| July 23, 2024
It’s over. The longest winning streak in the history of the National Hot Rod Association, 12 races and 46 consecutive round wins, went by the wayside at the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle, July 20-22. In an historic Pro Stock Motorcycle final round, Trick Tools Suzuki’s Chase Van Sant earned his first career win and, in the process, he stopped previously unbeatable Gaige Herrera.
Last year’s NHRA Rookie of the Year Chase Van Sant defeated Gaige Herrera in the Pro Stock Motorcycle final in Seattle. Photos: Matt Polito
By Kevin McKenna
Van Sant ended the streak with a run of 6.720 at 201.31 mph to beat defending World Champion Herrera, who wasn’t far behind with a respectable 6.754-second run at over 200 mph. Herrera’s record-breaking run of 12 straight victories and 46 consecutive round wins, a string that dated back to last September’s championship round in Reading, Pennsylvania.
“I got down to the top end and saw my win light on, and I was just shaking my head,” Van Sant said. “We were down in the shutdown, and Gaige yelled something at me, and he pointed, and I was like, ‘Man, I don’t know. Like, is this real?’ I’ve gone up against Gaige five times and lost all five times, so to cut a light and get away early and outrun him speaks volumes to how hard this team has been working kind of silently in the midst of all the drama in Pro Stock Motorcycle.”
Van Sant’s win is hardly a surprise, as he was named the 2023 NHRA Rookie of the Year even though his season was cut short by injuries suffered in an on-track accident in Dallas last October. In Seattle, Van Sant put together an impressive run with wins against Brandon Litten, John Hall and six-time world champ Matt Smith.
Van Sant’s final against Herrera was a rematch of the final round in Chicago earlier this year, with a different outcome. Van Sant also moved to fourth in points with the win.
“Gaige and I have known each other for a while, and every time we raced, it’s been a lot of fun, and I’ve enjoyed it,” Van Sant said. “I was super happy for him breaking all those records, but I told him, ‘If I can end your streak, I will be the happiest person in the world.’ ”
Matt Smith figured to have the best chance to beat Herrera, but in the semi-final round, Smith’s Denso Buell wouldn’t start, giving Herrera a free ride into the final.
Although he lost in the final, Herrera remains the runaway championship leader in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class. The RevZilla/Vance & Hines Suzuki rider advanced to his seventh final this season and 19th in his career with wins against Japan’s Eiji Kawakami and Jianna Evaristo.
Van Sant celebrates the big win.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t Herrera who had the quickest bike in Seattle. In qualifying, Herrera led the way with a 6.734 elapsed time, but Van Sant was close behind with a 6.742, while Matt Smith was third with a 6.755. During eliminations, Evaristo made news with a stunning 6.704 run at 203.95 mph on her Scrappers Buell to set both ends of the Pacific Raceways track record and a personal best.
It will be a short turnaround for the Pro Stock Motorcycle division as they will head south to Sonoma Raceway in California wine country for next weekend’s Sonoma Nationals. The event will also feature the Pep Boys Pro Stock Motorcycle Allstar Callout, a special high-dollar event featuring the top eight riders in the class.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE FINAL RESULTS
- Chase Van Sant (Suz)
- Gaige Herrera (Suz)
