By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio

ENNIS, Texas – Gaige Herrera and Jeg Coughlin Jr. rode their iron horses off into the Texas sunset while carrying Wally trophies and wearing black cowboy hats after they posted big wins Sunday at the 39th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals.

NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle winner Gaige Herrera. NHRA photo

Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Justin Ashley (Top Fuel) also won at the Stampede of Speed racing event that highlighted the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship playoff races.

Herrera, aboard the RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki, dominated the racing action this weekend in Pro Stock Motorcycle. He won for the second-straight year after defeating rival Matt Smith in the final round with a run of 6.816 seconds at 200.56 mph. Smith had the advantage off the line, but his engine shut off at halftrack and Herrera drove around him for the victory. Smith crossed the finish line in 7.703 at 125.55.

The victory was Herrera’s 20th win and he reached that milestone quicker than any driver in NHRA history.

“Today means a lot,” Herrera said. “I had more luck on my side today than performance, for sure. I was sleeping on one of the lights and Chase went red, and in the final there, Matt would have had me. Luck was definitely on my side, and I’d rather be lucky than good any day. My bike ran well all day with the heat, considering. I made a few little mistakes, but all in all, I’m glad to go home with the win and another cowboy hat.”

NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle winner Gaige Herrera. NHRA photo

With the victory, his ninth of the season, Herrera holds a 62-point lead over Smith as they head into the final two races of the season in Las Vegas and at Pomona, Ca.

“This Countdown has been pretty tight,” Herrera said. “We all know there was some trash talk, so for us to not have the performance advantage and get the win, it means a lot to me. This season, it just means a lot more each round win we get. This year has been a lot more pressure for me as a rider. Each round and win means so much more this time. I’m kind of just showing my real side and not holding it in anymore.”

Herrera, who started the day from the No. 1 qualifying spot, reached the final round on Sunday by defeating Chase Van Sant and Jianna Evaristo after getting a bye in the first round.

Smith, driving a 2024 Buell 1190RX, raced his way to the finals by defeating Malcolm Phipps, Marc Ingwersen and Hector Arana Jr. It was Smith’s fifth time this season to race in the final round and 80th of his career.

NHRA Pro Stock winner Jeg Coughlin Jr. NHRA photo

In Pro Stock, Jeg Coughlin Jr. outraced Greg Anderson in the final round to score his first win at the Texas Motorplex since 2002. Coughlin, who is a five-time NHRA Pro Stock champion, recorded a winning run clocked at 6.592 at 208.10 in his Scag Power Equipment Chevrolet Camaro. The victory was Coughlin’s fourth this season and the 69th in his career.

Anderson, who is also a five-time NHRA Pro Stock champion, crossed the finish line in 6.603 seconds at 210.13 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. Coughlin’s margin of victory was .0028 seconds.

“This feels fantastic,” Coughlin said. “For us, the cherry on top was for Justin Ashley and me to get our first double together as Scag teammates. I’m really eager to go celebrate with our team. It should be a big one. This Wally is going back to Mark Ingersoll. It’s quite remarkable what he’s gone through. He’s on a good path to recovery, and he’s as strong as an ox for sure. We miss having him out here and look forward to him coming back more.”

NHRA Pro Stock winner Jeg Coughlin Jr. NHRA photo

Coughlin reached the finals by defeating Cory Reed, David Cuadra and Matt Hartford while Anderson got to the finals by outracing Fernando Cuadra Jr. and points leader Dallas Glenn. Anderson, who was the No. 1 qualifier, reached the finals for the fourth time this year and the 180th in his career.

“Greg has always been the pinnacle since he got behind the wheel of a Pro Stock program,” Coughlin said. “Today he had us outpaced, performance-wise, so we jokingly said we needed to pull a rabbit out of the hat before this final round – and fortunately we did. I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded with some amazing teams, amazing people. I think this weekend is another testament to that. I saw that win light come on, and I couldn’t have been more excited.”

Glenn now holds a 53-point lead over Aaron Stanfield heading into the next NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series race on Oct. 31-Nov. 3 with the 24th annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

ENNIS, Texas — Final round-by-round results from the 39th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, the 18th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL: 

ROUND ONE — Tony Schumacher, 3.801, 322.37 def. Ida Zetterstrom, 4.082, 222.85; Justin Ashley, 3.775, 329.21 def. Antron Brown, 3.776, 324.96; Brittany Force, 3.766, 334.55 def. Spencer Hyde, Foul – Red Light; Shawn Reed, 3.753, 318.97 def. Tony Stewart, 3.817, 329.96; Shawn Langdon, 3.724, 332.20 def. Jasmine Salinas, 3.745, 326.49; Steve Torrence, 3.756, 333.21 def. Krista Baldwin, 6.121, 103.31; Steve Torrence, 3.756, 333.21 def. Krista Baldwin, 6.121, 103.31; Billy Torrence, 3.773, 329.48 def. Josh Hart, 6.093, 105.75; Clay Millican, 3.740, 333.16 def. Doug Kalitta, 4.954, 161.63; 

QUARTERFINALS — Schumacher, 3.797, 326.16 def. Force, 3.790, 332.27; S. Torrence, 3.811, 325.80 def. B. Torrence, 5.491, 121.61; Millican, 3.759, 330.44 def. Reed, 3.775, 324.98; Ashley, 3.951, 291.00 def. Langdon, 4.274, 228.21; 

SEMIFINALS — Ashley, 3.806, 327.51 def. Schumacher, 3.817, 323.93; Millican, 3.777, 329.40 def. S. Torrence, 4.245, 222.39; 

FINAL — Ashley, 3.773, 327.99 def. Millican, 3.762, 328.40. 

