Indian Motorcycle today kicked off the 2026 Mission King of the Baggers season in commanding fashion, securing a 1–2 finish in Race 1 at Daytona International Speedway. In its debut race weekend, the newly formed Indian Motorcycle–Vance & Hines Factory Race Team delivered an immediate statement performance with Hayden Gillim (#69) taking his first-career win at Daytona and teammate Troy Herfoss (#17) finishing second aboard their newly developed Vance & Hines Indian Challenger race bike.
After running third for most of the opening lap, Gillim used the draft to pass Herfoss and Harley-Davidson rider Kyle Wyman to take the lead before the end of Lap 1. From there, Gillim set a steady pace and quickly pulled away from the field. His dominant performance saw him maintain a lead of more than four seconds in the closing laps before ultimately taking the checkered flag by more than eight seconds. Behind him, Herfoss and Wyman traded passes throughout the race in a hard-fought battle for second. In the final laps, Herfoss made a decisive defensive move to shut the door on Wyman’s drafting attempt, securing the runner-up position and showcasing the power and precision of the Vance & Hines Indian Challenger race bike.
Gillim’s victory and Herfoss’ second-place finish marks a historic first outing for the 2026 Indian Wrecking Crew and new factory partnership between Indian Motorcycle and Vance & Hines, instantly establishing the team as a formidable force in the 2026 championship.
Armed with the industry’s most decorated performance bagger and an unmatched rider lineup, the Indian Motorcycle–Vance & Hines Factory Race Team is poised to write the next chapter in American racing history as the 2026 Mission King of the Baggers season unfolds.
Sponsors for the 2026 Indian Motorcycle-Vance & Hines Factory Race Team includes J&P Cycles, MOTUL, Progressive Insurance, Drag Specialties and Performance Finance.
For information about Indian Motorcycle, visit IndianMotorcycle.com, or follow along on Facebook, X, InstagramandYouTube. For information about Vance & Hines Motorsports, visit VanceAndHinesMotorsports.com, or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
