An aerial view of the Texas Motorplex. Photo courtesy of the Texas Motorplex

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio

ENNIS – Drag racing Hall of Famer Billy Meyer and his Texas Motorplex are aging gracefully this weekend, while playing host to what has morphed into the sport’s longest cocktail party.

Billy Meyer, left, congratulates Steve Torrence after he won the Top Fuel race at the 2018 AAA Texas Fall Nationals. Photo by Mark Rebilas

The fifth annual Stampede of Speed is inexorably rolling toward its top end _ Sunday’s eliminations of the 40^th annual Texas NHRA Fall Nationals. After 10-days and nights of drag racing mixed with Texas-themed live music, menus and family-friendly events throughout Ellis County, attention-spans are re-focusing on “The Billyplex.”   

“Yeah, it’s not quite Jerry’s World,” said Meyer, 71, referencing the AT&T Stadium home of the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington’s trendy Entertainment District. “But we’ve been able to help the community.”

Indeed, Meyer’s status as a visionary was secured when the Motorplex made its NHRA national event debut September 25-28, 1986 as big-time drag racing’s first stadium-style, fan-and-corporate friendly facility _ complete with 176 restrooms. Additionally, the Plex’s racing surface was revolutionary – the world’s first single-pour, post-tension all-concrete quarter-mile.

Billy Meyer. Photo courtesy of Division 4 Hall of Fame

Those elements combined to elevate expectations of comfort and convenience for fans and speed and consistency for competitors. In retrospect, the folks living in and around laid-back Ennis were not quite prepared for all the attention.

“You know, it’s kind of comical,” Meyer said. “Our relationship in Ennis has been up-and-down over the years because they didn’t want to grow. And now that they’re in more of a growth-mode with a new generation of people living here…they did this big survey just last year, spent a fortune on how to build a city. And it came back and said you just need to get involved with the Texas Motorplex, because nobody knows anything about Ennis except that’s where the Texas Motorplex is. Now they understand that we need to have a relationship and a partnership, so that’s a blessing.”

As in, praise be MERP. The Stampede of Speed is a product of the Texas Major Events Reimbursement Program (MERP). Administered by Gov. Greg Abbott’s tourism office, MERP uses estimated increases in specific tax revenues to help local governments attract and fund major events. Local governments apply to the state to create a trust fund for a specific event, which is then funded by state and local contributions based on an estimated increase in tax receipts (including hotel occupancy, sales and liquor taxes) generated by the event.

The Texas Motorplex opened in 1986 and was the first-ever all concrete dragstrip. Photo courtesy of the Texas Motorplex

The fund is used to reimburse eligible costs associated with an event, with strict guidelines and deadlines for participation and disbursement requests. The recurring program has developed into a godsend for the Motorplex, currently playing host to the one-and-only NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series national event booked for the Lone Star State. Currently the fourth of six Countdown to the Championship races, The Plex has retained that pivotal position on the recently revealed 2026 schedule.

“Oh, it (MERP) changed everything for us to introduce the Stampede of Speed,” said Christie Meyer Johnson, Billy’s daughter as well as Motorplex co-owner and general manager. “It’s just been a game-changer, because it makes people recognize us as a major league sport. It’s been really important for us and NHRA to see there are other things we can do to bring more people to Texas. The whole point is to bring people to Texas for tax dollars, obviously.”

The Texas Motorplex was the first dragstrip to feature stadium-style seating along with a permanent hospitality/VIP structure (The Champions Club). Photo courtesy of the Texas Motorplex

A post-event, online economic impact report completed by the Office of the Governor on the inaugural Texas NHRA Fall Nationals/Stampede of Speed conducted from Oct. 2-10, 2021 listed primary and secondary direct spending at $25,802,150 generating tax revenue of $1,660,036. However, the report also stated the data was “inconclusive in determining the actual economic impact of the event.” Neither a positive nor a negative impact was determinable, according to the report, since the tax information provided showed both increases and decreases in taxes collected.

“The last time I looked at it, it was close to $20-million for what it brings into the state,” Meyer Johnson said. “We’ve seen numbers from $12-million to $15-million to $20-million over the years. It’s wild to think that.”

Meyer Johnson said the Stampede fits neatly into re-defining the Motorplex as a multi-purpose facility. “We’re not just a drag strip anymore,” said Meyer Johnson, 40. “People just want to be entertained. We’ve had to be creative and the Stampede of Speed brings in things that younger generations like. That way they’ll be introduced to drag racing and hopefully come back for the NHRA Fall Nationals. That’s the reason we did the whole 10-day event. We’re constantly trying to come up with something kind of off-the-wall, change the rules a little, trying to be creative.”

