By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio
ENNIS, TX – Texas Motorplex officials have announced that Don “Big Daddy” Garlits, a Hall of Fame Top Fuel driver and drag racing innovator, and original Texas Motorplex General Manager Glenn Menard have been named Texas Motorplex Legends. They will be honored at the 2026 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, which will be held October 16-18.
Garlits and Menard are among some of the earliest drag racing personalities that had a major impact in NHRA history at the Texas Motorplex when the track opened for business in 1986.
“When the Motorplex opened and hosted its first national event Don and Glenn were a major part of our success,” said Christie Meyer Johnson, Texas Motorplex co-owner. “Don is drag racing and he is one of the biggest legends in the sport. He won the first Texas Fall Nationals and has been a long-time competitor and supporter of the track. The impact Glenn had on the development of the track is almost impossible to measure. His leadership and dedication in the early years set the track on a path to success.”
Garlits, who is now 94, will always hold a special place in Texas Motorplex history. When the all-concrete Texas Motorplex opened, he won the Chief Auto Parts Nationals, the track’s inaugural NHRA national event, defeating Darrell “The Wolf” Gwynn in a memorable Top Fuel final under the lights. Despite entering the final round as the underdog, Garlits was able to produce a stellar .456-second reaction time against Gwynn’s .615, giving him everything he needed to win the track’s first Top Fuel race.
It was Garlits’ 34th national-event career win. He would later go on that year to win his third NHRA Top Fuel championship with the revolutionary Swamp Rat XXX.
Garlits is considered to be one of the most influential drag racers and the sport’s greatest pioneer in NHRA history. He won three NHRA Top Fuel world championships in 1975, 1985 and 1986 and accumulated 144 national-event victories across NHRA, AHRA and IHRA competitions. He was the first drag racer to break 200 mph, later became the first to exceed 250 mph, and in 1986 drove his revolutionary streamlined Swamp Rat XXX beyond the 270 mph barrier. The NHRA even named Garlits No. 1 on its list of the Top 50 Drivers of its first 50 years.
Menard also had a major impact on the success at the Texas Motorplex. He was General Manager when the track opened in 1986 and he came back to that role decades later following successful tenures with the Super Bowl, World Cup and the Superdome. In the sports world, Menard is recognized nationally as one of the best facility and event managers in the country.
Garlits and Menard will join an impressive list of others who are Texas Motorplex Legends:
2019 – Cory McClenathan
2020 – Tony Schumacher
2021 – Don Prudhomme and Richard Shute
2022 – Greg Anderson and Dave Densmore
2023 – Darrell Gwynn, Antron Brown and Mickey Prestridge
2024 – Olan and Judy Gotcher, Rosalee Noble
2025 – John Force, TJ Bailey and Joe Luebano
2026 – Don Garlits and Glenn Menard
The Texas Motorplex Legends will be recognized and presented with their one-of-a-kind Legend spurs at separate ceremonies throughout the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, October 16-18. For tickets to the Stampede of Speed or the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals visit www.stampedeofspeed.com. Additional information can be found at www.nhra.com.