FUNNY CAR: 

ROUND ONE — Blake Alexander, Ford Mustang, 3.879, 325.80 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.994, 303.91; Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 4.380, 275.23 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.404, 205.61; Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.974, 325.64 def. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 3.966, 321.80; Chad Green, Mustang, 3.992, 295.92 def. Jack Beckman, Camaro, Broke – No Show; Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.912, 328.42 def. Dave Richards, Mustang, 12.205, 70.29; Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.908, 323.46 def. Alexis DeJoria, GR Supra, Broke; Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.017, 315.55 def. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 5.059, 158.02; Paul Lee, Charger, 4.100, 246.72 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 5.678, 126.53; 

QUARTERFINALS — Prock, 3.945, 327.92 def. Lee, 4.008, 314.95; Capps, 3.945, 307.34 def. Alexander, 9.718, 86.49; Wilkerson, 3.944, 322.74 def. Green, 5.544, 105.54; Hagan, 3.974, 327.44 def. Pedregon, 4.076, 252.53; 

SEMIFINALS — Hagan, 3.965, 326.16 def. Wilkerson, 7.727, 96.18; Capps, 3.900, 328.83 def. Prock, Broke; 

FINAL — Hagan, 3.943, 327.65 def. Capps, 3.934, 328.28. 

PRO STOCK: 

ROUND ONE — Fernando Cuadra Jr., Chevy Camaro, 6.602, 209.02 def. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.665, 207.88; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 7.543, 174.11 def. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 22.546, 25.02; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.583, 208.29 def. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.572, 210.06; David Cuadra, Camaro, 6.620, 208.04 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, Broke; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.559, 209.51 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.576, 209.93; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.543, 210.59 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, Broke – No Show; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.579, 209.39 def. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.615, 208.74; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.582, 209.38 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.601, 207.45; 

QUARTERFINALS — Coughlin, 6.627, 208.03 def. D. Cuadra, 6.650, 208.03; Hartford, 6.616, 208.75 def. Enders, 6.613, 208.91; Glenn, 6.612, 209.27 def. Stanfield, 12.308, 71.61; Anderson, 6.568, 209.92 def. Cuadra Jr., 6.607, 207.89; 

SEMIFINALS — Coughlin, 6.636, 207.19 def. Hartford, 8.204, 144.29; Anderson, 6.601, 209.50 def. Glenn, 6.619, 208.75; 

FINAL — Coughlin, 6.593, 208.10 def. Anderson, 6.603, 210.13. 

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 

ROUND ONE — Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.808, 199.96 def. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.830, 199.32; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.808, 202.54 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.949, 180.22; Marc Ingwersen, 6.845, 199.22 def. John Hall, Foul – Red Light; Hector Arana Jr, 6.808, 197.81 def. Ryan Oehler, 6.974, 194.30; Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.895, 200.76 def. Ron Tornow, Broke; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.774, 196.88 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.776, 202.48 def. Malcolm Phillips Jr., Suzuki, 6.946, 194.34; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.758, 201.78 was unopposed; 

QUARTERFINALS — Arana Jr, 6.851, 198.51 def. A. Smith, 6.896, 199.69; M. Smith, 6.788, 201.57 def. Ingwersen, 6.849, 198.51; Evaristo, 6.910, 199.13 def. Johnson, Foul – Red Light; Herrera, 6.818, 199.53 def. Van Sant, Foul – Red Light; 

SEMIFINALS — Herrera, 6.835, 199.65 def. Evaristo, 7.010, 194.96; M. Smith, 6.878, 200.18 def. Arana Jr, 6.900, 197.57; 

FINAL — Herrera, 6.816, 200.56 def. M. Smith, 7.703, 125.55. 

ENNIS, Texas — Point standings (top 10) following the 39th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, the 18th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series – 

Top Fuel

1. Justin Ashley, 2,422; 2. Antron Brown, 2,378; 3. Shawn Langdon, 2,346; 4. Steve Torrence, 2,334; 5. Tony Schumacher, 2,317; 6. Clay Millican, 2,308; 7. Doug Kalitta, 2,289; 8. Brittany Force, 2,232; 9. Tony Stewart, 2,181; 10. Billy Torrence, 2,167.

Funny Car

1. Austin Prock, 2,537; 2. John Force, 2,390; 3. Matt Hagan, 2,369; 4. Ron Capps, 2,357; 5. Bob Tasca III, 2,326; 6. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,238; 7. Blake Alexander, 2,234; 8. J.R. Todd, 2,223; 9. Chad Green, 2,210; 10. Alexis DeJoria, 2,177.

Pro Stock

1. Dallas Glenn, 2,517; 2. Aaron Stanfield, 2,464; 3. Greg Anderson, 2,427; 4. Erica Enders, 2,406; 5. Jeg Coughlin, 2,321; 6. Matt Hartford, 2,215; 7. Cristian Cuadra, 2,188; 8. Jerry Tucker, 2,182; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., 2,175; 10. Eric Latino, 2,158.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Gaige Herrera, 2,532; 2. Matt Smith, 2,470; 3. Richard Gadson, 2,371; 4. Hector Arana Jr, 2,347; 5. Chase Van Sant, 2,302; 6. Angie Smith, 2,262; 7. Jianna Evaristo, 2,247; 8. John Hall, 2,239; 9. Steve Johnson, 2,182; 10. Chris Bostick, 2,128.