Elon Werner interviews NHRA Top Fuel driver Steve Torrence and NHRA Pro Stock driver Erica Enders at the Stampede of Speed Media Day event held at the Champions Club. Photo courtesy of the Texas Motorplex

The Motorplex’s full 2025 schedule began in March and will run through December, including visits by the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the Import Face Off and Texas Radial Roundup and T&E Street Car Showdown. All those event weekends revolve around the Stampede and Fall Nats.

“Obviously, our one big event makes good money,” Billy Meyer said. “But we wanted to have a fulltime staff and a drag racing facility open all the time for the locals to race. We have three (NHRA) Divisional races, so we try to accommodate the sport. The fulltime staff is 28 or so here every day. It’s just gotten to be a big family with so many people that have been here forever.”

The nostalgic Stampede of Speed Funny Car made its debut for this year’s Texas NHRA Fall Nationals. Photo courtesy of the Texas Motorplex

Along that line, the 40^th anniversary program has served as a celebration of the Meyer Family.

“What the Meyer Family has done not only here but for the entire sport is something very, very special,” said Houston native Erica Enders, 42, a six-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion. “You travel the country going to a million different racetracks and not many, if any, do what the Meyer Family does. It definitely means a ton to me. Grew up racing here. To become a pro and to have won here multiple times is definitely really neat.

“I love everything about it. I love the Stampede of Speed, a week-long event that’s really put drag racing on the map.”

Ron Capps and drag racing legend Don Prudhomme, along with Billy Meyer. These three drivers have had great success while racing at the Texas Motorplex. Photo courtesy of the Texas Motorplex

Similarly, four-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence of Kilgore can relate to working in a family business. In the real world, Torrence is an employee of Capco Contractors. Founded by Billy Torrence, Steve’s father and periodic Top Fuel teammate, Capco is a construction company specializing in the oil and gas industry.

“I’m trying to take over the reins of that business and carry on that family legacy,” said Torrence, 42. “I enjoy seeing the same thing transpiring in a different industry and business but something I’m passionate about and keeping the Texas Motorplex legacy going.

“In fact, I was involved with Billy and Christie and the governor when we were presenting all of this (Stampede program) to the State of Texas at the Capitol. I had my car down there in front of the governor’s mansion and got Governor Abbott in there and started the car up. Proud to be part of making it all happen.”

Oliver the Watusi bull has become the official mascot and a fan favorite at the Texas Motorplex. Photo courtesy of the Texas Motorplex

There is every reason to believe the Motorplex will remain Meyer Family property well into the next generation. Billy Meyer already has turned over day-to-day operation of the facility to his daughter.

“Christie calls me five times a day because I’m the one – remember, I’m 71-years-old – so I’m the one with the 55-year knowledge of drag racing. I’m just a good sounding board for her. And I do a lot of the sponsorship stuff. But she’s the general manager and operator of it. So I only have to take phone calls.”

Politely correcting her father, Meyer Johnson said – ahem – she might call him more like “five times a week” rather than five times a day for advice and/or counsel.

“You know, this wasn’t my original plan,” said Meyer Johnson, who graduated from Baylor University in Waco with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics. “I was a teacher and wanted to follow in my mom (Deborah)’s footsteps. And then one day my dad said, ‘Do you want to learn the business?’ I said, ‘Sure.’ So he put me in the concession stand, the souvenir stand and said, ‘OK, learn every job.’ I sold food, I sold tickets, I sold t-shirts, I’ve been a starter on the starting line and the only thing I can say I haven’t done is prep the track.

Billy Meyer and his daughter Christie Meyer-Johnson are celebrating the track’s 40th anniversary season. Photo courtesy of Elon Werner

“I’ve been here since about 2007, 2008 and feel like over the course of time he’s given me enough time to observe and see and learn.”

Among her mentors, Christie said, are former GMs Ryan Haas and Elon Werner, who now is serving as the track’s communications specialist.

“I have a lot of incredible mentors along with my father to be there for me when I need help, when I have questions, when I need some history, some advice on how to handle situations,” Meyer Johnson said. “But here I am. This is three years now that I’ve been in this role and very fortunate to do this and follow in my dad’s footsteps. I love my mom but apparently teaching wasn’t for me and being the GM of a drag racing facility is. It’s been good. I’m really grateful.

