Texas Motorplex
Tickets on Sale Friday for Stampede of Speed Events
Racing, music, bull riding, beer expo, lantern release highlight 10-days of excitement
ENNIS, TX – The return of the Stampede of Speed, a ten-day festival of music, drag racing and amazing fan experiences in advance of the 
NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, was officially announced today with the release of the special event schedule on www.stampedeofspeed.com. Tickets for one of the biggest motorsports events in the country go on sale this Friday, March 31, for the mega-event hosted at Texas Motorplex, the multi-use facility located just 35 minutes from Dallas and Fort Worth, which will feature non-racing activities, concerts, educational, media and business events for fans and sponsors from across the country.
“We are continuing to expand the entertainment value and economic impact of the Stampede of Speed and thanks to the support from Waxahachie and Ellis County over ten days we will host some of the most exciting racing and entertainment events in North Texas,” said Christie Meyer Johnson, Texas Motorplex co-owner. “We will be unveiling new events, a major country concert line-up, fan contests and additional elements making the third annual Stampede of Speed even bigger than last year. Our goal is to continue to welcome visitors to the great state of Texas and introduce them to our facility, the NHRA playoffs and high-quality family-friendly events.”
The Stampede of Speed event calendar will once again feature ticketed and non-ticketed events leading up to the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals. Fans can visit www.stampedeofspeed.com for more information.
Tickets on Sale Now for Funny Car Chaos Season Opener
ENNIS, TX – Heading into 2023 Texas Motorplex will host the Funny Car Chaos season opener for the third year in a row. Recognized as the 
largest Funny Car event in the country, the excitement and anticipation for the Funny Car Chaos season has been building since the season finale during last year’s Stampede of Speed. The Funny Car Chaos Classic will happen March 16-18 at the famed track south of Dallas and early indications are this event will be record-setting.
“We are very excited to once again open our season at Texas Motorplex,” said Chris Graves, Funny Car Chaos promoter and race director. “I grew up a Motorplex kid, this is where my addiction to the sport was born, so it means a lot to me personally, aside from the luxuries and professionalism the Motorplex venue and staff bring to our racers and fans. The Motorplex continues to rise to the top and Funny Car Chaos is proud to be a part of that. We’re ready to put on a show, so you know what to do, be there!”
Additional information about the Funny Car Chaos Classic can be found here. This event will continue to be recognized as a major event for the Texas Motorplex. Fan enhancements will be a major focus as well as highlighting the historic impact of this event.
Texas Motorplex Releases 2023 Schedule
Stampede of Speed, NHRA Fall Nationals and Funny Car Chaos Highlight Major Events
ENNIS, TX – Heading into 2023 Texas Motorplex, the only quarter mile multi-use racing facility in North Texas and home of the Stampede 
of Speed and NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, will once again host a wide variety of drag racing events drawing fans from across the country. The Stampede of Speed, the largest continuous motorsports event second only to the Indy 500, will anchor an exciting season of racing action in 2023.
“We saw tremendous growth in 2022 and we are expecting even bigger events in 2023,” said Christie Meyer Johnson, Texas Motorplex co-owner. “The Stampede of Speed will be back and bigger than ever. The whole team is looking forward to promoting and hosting the best drag racing events in the country. We will have some more exciting announcements about additional events in the coming weeks.”
Throughout the season the track will host bracket races, as well as specialty racing events. Following the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Street Outlaws No Prep Kings the newest series in the Street Outlaws franchise will be contested October 27-28.
Prock, Hagan, Enders and M. Smith Take Big Money at Texas Motorplex
ENNIS, TX – The first day of the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals wrapped up with a record setting run by Funny Car driver Matt Hagan, and 
quick runs by Top Fuel racer Austin Prock, Pro Stock racer Erica Enders and Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Matt Smith. Hagan and Prock each scored $15,000 for their respective teams by making the quickest runs to grab the provisional No. 1 spots on the eighth day of the Stampede of Speed. Enders nabbed the $7,500 bonus and Smith went back-to-back winning the Friday Night Live bonus of $5,000 for the second consecutive year.
In addition to the racing action the fans were treated to a live performance by Grace Good, nationally known fire performer and a pair of high-performance jet dragsters. The fire and power of Friday Night Live wowed the fans but it was Hagan’s record setting run that was the buzz of the evening.
“I want to say thank you to Billy and Christie Meyer Johnson because without them there was no money to win,” said Hagan. “I have been out here all week promoting this event to a PBR crowd and then the Stars Over Texas concert with Brett Young and Wade Bowen. It feels good to get the bonus after you have been camped out here. It is exciting to get in the car and get up on the wheel. You have your adrenaline going and you are chewing on your mouthpiece because there is money on the line.”
