Massive Group of NHRA Superstars Scheduled for Texas Fall Nationals Fan Fest

ENNIS, TX – September 30, 2025 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) — For 40 years the biggest names in NHRA drag racing have descended on Texas Motorplex, making historic runs and wowing fans in the grandstands. Once again, the stars of these 12,000-horspower Top Fuel dragsters, Nitro Funny Cars, door-slamming Pro Stockers and two-wheel Pro Stock Motorcycles will be out to mix and mingle with fans at the annual Texas Fall Nationals Pre-Stage Fan Fest on Thursday, October 9, from 6-9 p.m. The Pre-Stage Fan Fest is a free, family-friendly event featuring a driver autograph session from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with an epic lineup of NHRA drivers and riders.

More than 50 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series drivers and riders, including fan favorites Brittany Force, Tony Stewart, Justin Ashley, Ron Capps, Antron Brown, Texans Steve Torrence and Erica Enders, Matt and Angie Smith, and more are scheduled to sign autographs at this free event held for the fifth consecutive year at Railyard Park just south of the historic Waxahachie town square. The JEGS Allstars participants will also join the festivities, allowing fans to meet and greet some of the best sportsman racers from across the country.

“This is the largest free driver autograph session of the season, and we appreciate our competitors taking the time to visit with our amazing fans,” said Christie Meyer Johnson, Texas Motorplex co-owner. “Two years ago, we added the JEGS Allstars participants and now we have the future stars of the sports and the best sportsman racers signing autographs. The Fanfest has become one of the best fan-friendly events in motorsports.”

Reigning 2024 Texas Fall Nationals champions Austin Prock, Antron Brown, Greg Anderson and Gaige Herrera will be in attendance, as well as local driver Buddy Hull. Austin, Texas residents Alexis DeJoria and 8-time world champion Tony Schumacher, along with Temple, Texas’ Terry Haddock will represent the Lone Star State. Some of the biggest names in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will join the Texas contingent, including 2025 NHRA championship contenders Dallas Glenn, Richard Gadson, Aaron Stanfield and Josh Hart will also be on-site from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. signing at this free event, which also features food trucks, live music and activities for the whole family from 6-9 p.m.. Texas Motorplex mascot Oliver the Watusi will be available for photos, the “voice” of the Stampede of Speed, Joe Castello, will be emceeing and the Texas Motorplex Funny Car will be on display.

“I can’t thank the City of Waxahachie enough for their partnership for this event, and for the Stampede of Speed as a whole,” said Meyer Johnson. “We could not put on such an awesome Fan Fest event for our fans and the local community without their help. Their team exemplifies what it means to be Texas Proud, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what we have been able to create together.”

A complete list of drivers who are planning to attend is below. This list is subject to additions and deletions.

The Stampede of Speed and Texas Fall Nationals will also feature a variety of special events in addition to the Pre-Stage Fan Fest.

Stars of Texas Music Festival, October 3-5

The three-day music festival will feature headliners Pat Green, Chris Young and Clint Black as well as amazing opening acts. New fan experiences this year include the Jack Daniels Airstream bar, El Bandido Yankee Tequila mobile bar, and the NEFT Vodka 2-story bar with an observation deck on top.

NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, October 10-12

The Countdown race will kick off with JEGS Friday Night Live. In addition to the cash bonuses for Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle drivers, each of the No. 1 qualifiers will also get a $1,000 Gift Card from JEGS.

For more information on the Pre-Stage Fan Fest or the Stampede of Speed visit www.stampedeofspeed.com. The Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, the fourth Countdown playoff race, will be contested from October 8-12 at Texas Motorplex.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:15 and 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 10, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 12. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, leading into eliminations on FOX at either 2 or 4:30 p.m. ET (check local listings). For info about NHRA, visit www.nhra.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing-related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Source: National Hot Rod Association 

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