Ennis gears up this weekend for the 41st Texas NHRA FallNationals, the thunderous finale to Texas Motorplex's Stampede of Speed festival, scheduled for October 9–17, 2026. The event brings 12,000-horsepower Top Fuel cars roaring down the quarter-mile as the fourth of six NHRA playoff races, with qualifying starting Friday and final eliminations set for Sunday at noon.
As reported by The Dallas Morning News, the FallNationals also feeds into the NHRA's championship chase, which wraps up next month when the series concludes in Pomona, California. The Ennis stop carries extra weight this year given the historic win streak at stake in Top Fuel, where points leader Shawn Langdon is chasing a milestone few drivers have ever reached.
Langdon Eyes a Five-Peat Few Have Matched
Langdon enters the weekend on a four-race winning streak after sweeping the first three Countdown to the Championship events, putting him in position to become just the third driver in Top Fuel history to win five consecutive national events, according to Team Kalitta Motorsports. Only Steve Torrence in 2019 and Tony Schumacher in 2005 have pulled off that feat before him. Langdon currently holds a 116-point lead over his own teammate, Doug Kalitta, in the Top Fuel standings, per the same account from the Dallas-based outlet.
The dominance extends well beyond one driver. Team Kalitta says its dragsters have won seven consecutive Top Fuel national events and 12 of the season's 17 total races, while the team's dragsters have competed in 65 of 67 rounds of racing this season. That kind of consistency has made the team the story of the 2026 Top Fuel season heading into Ennis.
Tight Races Brewing in Pro Stock and Funny Car
Top Fuel isn't the only category with drama on the line. In Pro Stock, Greg Stanfield leads Dallas Glenn by 71 points, while Matt Hartford trails Stanfield by 81, the Dallas Morning News notes. Pro Stock Motorcycle features an even tighter margin, with Richard Gadson holding just a 32-point edge over Gaige Herrera.
In Funny Car, Matt Hagan leads Jordan Vandergriff by 72 points as he looks to add to his history at this very track — Hagan has won the Texas NHRA FallNationals three times and finished runner-up six times, the outlet's report states. Qualifying for the nitro classes begins Friday at 5:15 p.m. and runs through 8 p.m., with Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle sessions starting at 4:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. the same day. Saturday brings additional qualifying rounds for both Pro Stock at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and the nitro classes at noon and 2:30 p.m., ahead of Sunday's final eliminations at noon.
From Concrete Supertrack to Country Music Festival
Texas Motorplex's role as a championship battleground is only part of its story. Built in 1986 by former Funny Car driver Billy Meyer, the Ennis facility was the drag racing world's first all-concrete, stadium-style track, according to the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing's Billy Meyer page.
The venue's track records belong to Brittany Force, who ran a Top Fuel elapsed time of 3.637 seconds at 335.32 mph during qualifying at the October 2021 FallNationals, per John Force Racing. The run was recorded during qualifying at the October 2021 FallNationals.
Beyond the dragstrip, Texas Motorplex has grown into a full festival destination. The Stampede of Speed kicked off with the 6th annual Stars of Texas Music Festival, headlined by Aaron Watson, Brad Paisley, and Travis Tritt alongside bull riding, barbecue competitions, and nighttime lantern releases, according to the Stars of Texas Music Festival. Launched in 2021, the music festival was created to draw broader fan bases during the week leading into the FallNationals.
Community Ties and the Road Ahead for Ennis
The Texas FallNationals Fan Fest is another FallNationals event. The JEGS Allstars draws Sportsman racers from seven NHRA geographic divisions.
More information on this weekend's schedule is available at stampedeforspeed.com.