Scott Palmer Nitro Side Show Wows and Waxahachie Takes Title
ENNIS, TX – For the second year in a row NHRA veteran driver Scott Palmer shook the all-concrete racing surface at Texas Motorplex with 
an amazing mix of Top Fuel dragsters, Fuel Altereds, Top Fuel Harley Motorcycles and Nostalgia Funny Cars as part of his Nitro Side Show last night. The unique mix of cars and motorcycles racing in a variety of formats with massive burnouts had people on the edge of their seats. There was also a considerable amount of social media buzz during and after each of the Nitro Side Show racing segments. In addition to the on-track action fans got into the competition with the inaugural Race to Feed the Finish Line Ennis versus Waxahachie Stampede of Speed food drive.
“This was another step in the right direction to continue to grow the Stampede of Speed,” said Christie Meyer Johnson, Texas Motorplex co-owner. “Scott Palmer and his Nitro Side Show put on a great event. All the drivers and riders really pumped up the crowd and we added a car show this year, too, The Race to Feed the Finish Line was a success for the local community. We had no idea what to expect and we received over two pallets of donations from fans, staff members and race participants. We are excited about growing the Stampede of Speed food drive to continue to make an impact on Ennis and Waxahachie.”
Waxahachie took the inaugural Race to Feed the Finish Line title with the most food donated by approximately a dozen items. Located in the middle of Ellis County and building on one of the state’s strongest rivalries between Ennis and Waxahachie, Texas Motorplex hosted the Race to Feed the Finish Line for the first time this year. Fans who brought a canned and/or non-perishable food item to the Texas Motorplex received $10 off admission to the event. They made their donation in support of either Ennis or Waxahachie with the respective city’s food bank, Helping Hands of Ennis or Waxahachie Care, as they entered the facility. Both organizations will be highlighted on track signage for one year as well as logo placement on Texasmotorplex.com. The food and cash donations were split evenly between Helping Hands of Ennis and Waxahachie Care.
Texas Motorplex Hosts Epic Stampede of Speed
10 days of racing and concert action includes total purse in excess of $1 million
ENNIS, TX – For the second year in a row the historic Texas Motorplex, located between Ennis and Waxahachie on Highway 287, will host 
the premiere National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drag racing event in the state of Texas — the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals as well as a multitude of motorsports and concert events across Ellis County. Millions of fans have experienced 330-mph races and have witnessed historic races between John Force, Cruz Pedregon, Greg Anderson, Steve Torrence and many more as they set records and amazed crowds. This year the Stampede of Speed, October 7-16, 10 days of racing events, plus two major concerts and a full day of professional testing will pump more money into the wallets of race teams from across the country than ever before.
“Last year we made history hosting a multi-day schedule of races and concerts,” said Texas Motorplex Co-Owner Christie Meyer Johnson. “We will be paying over $40,000 in low-qualifier bonuses on Friday night during the Friday Night Live event and on Sunday our race purse for the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals will be over $1 million for all the classes combined, including the largest payout for the Camping World Drag Racing Series.”
Fast Ticket Sales Have Friday Night Live Ready to Fire Up Fans and Drivers
ENNIS, TX – The 2nd annual Stampede of Speed is outpacing last year with fan interest for tickets and new events. Beginning with the cattle 
drive through downtown Waxahachie at high noon on October 7 and continuing for ten days culminating with the 38th annual Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, October 13-16, at Texas Motorplex the event will be bigger than ever. Fans will once again be treated to the excitement and drama of Friday Night Live featuring over $40,000 in bonus money for NHRA pro teams who post quick runs combined with the fire spectacular of hoop performer and circus extraordinaire Grace Good and a high horsepower announcer line-up featuring NHRA standouts Alan Reinhart and Joe Castello joined by NHRA Funny Car champion Jack Beckman in the booth. The high energy event has contributed to increased ticket sales across the board for the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals outpacing previous seasons.
“We are always looking to create more fan value and excitement for our fans so bringing in Grace Good to perform during Friday Night Live and also adding NHRA Funny Car world champion Jack Beckman to the announcer booth will make the overall experience better than ever,” said Christie Meyer Johnson, Texas Motorplex co-owner. “Friday Night Live is already generating a lot of interest on ticket sales because of the bonus money for the pros and the entertainment elements. This show is all about racing and a real over-the-top fan experience.”
