News Summary
Richard Gadson achieved a significant milestone by winning his first NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle race at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Riding a Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa, Gadson showcased impressive skills throughout the event, defeating his teammate in a thrilling final round. This victory not only highlights his perseverance but also establishes his competitiveness in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class as he aims to build on this momentum in the upcoming races.
Bristol, TN – Richard Gadson achieved a significant milestone in his racing career by securing his first NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle victory at the 24th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Gadson rode a Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa and faced off against his teammate Gaige Herrera in the final round of the event held at Bristol Dragway.
Gadson qualified in second place with an impressive run of 6.859 seconds at a speed of 197.62 mph, matching his best starting position of the season. His performance in the qualifying rounds set the stage for what would become a series of successful races through to the finals.
In the first round, Gadson demonstrated his skills by defeating Charles Poskey, finishing the race with a time of 6.869 seconds at 196.53 mph. Following this, he advanced to the second round with a solo bye run, where he clocked a time of 6.898 seconds at 196.93 mph. In the semi-finals, Gadson faced Chase Van Sant, who committed a red-light foul, allowing Gadson to secure his place in the final with a run of 6.911 seconds at 192.33 mph.
The final matchup between Gadson and Herrera marked their second face-off since both riders joined the Vance & Hines team. In a thrilling head-to-head race, Gadson triumphed with a final pass of 6.884 seconds at 196.30 mph, narrowly beating Herrera’s time of 6.882 seconds at 196.24 mph, largely attributed to a quicker reaction time of 0.014 seconds. This victory represents a career milestone for Gadson, who had previously made four appearances in final rounds without securing a win.
Beneath Gadson’s performance, Gaige Herrera qualified fourth with a commendable run of 6.876 seconds and also claimed victory in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge during the qualifications. Throughout the rounds, Herrera advanced by defeating competitors Chris Bostick with a time of 6.857 seconds and Angie Smith at 6.883 seconds. Following the event, Herrera acknowledged Gadson’s deserving performance, affirming it was a great sight for their team.
The RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines team excelled in this event, successfully placing all three of their riders, including Brayden Davis, into the semifinals. This strong showing reinforces the team’s competitiveness within the Pro Stock Motorcycle class.
As the season progresses, Herrera currently leads the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings with 430 points, while Gadson holds third place with 346 points. Following this event, the RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines team will look forward to competing at the Virginia NHRA Nationals, scheduled to take place from June 20-22 at Virginia Motorsports Park in North Dinwiddie, VA.
This race not only highlights Gadson’s perseverance and skill but also sets an exciting tone for the upcoming competitions, as the team aims to capitalize on their momentum and continue to perform at peak levels in future events.
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Additional Resources
- Motorsports Newswire: Richard Gadson Wins First Career NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Race in Bristol
- Wikipedia: Pro Stock Motorcycle
- Autoweek: NHRA Bristol Results: Pro Stock King Greg Anderson Hits Another Milestone
- Google Search: Greg Anderson NHRA
- Cycle News: 2025 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 4 Results
- Google Scholar: NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle
- NHRA: Stewart, Prock, Glenn, and Davis Claim Top Spots at Bristol Qualifying
- Encyclopedia Britannica: NHRA
- Competition Plus: 2025 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Event Results
- Google News: NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
