The scoreboard showed the record-setting result of Steve Torrence’s No. 1 qualifying run during the 2024 Texas Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex.  Torrence will drive his CAPCO Contractors Top Fuel Toyota in pursuit of a third win at his home track this weekend. Photo by Mark Rebilas

By Mike Haag and John Sturbin,  Raceday San Antonio

ENNIS, Texas – Since it opened in 1986 the Texas Motorplex in Ennis has stood as one of the crown jewels of NHRA drag racing. The all-concrete quarter-mile track has hosted countless moments that shaped not only the sport but also the legacy of professional drag racing in Texas. From record-breaking runs and championship drama to milestone victories and historic firsts, the Motorplex has been the backdrop for some of the sport’s most memorable achievements. While the list of great performances over nearly four decades is long, Raceday San Antonio has selected 40 standout moments that best capture the excitement, impact, and enduring legacy of the Texas Motorplex.

Here are 40 moments that helped define the Texas Motorplex and its place in drag racing history.

1. (September 25-28,1986) — Billy Meyer’s Texas Motorplex opened as the world’s first single-pour, post-tension all-concrete quarter-mile. The facility immediately changed expectations for speed and consistency in drag racing. And the track’s stadium-style, tower design made it unlike any other racetrack in the country.
2. (September 25, 1986) — Darrell “The Kid” Gwynn logged a record Top Fuel pass on opening night of the Chief Nationals. Gwynn’s 5.280-second pass at 278-plus mph set a class ET record, immediately placing The Plex on NHRA map.
3. (1986) — Opening Night Top Fuel Final: Garlits vs. Gwynn — After a rain delay, drag racing legend “Big Daddy” Don Garlits defeated Darrell Gwynn in an underdog-over-favorite result before a massive crowd estimated at 41,000.
4. (1986) — Opening Night in Funny Car: Kenny Bernstein became the first Funny Car driver to run 5.425-seconds, while Mark Oswald shattered the class speed record by nearly four mph with a 268.09 mph blast. It was another sign of the horsepower the new strip could handle.
5. (1986) — Opening Night in Pro Stock: Ford loyalist Bob Glidden scored his landmark 50th career “Factory Hot Rod” victory by defeating Warren “The Professor” Johnson.
6. (1987) — Texas Motorplex became the first facility to build a permanent hospitality/VIP structure _ the Top Eliminator Club _ now billed as the Champions Club.
7. (1987) — The Plex also opened the Division 4 Hall of Fame, the only track with its own Hall of Fame.
8. (July 4, 1987) — The inaugural Night of Fire featured incredible racing, wild stunts and a fireworks show. The event lineup included acts like Benny the Bomb and the fearless Dynamite Lady.
9. (April 9, 1988) — Eddie “Thrill” Hill, of Wichita Falls, Texas, recorded the first 4-second pass in Top Fuel history at 4.990-seconds during an IHRA-sanctioned event.
10. (1989) — John “Brute” Force experienced an epic meltdown after his wild first-round race against Ed “The Ace” McCulloch. NHRA officials ruled Force hit the outside wall and disqualified his run. The only problem was Force did not hit the wall, as there was not a scratch on his car. When officials refused to hear Force’s pleas, things got ugly. Force launched a verbal tirade against the NHRA Safety Safari.
11. (1989) — Scott Kalitta scored his first professional Funny Car victory. The son of drag racing icon Conrad “Connie” Kalitta, Scott won the race despite a broken leg suffered in a skiing accident.
12. (1990) — Mark Oswald was involved in a devasting crash while racing Al Hofmann in the first round of Funny Car at the Chief Nationals. Oswald’s engine exploded after crossing the finish line, then hit the walls as he slid down the track.
13. (1992) — Cruz Pedregon dethroned John Force for the Funny Car world championship before a standing-room-only crowd. Both drivers spun their rear tires at the start and pedaled to the finish line. Force’s run ended when he crashed into the outside wall of the left lane.
14. (October 1994) — Don “The Snake” Prudhomme defeated Cory McClenathan in the Top Fuel final at 4.776-seconds and 290.51 mph. Competing during his retirement tour, Prudhomme celebrated his final NHRA victory. Prudhomme exited the cockpit with 49 career NHRA national event wins _ 35 in Funny Car and 14 in Top Fuel.
15. (October 1993) — Texas fan-favorite Eddie Hill secured his first Top Fuel world title seated alongside wife Ercie inside a tower suite. The soft-spoken Hill, driver of the Pennzoil yellow “Nuclear Banana” dragster, was eliminated by Kenny Bernstein in the first round. However, Hill clinched when Mike Dunn defeated Scott Kalitta in the final. At age 57, Hill became NHRA’s oldest Top Fuel champ. That record was re-set by 59-year-old Doug Kalitta, Scott’s cousin, in 2023.
16. (October 10-13,1996) — Competing in the Chief Auto Parts Fall Nationals in the famed, red Budweiser Top Fuel Dragster, Kenny Bernstein clocked a record-breaking 318.60 mph pass (at 4.603-seconds) to clinch the Winston World Championship.
