very interesting in the last six races.”