Greg Anderson, Dave Densmore Named Texas Motorplex Legends
ENNIS, TX – Pro Stock legend Greg Anderson and award-winning drag racing publicist Dave Densmore will be recognized as Texas 
Motorplex Legends during the opening ceremonies of the 37th annual Texas NHRA Fall Nationals. Anderson is the winningest Pro Stock driver in Texas Motorplex history with six Texas Fall Nationals titles, including his historic 99th career win last year. Densmore has been one of the most respected and influential drag racing publicists for over four decades working for the sanctioning body as well as the biggest names in drag racing.
“I have known Dave Densmore my entire drag racing career and no PR person has had a bigger impact on the coverage our sport has received. Greg has won the Texas Fall Nationals more than any other Pro Stock driver in history and has established himself as the best Pro Stock driver in history,” said Billy Meyer, Texas Motorplex co-owner. “Honoring these two men as Texas Motorplex Legends was an easy decision because of their impact at Texas Motorplex but also across the sport of drag racing.”
Anderson’s Pro Stock career took root as a crew member – and then crew chief – for legendary driver Warren Johnson. Anderson was on board at Warren Johnson Enterprises for 12 years and three of Johnson’s six NHRA championships (1992, 1993, and 1995). In 1998, Anderson took the reins of father-in-law Troy Humphrey’s Pro Stock car, and in 2000 he drove part-time and consulted for Pro Stock veteran Mark Pawuk.
Nitro Side Show to Feature Stampede of Speed Food Drive
Race to Feed the Finish Line will support Ennis and Waxahachie food banks
ENNIS, TX – One of the wildest events of the 2nd annual Stampede of Speed, Scott Palmer’s Nitro Side Show will add a community element 
to this year’s line-up when it returns to wow fans from across the country. On Monday, October 10, motorsports and extreme speed fans will be treated to a variety of high horsepower race cars and exhibition runs thanks to NHRA veteran Scott Palmer and his Nitro Side Show. Top Fuel dragsters, fuel altered and jet cars will make exhibition passes lighting up the Ellis County sky beginning at 7 p.m. as they try and set speed records and breathe fire as they roar down the track. The pits will be open for fans to get up close and personal with some of the most exotic race cars on the planet. To also give back to the local communities in Ellis County the event will feature a discounted ticket for every spectator who brings at least one food item to donate to either the Ennis or Waxahachie food bank.
“We wanted to add an element to the Nitro Side Show that gives back to Ennis and Waxahachie, both with a discounted ticket for fans and something to help each of the cities. The eye-opening, pulse pounding event will ramp up the excitement level for the week and have a fun rivalry element for Ennis and Waxahachie,” said Christie Meyer Johnson, Texas Motorplex co-owner. “Scott Palmer and the race teams will put on an amazing show and we hope that we fill up the Ennis and Waxahachie food banks. The holiday season will be here before we know it and we wanted to do something to help people who may be struggling. The discounted ticket is just our way of saying thanks to the local community for supporting the track for so many years.”
Funny Car Chaos Finals Capped by After Party in the Pits
Stampede of Speed weekend opens with throwback race and music
ENNIS, TX – The opening weekend of the 2nd annual Stampede of Speed will rev up with the series-ending Funny Car Chaos Finals 
followed by a high energy After Party in the Pits featuring country stars Niko Moon and Kolby Cooper on Saturday, October 8. Featuring ten days of racing events, concerts and special events the Stampede of Speed has quickly established itself as the must-attend for motorsports and music fans across the country. The Saturday program will feature some of the best Nostalgia Funny Car racing in the country followed by two rising stars in the country music scene.
“Hosting the Funny Car Chaos Finals is a great way to start the Stampede of Speed. We always say Texas Motorplex is where speed was born and these Funny Cars are a throwback to the history of drag racing,” said Christie Meyer Johnson. “The variety of race cars that will be on the track will be highly entertaining. Just walking the pits and seeing these cool looking Funny Cars is amazing. They are fast, wild and unpredictable so they put on a great show.”
Known as an adventurous artist, writer and musician Niko Moon wins over fans with an enduring optimism and a flair for challenging boundaries. His newest songs “Good Time” and “Drunk Over You” are quickly becoming favorites and will be featured on his fourth album set for release later this year. Kolby Cooper, a prolific songwriter has an uncanny ability to turn his and his friends’ life stories into relatable songs his rabidly zealous fanbase can’t get enough of, and his upcoming EP is no different, stacking the release with high-energy rockers, scorching break-up anthems and reflective love songs. Cooper has amassed over 113.5 million on demand streams to date.
