Gillim Makes History with Eighth Victory Aboard Vance & Hines-Built Indian Challenger,  Sets New King of the Baggers Single-Season Win Record

Golden Valley, MN (September 15, 2026) — This past weekend at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, Hayden Gillim and Indian Motorcycle Racing capped off their dominant run through the 2026 King of the Baggers (KOTB) season, clinching the championship and setting a new record for most wins in a single KOTB season. In his first season with the J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing team, Gillim’s eight victories and two second-place finishes were enough to secure the championship with two races remaining. The 2026 title marks Indian Motorcycle’s fourth King of the Baggers championship.

“Today is monumental, not just for Hayden and the team, but for our dealers, riders and our entire company,” said Mike Kennedy, CEO of Indian Motorcycle. “We started this season with a brand-new race team that had limited time with the Indian Challenger prior to Daytona. We knew we had the superior machine, an elite race team in Vance & Hines, and a stable of incredibly talented riders, but this is racing. You still have to line up and perform. That’s exactly what we did, race after race. To secure the championship with two races remaining and break the record for most wins in a single season is a testament to every person on this team who pours their heart and soul into this program.”

When Race 1 kicked off Saturday at COTA, the No. 17 of Troy Herfoss launched his Indian Challenger off the line to take the early lead, while Gillim came through the first turn in fifth. By Lap 2, the No. 69 had methodically worked his way into third before making an aggressive move for second, taking his Indian Challenger to the inside of Harley-Davidson’s Bradley Smith and completing the pass. When Herfoss went down while leading, Gillim inherited the top spot and never looked back, holding the lead to the checkered flag. Meanwhile, teammate No. 97 Rocco Landers capitalized on the chaos of the race to secure a strong third-place finish and join Gillim on the podium.

In Sunday’s Race 2, Gillim swiftly launched off the grid and moved to the front, with Herfoss right in tow. Herfoss was overtaken early by Smith, putting all eyes on the battle at the front as Gillim raced with the championship on the line. Gillim stayed cool, calm and collected out front, but faced relentless pressure from Smith and Herfoss as they attacked for the top spot.

The next few laps of the nine-lap race became an intense game of cat and mouse between the front three, with the gap fluctuating from close enough to throw a blanket over all three riders to several bike lengths. Their pace was unmatched as they easily pulled away from the rest of the field, throwing down blistering lap times. With four laps remaining, Smith was able to sneak to the inside of Gillim and take over the lead. In the same lap, Herfoss encountered more trouble, forcing him back into the field. Gillim initially didn’t relent, trying to counter the attack and regain the front spot, but knowing the championship was within reach, he ultimately tempered his charge and shifted his focus to finishing.

While he didn’t take the overall race win, Gillim showed his true veteran form. Coming through the final turn, Gillim raised the front end of his Indian Challenger and roared down the COTA start straight, wheeling across the finish line in true champion fashion to secure the 2026 King of the Baggers championship.

Rounding out the podium in third was two-time champion Tyler O’Hara, who put together an impressive race and breakthrough performance on the season to secure his first podium of the year. 

“Coming into this season and switching brands, I knew the Indian Challenger was going to be good, but I didn’t know it’d be this good,” said Gillim. “With the Vance & Hines team behind us, I knew we’d be able to build a winning package, but this bike truly is crazy good. To have the success we’ve had is truly remarkable. I wasn’t expecting to come out and win Daytona, but to clinch the championship title a weekend early is truly unexpected. Being able to walk away with the number one plate is incredible. I have to give so much credit to the entire J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing team. They pulled together an incredible program, and because of them we were able to walk away with the number one plate and break the record for most wins in a single season.”

Gillim’s championship further solidifies the partnership between Indian Motorcycle and Vance & Hines, showcasing the engineering, durability and relentless performance that have made the Indian Challenger a benchmark in King of the Baggers competition. Gillim’s 2026 title breaks the manufacturer championship tie and gives Indian Motorcycle the edge in the all-time KOTB championship count, four titles to Harley-Davidson’s three. Gillim joins Tyler O’Hara (2020, 2022) and Troy Herfoss (2024) as Indian Motorcycle KOTB Champions.

With the championship wrapped up, the battle now shifts to how the rest of the field will stack up. With one round remaining, Herfoss sits in second with 183 points, with a mere 11 points separating him from third. 

Mission King Of the Baggers will conclude the 2026 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers 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, and YouTube.  

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.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Ian Austin
press@indianmotorcycle.media