NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

For the first time in the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, the Pro Stock Motorcycle class has a new points leader. That rider is none other than six-time champion Matt Smith, and as the series heads to St. Louis for this weekend’s 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, Smith will look to extend that points lead in hopes of earning his seventh world title.

Smith, rider of the Denso Auto Parts Buell, took over the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead from reigning champion Gaige Herrera following his win last weekend at the NHRA Carolina Nationals. As Smith and the rest of the riders set their sights on the halfway mark of the playoffs in St. Louis, he’ll be ready to carry his momentum into the third race of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.

“I feel good about St. Louis,” Smith said. “I’ve won that race a lot, and I think we have good momentum. We have to get a couple of our other bikes running better in our camp, to help out and get up here in the points, too. I think St. Louis is going to be hard. We’re in a dogfight. We all know that the Vance & Hines group is tough. I think you'll see them step their stuff up a little bit more come St. Louis.”

Last season, Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all collected wins in St. Louis, and this year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, with elimination coverage airing at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 29. It is the 17th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and finishes off a stretch of three straight race weekends to open the Countdown to the Championship.

Smith has five wins at World Wide Technology, which is the most in PSM history at the fan-favorite facility. He has two wins on the season, including his victory last week as well as in Sonoma earlier this summer. With Herrera just 25 points back and rookie Richard Gadson only 27 points behind, Smith will need to continue to turn on win lights if he wants to extend his lead in his run to Pro Stock Motorcycle history.

“I like being under pressure,” said Smith. “It doesn’t matter what you do in the regular season, you have to be good the last six races. I've always been pretty good the last six races, and that's how you win championships, and that's how I will continue to race.

“You have to put your best foot forward. A lot of times you test a lot of stuff during the regular season, but we stepped up when we needed to in Sonoma and stepped up in Charlotte, and we’re going to go to St. Louis and try to step up a little bit more. Everything is looking really promising, and if we can find a little bit more power, I think we’ll be really good.”

NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at noon and 2:30 p.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 27, and the final two rounds on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, Sept. 29. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 27 and 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 29, with eliminations starting at 3 p.m. ET on FS1 on Sunday.
 
Tickets may be purchased at the WWTR ticket office, by phone at (618) 215-8888, or online at www.wwtraceway.com. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general-admission area with a paid adult.