Richard Gadson enjoys a spirited rivalry with Matt Smith Racing, and on Sunday at the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway, he emerged as the last man standing for Vance & Hines against a trio of MSR bikes in the final. Aware of the tactics often associated with the Smith family, Gadson remained focused and raced past any perceived shenanigans to capture his first career Countdown to the Championship victory.
“Call me Tricky Richard,” Gadson joked after the win. In reality, there’s not much tricky about leaving ahead of two of three opponents and outrunning them by .02 or more to the finish line.
The victory carried extra weight beyond the trophy. Gadson’s 6.803-second pass at 199.55 mph on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki not only defeated Matt Smith, Angie Smith and Jianna Evaristo, but also solidified his position as a legitimate title contender in Pro Stock Motorcycle. It marked his third win of the season and the first time in his professional career he has taken over the points lead.
Momentum has clearly shifted in Gadson’s favor. A .015 reaction time gave him the edge in the final, while his ability to stay composed under the pressure of three MSR riders underscored the discipline he has developed over the past few months. Now holding an eight-point advantage over six-time champion Matt Smith, Gadson is riding the most consistent stretch of his career.
The weekend also highlighted how quickly fortunes can turn in the Countdown. Teammate Gaige Herrera, who had been dominant all year, suffered a stunning first-round exit. That unexpected result created an opening, and Gadson seized the chance by winning his first two quads and carrying that confidence into the final round. After waiting years for his first NHRA win, Gadson has now claimed three victories in just three months, a turnaround that has redefined his season.
Facing three bikes from the same powerhouse team created a unique challenge. Gadson admitted the situation carried a little extra weight, as he was the lone Vance & Hines rider left.
“You just don’t want to beat yourself and you’re the lone ranger up there racing for your team,” he said. “You carry it with a little more pride, but you don’t want to get antsy. These bikes are really easy to do something stupid on.”
The tension was visible even on the starting line. When Angie Smith rolled into the pre-stage lights earlier than expected, Gadson quickly recognized what was happening.
“I think Angie did that as a ploy to hopefully mess me up,” he said. “It is all fair. It’s racing. It’s within the rules. She didn’t do anything wrong, but I’m a little sharper than I look.” His ability to read the situation and stick to his game plan reflected the calm approach that has made him a contender.
With a points lead for the first time, Gadson knows the road ahead won’t get easier. He credited his preparation as much as his riding ability.
“Stay humble, stay prayed up and keep trying to do whatever the heck is getting me these wins,” he said. “I know it’s going to be a dogfight. I just don’t want to be a weak link. I want to be the guy that those guys think about.”
Even as he celebrated, Gadson acknowledged Herrera’s early loss weighed heavily on the team. Still, the competitive reality of the Countdown leaves no room for hesitation. “The first thing it does is you hate it for him,” Gadson said. “But you simultaneously are counting. You want to be a good teammate, but you’re also trying to win.”
The victory gives Gadson both momentum and perspective as the playoffs continue. He enjoys seeing his name atop the standings, but he knows the margin is slim.
“It’s not like I’ve won the championship yet,” he said. “We got another race in a week, so when we go in and burn a bunch, nobody will remember this. If I can leave St. Louis in the points lead, I’ll enjoy that at that time.”
