Indian Motorcycle Racing Dominates Mid-Ohio, Delivers Back-to-Back 1-2 Finishes

Gillim’s Weekend Sweep Marks 50th Career Victory & Ties Record for Most Wins in a Single Season

Indian Motorcycle & Vance & Hines Eye Record Books in First Year of Factory Collaboration

Golden Valley, MN (August 3, 2026) — Following a dominant weekend sweep at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Indian Motorcycleand Vance & Hines’ first factory racing collaboration is rewriting the King of the Baggers record books. In his first year piloting a new Vance & Hines-built Indian Challenger, Hayden Gillim has tied Kyle Wyman’s single-season record of seven wins through just 10 races this season. With four races remaining, Gillim is poised to reach a new milestone and set a new standard for performance in the KOTB series. In total, the J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing has a combined eight victories, 17 podium finishes, four 1-2 finishes, and one full podium sweep.

“What this team is accomplishing isn’t just impressive, it’s historic,” said Mike Kennedy, CEO of Indian Motorcycle. “To record eight wins and 17 podium finishes through just 10 races speaks volumes of the Indian Challenger and the engineering prowess of Vance & Hines. We’re not simply winning races, we’re redefining what’s possible in this series.”

The Mid-Ohio performance once again showcased why the Indian Challenger remains the motorcycle to beat. Gillim claimed victories in both races, while teammate Troy Herfoss delivered back-to-back runner-up finishes to secure another pair of 1-2 results for the factory Indian Motorcycle team. With four races remaining, Gillim now leads the championship by 23 points over Herfoss and holds a commanding 54-point advantage over third place, Bradley Smith.

Race 1 was plagued with crashes resulting in a shortened five-lap sprint. Once the race got underway, Gillim wasted little time asserting himself at the front. Making his move through the Keyhole on the opening lap, the No. 69 Indian Challenger quickly established control before steadily pulling away from the field. Gillim maintained control to cross the finish line more than three seconds ahead of Herfoss. Fellow Indian Challenger rider Rocco Landers narrowly missed the all-Indian podium, finishing fourth by just 0.073 seconds after an impressive ride despite racing with a hand injury.

Sunday’s nine-lap finale required a remarkable comeback. Starting from pole position, Gillim struggled off the line and slipped to sixth entering Turn 1 as Herfoss launched perfectly to grab the holeshot and immediately assumed command of the race. Rather than forcing the issue, Gillim patiently worked his way forward, making decisive passes through the Keyhole and to climb into third by Lap 4 before overtaking the Harley-Davidson riders ahead of him.

With three laps remaining, Gillim closed the gap to Herfoss and made his move. The teammates briefly traded positions in a thrilling battle before Gillim claimed the lead and delivered a flawless closing run, denying Herfoss any opportunity to pass. Gillim crossed the finish line just 0.250 seconds ahead of his teammate to complete the Mid-Ohio sweep and secure the team’s fourth 1-2 finish of the season.

“Race 2 proved to be a hard-earned win, as I didn’t get the start I wanted, so I knew I’d have to put my head down and make up ground early,” said Gillim. “The Indian Challenger was working exactly where I needed it to, especially through the Keyhole, and that gave me the confidence to make some decisive passes. Troy rode an incredible race. I knew he’d be right there the rest of the way, so it was all about staying smooth, hitting my marks and not giving him an opening. I’m really proud of what this J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing team accomplished and to have reached more than 50 career wins along with tying the record for most wins in a season is beyond special. We have a great team and I love competing with them each weekend.”

The impressive showing was another testament to the race-winning performance of the Vance & Hines-built Indian Challenger, powered by the championship-proven PowerPlus 112 engine. As the 2026 Mission King Of The Baggers season enters its final stretch, J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing continues to showcase the engineering, durability and relentless performance that has made the Indian Challenger the benchmark in Mission King Of The Baggers.

With four races remaining, Gillim sits comfortably in first with 206 points, with Herfoss right behind him with 183 points. Gillim holds a commanding 54-point advantage over third place, factory Harley-Davidson rider Bradley Smith with 152 points. The Mid-Ohio performance further solidified J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing as the team to beat, with the championship battle increasingly centering on the factory Indian Motorcycle teammates as they chase another King Of The Baggers title.

Mission King Of The Baggers returns to action at Circuit of The Americas September 11-13 before concluding the 2026 season at New Jersey Motorsports Park September 25-27.

For information about Indian Motorcycle, visit IndianMotorcycle.com, or follow along on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. For information about Vance & Hines Motorsports, visit VanceAndHinesMotorsports.com, or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, andYouTube.

ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE®

Indian Motorcycle Company is America’s First Motorcycle Company®. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.

ABOUT VANCE & HINES MOTORSPORTS
With nearly five decades of championship-winning experience, Vance & Hines Motorsports delivers proven performance through precision-built components and expert engine services. From advanced cylinder head development to high-performance engine components and closed-course competition exhaust systems, every product is engineered to give a decisive edge. Most recently, Vance & Hines Motorsports has expanded its offerings with a Pro Stock Motorcycle rental program, providing qualified independent racers with access to competitive, race-ready machinery at the professional level.