NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The Vance & Hines team has produced a plethora of NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championships, and riding under the legendary umbrella comes with prestige — but also with pressure. Riding for one of the most successful teams in the history of the sport is an honor that comes with expectations, and NHRA newcomer Richard Gadson is quickly rising to meet them in his new role.

After a dominating first season for reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Gaige Herrera, veteran rider Gadson's name was added to the RevZilla/Mission Foods Suzuki roster as four-time world champ Eddie Krawiec moved to the role of crew chief alongside six-time championship rider and tuner Andrew Hines.

The one-two punch of Hines and Krawiec has transitioned to a four-pack of power with the newly defined dynamics, rounded out by a pair of riders with edgy racing roots. Herrera's unique riding style meshed surprisingly perfect with the machinery and guidance provided by the Vance & Hines group, and he claimed a 14th world title for the team with a record-breaking 11 wins in the 2023 season — and he's still going strong with what is now 11 consecutive victories.

Gadson — now in his first full NHRA season after earning titles in XDA, NHDRO, SEMDRA, and ManCup — stretched into a role of his own with fair efficiency and has continued to rise. In four of the first six Pro Stock Motorcycle races, the Indiana transplant has reached the semifinals or better, and twice he's qualified just off the top spot. In Norwalk, Gadson claimed his first official NHRA accolade as he won the coveted Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge title.

"Things are starting to click for me," said Gadson, who defeated Hector Arana Jr. in the first round of the specialty race, then got the best of John Hall in the final. "I'm starting to feel like myself again. I didn't really ride a bunch for the last two years, and I lost my step for a little bit, but I like to say that I'm getting that dog back."

Gadson is in a prime environment to return to fighting form, but he's also now running in the immediate shadow of a rider who took the class by fierce and unexpected storm. In a sense, though, that's a positive for Gadson. While Herrera has held the spotlight, the focus has not been on the newest addition to the team, and he's quietly begun writing his own story in the class.

Some of the challenges Gadson has faced have been of his own doing, including in the first round of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge when he stumbled off the line and Arana surged ahead. Miraculously for Gadson, Arana got into trouble of his own downtrack and had to shut off. Wily and ready, Gadson was able to get back in it and win.

"I had a .005 light Q1, and it scared me a little bit. I don't like to go .005 when I don't mean to go .005," said Gadson, beginning to explain the near-critical mishap on his side of the track. "So, I started to try to change things about my rider position and a couple of other things to slow down my reaction time mechanically. I don't know why I've been hard-headed about this. The guys have been telling me, 'Don't do that, we'll change the bike and make it work for you.' I'm so used to having to do everything myself, so I keep changing it to try to make it work for me, but every time I do it, it's a mistake."

In the most fortunate split-second decision after the stumble, Gadson pulled in the clutch but did not shut the motorcycle off. Then, seeing Arana in trouble, he glimpsed opportunity.

"I said to myself, 'I know he's not going to shut that bike off — but if he does, I'm going to get back in it,' " said Gadson. "He had no idea I was about to get back in the throttle, but he shut off, and that's what I did."

By habit, Gadson had leaned into his past experience as a grudge racer to address the situation at hand.

"I call it situational awareness," he said simply. "You're paying attention to everything that's going on. The race isn't over until somebody gets a win light, period, and he didn't have one yet.

"Winning the Mission Challenge does wonders for your confidence. It makes you realize that it's possible. That's something you have to understand — prior to racing NHRA and being out here living this dream, it's something you watched people do on TV forever, and it almost feels unobtainable. [It wasn't] Sunday, but winning the challenge and wearing the medal around my neck, it just made me realize that I can race my way to a final round and win it."

Although it isn't an exact mirror image, Gadson's unique perspective is similar to that of Herrera. Years of experience in various disciplines of motorcycle racing shaped them both, and although bringing a different approach to NHRA competition isn't unheard of, it's been particularly effective for the two.

Curiously, although Herrera is experiencing a wave of success like no one before, the tables were a bit turned a handful of years ago in other racing environments.

"He was always good — we raced the same class in XDA Pro Street — but the roles were kind of reversed," admitted Gadson, head slightly and humbly dipped. "I was the one getting the wins and the accolades, and he was kind of struggling a little bit. Boy, has he turned that around. It's really fun to watch, and it's gratifying from a team aspect. We have two motorcycles that can possibly get the job done on Sunday. There's strength in numbers, and we have two strong riders, two strong bikes, and an awesome team. We need all of that to compete and combat the MSR [Matt Smith Racing] and WAR [White Alligator Racing] teams and a lot of these guys."

Riding alongside Herrera is an unparalleled experience for Gadson, who isn't letting ego eclipse the moment. He knows his own capabilities, and as much as he acknowledges the expectations that have come with the opportunity, he has expectations of his own and a willingness to learn and grow.

"I'd like to say I'm good, but he's better right now," said Gadson. "Honest to God, I've watched a lot of motorcycle racers, and he is the best I've ever seen. I study his videos, I watch him, and I haven't studied anybody in a long time.

"A buddy of mine posted a quote that said, 'You have to be aware of when you're living your dream, but you have to be humble enough to know when you're living in someone else's.' We're all living in Gaige Herrera's dream right now. That's a motivator, though, especially for somebody like me. All respect to Gaige, and we're friends on and off the racetrack, but it pushes me. It makes me say, 'You know what? I can be better. I know I can do what he does.' But it doesn't matter until you do, and that's the constant motivator."