“And my children (daughter Charlee, 13, and son Sam, 11) are here. They’re working. They want to do this.”

The Stampede of Speed parade and cattle drive has become a fan favorite event in the nearby town of Waxahachie. Photo courtesy of the Texas Motorplex

In his role as grandfather, Billy Meyer is excited by that probable line of succession. “There’s really no reason not to be,” Meyer said. “TexDot is doing highway improvements, putting in service roads and overpasses at both ends of the property. That’ll help the value of the property quite a bit. Most racetracks, ultimately/sometimes, end up being sold because of the property value. But the Indy 500 (at Indianapolis Motor Speedway) is still there. Wrigley Field is still there (in Chicago). So, I’m probably one of those kind of guys that thinks there’s no reason to ever sell it.”

The smell and taste of nitromethane has been fueling Meyer since age 16, when he became the youngest person to earn a Funny Car license. Still in his teens, Billy left his Waco home in 1972 six weeks after graduation from Richfield High School to pursue a fulltime racing career.

“My mom (Betty) called me ‘Wild Bill’ and my dad (Paul J.) called me ‘Wide Open,’^” Billy said. “That kind of fits my personality. I live large. I love every day and try to get the most out of everything I’ve tried. I just happen to have a pretty competitive personality.”

Billy Meyer was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame on March 12, 2020. Photo courtesy of the Texas Motorplex

Meyer was inducted into the International Drag Race Hall of Fame on March 12, 2020. The HOF is housed at The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, Fla. But because Billy’s competitive career ended in 1987, his driving record largely has been overlooked by a generation of fans. Meyer won 12 NHRA Funny Car national events, 11 in the IHRA and that rival sanctioning body’s 1980 World Championship during a career that spanned a decidedly less-corporate drag racing landscape from 1970 to 1987.

Fittingly, Meyer donned a fire suit, protective gloves and helmet for the first time in 37 years twice this weekend before sliding into the cockpit of the official Stampede of Speed Dodge Charger Funny Car. Friday night’s starting line burnout was added to Billy’s resume as practice.

“As soon as I got out of the car (Friday night), I wanted to do it again. I knew there’d be a new crowd (Saturday),” Meyer said. NHRA officials were only too pleased to insert “Billy’s Burnout” into Saturday’s schedule. So, shortly before noon, Meyer laid down some serious, hot rubber.

A variety of racing events have been held over the years at the Texas Motorplex including racing semi trucks. Photo courtesy of the Texas Motorplex

“It was better than I thought it would be and it really meant a lot to have Ron Capps and Jack Beckman on the starting line,” said Meyer, acknowledging that pair of current Funny Car stars. “And I could hear the crowd cheer before they started the car.”

Meyer has been openly emotional during various Stampede appearances, proud to be recounting 40 national event weekends. “Well, looking at my lifestyle, I didn’t think I’d live that 40 years because I was still racing when I built it,” Meyer said. “I cried (during a recent pre-event news conference) up there on the stage because it’s cool to be able to do something for 40 years and to make it a family tradition.”

Meyer Johnson said she grew to appreciate the track’s enduring identity as she reviewed photos, film footage and newspaper stories compiled over the decades for a “Legacy of Speed” booklet that has become a popular SWAG item.

Night of Fire has been a fan-favorite event that was first held on July 4, 1987. Photo courtesy of the Texas Motorplex

“The identity hasn’t changed,” Meyer Johnson said. “We were the first (all-concrete facility) and we’re trying to continue to change the sport of drag racing and get people interested. We’re so fortunate that we have this relationship with the drivers and with sponsors and local partners in Ennis and Waxahachie.

“So, celebrating the 40^th means a lot. I was 2-years-old when my dad built the track and I never dreamed that _ I turned 40 last November _ that I’d be standing here in this position and be here with my kids and watch them learn and be involved in the work. It means the world.

“You know, life is short. I mean, God’s given us this platform for a reason and we can use it to share his love with others. And to provide a safe place for families. That’s really important to me. Obviously, we see what’s happening in the news. This is a place where people can come and hopefully forget about the world for a few hours and be here together for an affordable price with the people they love.”

Billy and Christie Meyer Johnson genuinely believe the Texas Motorplex is about making lifetime memories. “That’s right,” Meyer Johnson said. “It’s about people. For 40 years I like to say we’re ‘cemented in history.’ And hopefully, our place is cemented in people’s memories.”

Editor’s note: To see what were some of the 40 greatest moments at the Texas Motorplex, click here.