One of the highlights of the weekend was the presence of Paul “Fast By” Gast, he served as Grand Marshall of the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) participates in the PBSS team meetings, along with a special pre-race rider introduction, a session on the microphone during qualifying and elimination, and spent time with the PBSS teams.
“Thank you for having me, it was a great time. The racers sure seemed to enjoy our time together. You do a nice job on these events, meetings, and introductions. It adds class, and what a fine facility.” Yours in racing, Paul Gast FBG. “Good Luck in all future events!”
Gast won an NHRA Spring Nationals in 1990, is a many-time national champion, and holds the current Pro Mod Motorcycle National eighth-mile record at 3.93 seconds and 181 miles per hour. With his contributions to the sport as a racer and at a technical level, Gast has been one of the most influential people in the class’s history.
“I can’t think of a more appropriate person to be named Grand Marshal for PBSS than Paul Gast,” said PBSS competitor and multi-time series winner Josie Brooks. “The contributions he has made and continues to make to every level of motorcycle drag racing are endless. He’s a legend.”
Gast made two exhibition runs in the low 4.00-second zone, over 180 miles per hour.
“Paul Gast is the best choice for being the Grand Marshal of PBSS,” said Mike Nearhoof, PBSS competitor and series winner. “Paul has been an innovator since motorcycle drag racing started to gain notoriety. He has inspired nearly everyone who has thrown a leg over a bike and competed at the drag strip. Without Paul Gast and the Fast by Gast company, motorcycle drag racing would not be where it is today.”
Last weekend, in the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) final round run-off, Brian Babiak from West Seneca, NY rode his 2012 Kawasaki ZX-14 1441-cc Pro Bike to a 5.6249-second 122.32 mph win on a 5.61 dial-in, with a .0423-second reaction time, defeating Haley Feher riding her All Around Performance 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa 1340-cc Pro Bike entry. The Fulton, NY rider ran a 5.5980-second lap at 124.79 mph on a 5.58 dial-in with a .0744 reaction time.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series, the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS will continue to compete on the Empire Dragway eighth-mile track surface and compete for their respective Championship Point Award Series on July 18 – 19, August 15 – 16, and September 12 – 13, 2025.
Visit the Pro Modified Racing Association at facebook.com/promodifiedracing, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series at facebook.com/quick32, the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) at facebook.com/probikeandsledseries and the Empire Dragway at EmpireDragway.com for more information and event updates.
This story was originally published on June 26, 2025. 
