ENNIS, TX (August 30, 2024) — Once again Texas Motorplex will recognize the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle winners with a Champions’ Dinner on Wednesday, October 9, in their upscale Champions Club. This year the track will celebrate 2023 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals winners Leah Pruett (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle). All four winners will be in attendance to celebrate their 2023 accomplishments as part of the 4th annual Stampede of Speed festivities. The event will feature a cocktail hour, plated dinner with entrees and desserts selected by the drivers themselves, individual photo opportunities with the drivers, Q&A hosted by NHRA announcer Joe Castello and a post-dinner concert on the lawn behind the luxury suites.
“The Stampede of Speed is unlike anything else in motorsports,” said Erica Enders, two-time Fall Nationals winner and 6-time Pro Stock world champion. “It’s no secret, I’m a proud Texan and it’s a unique opportunity to get to showcase Texas culture to the rest of the drag racing community. The Meyer family does such a fantastic job showcasing Texas and their love for our sport. The Champions’ Dinner is especially fun for me because we earn a spot on the stage by winning the previous year’s event. It’s a chance to ‘cowgirl’ up, for a fancy dinner, with fans and peers before the on-track festivities start on our home turf. I’ve got a Texas style dessert on the menu for guests and am looking forward to mingling, hanging out in the photo booth and jamming out to some good old fashioned country music with the greatest fans in the world.”
photo credit Randy Curtis
In addition to the previous year’s winners all previous NHRA Texas Fall Nationals professional winners were invited to return for the event. Fans will be welcomed by a red-carpet entrance with a unique Stampede of Speed backdrop as they make their way into the Champions’ Club. Following the tradition of major sporting events around the world the menu was selected by the previous year’s champions. The meal will start with a Fall Salad featuring cranberries, pecans, carrots, cucumbers on a spring mix with champagne vinaigrette dressing. The main course selected by Pruett and Hagan will feature a steak medley of Filet and T-bone steaks, with gruyere mashed potatoes, roasted hot honey asparagus, and an assortment of dinner rolls. The dessert selections were made by the Pro Stock winners Enders and Herrera who selected peach cobbler with ice cream and Oreo cheesecake trifle to wrap up the meal.
“Every year the Champions’ Dinner has become more special,” said Christie Meyer Johnson, Texas Motorplex co-owner. “We have more previous winners in attendance and the food is tremendous. We are so proud of all our Texas Fall Nationals winners so to be able to celebrate the newest winners as well as previous champions makes this a one-of-a-kind event. We are thrilled to be able to recognize Leah, Matt, Erica and Gaige as 2023 Texas Fall Nationals winners. Last year we sold the event out and we expect tickets to go quickly this year too.”
Once inside guests will have the chance to take their photo with the winners and enjoy a cocktail from the bar before the plated meal is served. During the dinner entertainment will be provided by the American Lube Supply and Royal Purple Q&A hosted by Joe Castello. Each winner will be interviewed by Castello, the voice of the Stampede of Speed, from guest submitted questions. The evening will wrap up with a special after-party sponsored by El Bandido Yankee Tequila. The after-party will feature a post-dinner concert from 90 Proof Country, one of Dallas/Ft. Worth’s top country cover bands, as well as an El Bandido tequila tasting and cigar rolling. Guests will also receive an exclusive Champions’ Dinner gift.
Tickets for the event are available now with a table for eight going for $1,000 and individual tickets available for $150 each at https://stampedeofspeed.com/. Each ticket will include Wednesday night VIP parking, dinner, photo with drivers, souvenir item and admission to the post-dinner concert. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails, dinner at 7 p.m. and the private concert at 8:30 p.m.