17. (April 1997) — Texas Motorplex made history off the racetrack by becoming the first non-NHRA-owned facility to host two national events, expanding its role as a regional and national drag racing hub. Two national event races were scheduled from 1997-2000. 
18. (October 19, 1997) — Cory McClenathan’s 321.77 mph pass set a speed milestone in NHRA Top Fuel.
19. (October 19, 1997) — The Plex produced the quickest qualifying field in NHRA history with Gary Scelzi, John Force, Warren Johnson and Larry Kopp leading the way going into the finals.
20. (October 23, 1999) — Tony Schumacher defeated Scott Kalitta to score his first national event win at the Motorplex during the 1999 Chief Auto Parts Nationals, en route to the first of his eight world championships. Schumacher’s Fall Nationals victories were scored in 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2014.
21. (October 23, 1999) — John Force clinched his ninth NHRA Funny Car world championship by defeating Tommy Johnson Jr. in the quickest side-by-side race in Funny Car history. Force went 4.827-seconds at 319.60 mph to Johnson’s 4.843-second pass at 319.82 mph. It was the 80th national event victory for Force.
22. (May 28, 2000) — John Force defeated Tony Pedregon during the Castrol Nationals to earn his 85th Wally, tying Bob Glidden for the most wins all-time.
23. (September 23, 2004) — Texas Motorplex became the first NHRA track to offer fans starting line balcony seating in the tower suites.
24. (September 26, 2004) — Greg Anderson clinched his second consecutive NHRA Pro Stock world championship at The Plex. Anderson secured the title sooner than any competitor in NHRA history.
25. (September 23, 2007) — John Force and Kenny Bernstein were involved in a grinding crash during their second-round Funny Car pairing. Force suffered multiple, severe injuries and did not race again until the 2008 season. Force returned to earn a semifinal finish at Texas Motorplex in 2008 and a second-round result in 2009.
26. (September 26, 2010) — John Force vowed to win again at Texas Motorplex, advancing to his first final-round appearance since his crash in 2007. Unfortunately for “Brute,” arch-rival Matt Hagan prevailed in the final.
27. (2012) — Traxxas Nitro Shootout matched Ron Capps vs. John Force. Force scored his seventh Shootout win at 4.218-seconds at 296.57 mph to Capps’ pass in 4.223-seconds at 296.50 mph. The win was worth $100,000.
28. (September 21, 2014) — Courtney Force set the track Funny Car ET record at 4.039-seconds and became the first female winner of the Fall Nationals by defeating Del Worsham in the final.
29. (2014) — The track’s Top Fuel ET record (3.761-seconds) and speed mark (326.71 mph) were established, respectively, by J.R. Todd and Doug Kalitta.
30. (2015) — Houston native Erica Enders earned her eighth NHRA Pro Stock victory of the season, breaking Angelle Sampey’s mark for most wins by a female competitor during a single NHRA season.
31. (October 15, 2017) — Top Fuel star Brittany Force lowered the track’s ET record to 3.681-seconds at 326.87 mph while defeating Shawn Langdon in the final.
32. (October 15, 2017) _ Robert Hight set the track speed record at 338.60 mph during Round 1 of the Fall Nationals before going on to win the race.
33. (March 12, 2020) — Texas Motorplex founder and former Funny Car driver Billy Meyer is inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame during ceremonies in Orlando, Fla.
34. (October 2021) — The Motorplex introduced its Stampede of Speed initiative, a 10-day festival combining NHRA drag racing with Texas-themed live musical entertainment and family-friendly events in Ennis, Waxahachie and Ellis County.
35. (2020) — Kilgore, Texas, resident and Top Fuel champion Steve Torrence trailered his father, Billy, with a pass in 3.716-seconds at 328.78 mph. It was an emotional headline moment featuring a heads-up family rivalry, big speed and world championship implications.
36. (2020) — Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher was recognized as a Texas Motorplex Legend for his dominance in Top Fuel. Schumacher, a transplant living in the Austin area, also set the national speed record at 326.91 mph.
37. (2023) — Tony Stewart Racing scored its first nitro double as Leah Pruett (Top Fuel) and Matt Hagan (Funny Car) both won on the same day for Stewart, the fledgling team-owner and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.
38. (2023) — Erica Enders of Elite Motorsports became the winningest female in NHRA national event history via her 47th victory opposite Dallas Glenn. Enders ran 6.469-seconds at 211.55 mph; Glenn’s numbers were 6.493-seconds at 210.40 mph.
39. (October 14, 2023) — Rookie Pro Stock Motorcycle sensation Gaige Herrera posted the lowest ET in class history with a 6.627-second pass at 204.16 mph. Herrera ousted Eddie Krawiec in the final.
40. (October 13, 2024) — Matt Hagan scored his 52nd career Funny Car win with a blast of 3.823-seconds. Hagan notched his fifth event victory at The Plex. In addition, Justin Ashley scored his first Motorplex Top Fuel Countdown win, and fourth victory of the season, by trailering Clay Millican.

Editor’s note: To read more about the 40-year history of the Texas Motorplex, click here.