By Josh Hachat

Herrera , rider of the Mission Foods Vance & Hines Suzuki , locked up his championship during qualifying at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona . He banked 14 of 15 No . 1 qualifier positions throughout the season , which set the all-time mark for a single season in the category .

Herrera then ended the season just like he started it – with a victory and adding another single-season PSM record in a simply spectacular year . In fact , it could be considered one of the best in NHRA history , posting an unbelievable win-loss record of 50-4 , winning a remarkable 93 percent of his matchups in 2023 .

“ It doesn ’ t feel real honestly ,” Herrera said . “ All the stuff we ’ ve accomplished this year and wrapping it up and getting the championship has just made for an incredible season . I just have to give all the credit to the guys back at the shop . None of this has been possible without them . It ’ s not just my championship , it ’ s everyone on this team . They all deserve

this . I can ’ t put this season into words .”

Herrera ’ s title gave the Vance & Hines team its 14th overall NHRA world championship . He joins the likes of teammate and four-time champ Eddie Krawiec , and brothers Andrew Hines with six titles , and Matt Hines with three .

“ Last year I was out here just trying to have a little bit of fun ,” Herrera said . “ Then I got a call to ride for these legends . I grew up watching these guys race . Now racing next to them and accomplishing what we have this season is very surreal .”

Herrera ’ s reign of terror in the class kicked off at the season opener at the NHRA Gatornationals

in Gainesville , where he won his first race of the season and his first race under the Vance & Hines umbrella . He collected two more back-toback wins at the Charlotte 4-Wide race and the return of the Chicago event before losing his first round of the season against Steve Johnson when he went red in Bristol in the finals .

He returned to the winner ’ s circle in Denver at the first stop of the NHRA Western Swing . Herrera then became the first Pro Stock Motorcycle rider in NHRA history to complete the Western Swing Sweep of consecutive race wins in Denver , Seattle , and Sonoma . To add to it , Herrera also picked up four wins in the Mission # 2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge and won the Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout in Sonoma .

Matt Smith opened the Countdown to the Championship with a victory at Maple Grove Raceway , momentarily bumping Herrera to second in points for the first time all year . But it was only a small hiccup for Herrera , as he cruised to wins at the final five events of the year in Charlotte , St . Louis , Dallas , Las Vegas , and Pomona .

In Dallas , Herrera also made the quickest run in class history , going 6.627-seconds , capping off a run that saw him make nine of the 10 quickest runs in Pro Stock Motorcycle history in 2023 . He defeated teammate Krawiec in the final round at each of those final four events , completing a year that may be hard to top for any PSM rider .

“ I think it ’ s only the beginning ,” Herrera said . “ It ’ s a big deal for me to ride for this team . What I love to do is race and it ’ s worked out well for all of us . We were focused on the here and now , and we just kept the ball rolling all season long . It really hasn ’ t set in yet . The way I look at it , it was a perfect season . I ’ m going to cherish this whole season and it ’ s something I ’ ll never forget .” DI

PHOTOGRAPHS BY NHRA