There’s a certain feeling you get when you finally attend an event you’ve heard about for years but have never experienced for yourself. Pulling into Texas Motorplex to find a packed parking lot and stacked pits was a beautiful reminder that, despite what the internet may say, drag racing is alive and well. You could see stackers and trailers as far as the Texas sky is wide, each one carrying a story and a history of what led them to that moment.
Walking into Texas Motorplex for the NHRA FallNationals was like walking into Disney for the first time, except the attractions here sat on slicks, produced sound that you could feel, and rattled the very ground you were standing on.
At the FallNationals, every sense was awakened by the machines calling the staging lanes home for the weekend. From the piercing bite of the nitro in the air and the force of a Top Fuel launch hitting you in the chest to the clouds of smoke billowing off the tires and the sudden, almost surreal silence after a pass, the sights, sounds, and smells of drag racing kept your senses firing on all cylinders.
The unique thing about this event is that it’s not just another race. It’s an entire spectacle, with something new to witness in every direction you looked. Want to pet or even sit on an African Watusi? They have you covered. Want to watch what goes on in the pits of a Top Fuel World Championship team? You can get up close to the machines and teams that put on the show. And if watching nitro at night under the Texas sky is more your speed, you guessed it, they’ve got you covered there, too.
Legends and rookies alike took to the stage of the NHRA FallNationals, where egos would be shattered, and records would be broken. You could almost feel the tension in the air as the chase for the championship ensued and the points battle became tighter. The same tenacity that could be felt in the pits could be followed all the way through the staging lanes to the water box, and it was unlike anything I have experienced at any other event.
Spectators sat in awe and watched as points leaders such as Greg Stanfield saw their championship leads slip away while defending champions like Dallas Glenn climbed the rankings. Moments like those become a part of not only the event’s legacy but the track’s as well.
Texas Motorplex has been home to this event for 40 years, and understanding the history of an event of this magnitude is an essential piece of ensuring it continues to grow for generations to come. With the unforgettable moments and rich history this track and event hold, it deserves a spot on every race fan’s bucket list.
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