Indian Motorcycle Just Dropped the Mother of All Racing Bombshells for 2026

Full-Circle Power Move: Ex-Vance & Hines CEO Returns to Conquer King of the Baggers

By Raine Devries | 1 December 2025

Indian Motorcycle has locked in a game-changing multi-year deal with Vance & Hines Motorsports, announced on November 24, 2025, that’s poised to supercharge the brand’s racing legacy. This collaboration fuses Indian’s century-plus heritage of track innovation with Vance & Hines’ razor-sharp performance tuning expertise – and it’s got a personal twist that screams destiny. At the helm? Mike Kennedy, Indian’s new CEO, fresh off a 30+ year powersports odyssey: nearly five years as President and CEO of Vance & Hines (2019–2023), where he built their racing dynasty; a turbo-charged year-plus leading RumbleOn as CEO (starting November 2023); and now, channeling that V-Twin mastery back to the track with his old crew.

Starting in 2026, Vance & Hines officially takes over Indian Motorcycle’s factory racing program in the MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series. The green light drops at Daytona International Speedway, March 5-7, 2026, and the target is simple: total domination.

The weapon of choice? The latest Indian Challenger, powered by the liquid-cooled 112 ci PowerPlus V-twin. Vance & Hines will turn these street-legal baggers into asphalt-shredding race bikes backed by J&P Cycles, MOTUL, Progressive Insurance, Drag Specialties, and Performance Finance.

This isn’t a new rivalry — it’s a proven dynasty. Since King of the Baggers debuted in 2020, the Indian Challenger paired with Vance & Hines has already claimed four championships in six seasons. 2026 is about adding more hardware.

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The rider lineup is stacked: 2024 champion Troy Herfoss, 2023 title holder Hayden Gillim, and rising star Rocco Landers — the new Indian Wrecking Crew.

Indian Motorcycle launched in 1901 with racing in its blood and has never stopped swinging. Vance & Hines, founded in 1979, has been the undisputed king of V-twin performance for decades, racking up titles across drag racing, flat track, and road racing for multiple brands. Together, they represent almost 150 years of American horsepower obsession.

Mike Kennedy, Indian Motorcycle CEO, didn’t hold back:

“Indian Motorcycle is entering a new era in its historic journey in 2026, and the first place we plan to prove it is on the racetrack. This partnership is a reminder of what American performance looks like when you refuse to back down.”

Terry Vance, Co-Founder and Owner of Vance & Hines Motorsports, fired back:

“Indian Motorcycle is legendary. A brand built through racing… Right out of the box, the Indian Challenger and its liquid-cooled PowerPlus engine bring a high-performance, reliable machine that’s capable of winning every time it lines up on the grid. We’re thrilled to continue the development of this dynamic platform.”

Mark your calendars. When the gates drop at Daytona in March, American bagger racing won’t just be loud — it’s about to get downright violent.

Official announcement: https://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/indian-motorcycle-racing/news/indian-motorcycle-enters-multi-year-agreement-with-vance-and-hines-motorsports/

The King of the Baggers crown has a potential new favorite…. and it’s wearing war paint.