{"id":104922,"date":"2026-09-30T18:44:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T18:44:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/stampede-of-speed-brings-a-texas-sized-showdown-to-playoffs-with-texas-nhra-fallnationals\/"},"modified":"2026-09-30T18:44:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T18:44:05","slug":"stampede-of-speed-brings-a-texas-sized-showdown-to-playoffs-with-texas-nhra-fallnationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/drag-racing\/uncategorized\/stampede-of-speed-brings-a-texas-sized-showdown-to-playoffs-with-texas-nhra-fallnationals\/","title":{"rendered":"Stampede Of Speed Brings A Texas-Sized Showdown To Playoffs With Texas NHRA FallNationals"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is headed to the famed Texas Motorplex for a Texas-sized event for the sixth annual Stampede of Speed and the main event of the 10-day extravaganza, the 41st annual Texas NHRA FallNationals, which takes place Oct. 9-18 at the famed facility as part of NHRA\u2019s 75th anniversary season.<\/p>\n

The NHRA FallNationals takes place Oct. 14-18 and marks the 18th of 20 events in the 2026 NHRA season and the fourth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship. The race has always been a pivotal playoff and with the stakes as high as ever, every NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series championship contender knows how important it is to perform well in Dallas.<\/p>\n

That was the case just a year ago when all four drivers who won the NHRA FallNationals finished as world champions. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Richard Gadson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won the highly coveted NHRA FallNationals cowboy hat and the Wally trophy, emphasizing the magnitude of the annual stop at legendary Texas Motorplex.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s race will once again be broadcast on FS1, with elimination coverage beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 18, and it\u2019s a weekend loaded with big moments during NHRA\u2019s milestone 75th anniversary season.<\/p>\n

The action kicks off in a big way on Friday with two qualifying rounds and the thrilling \u201cJEGS Friday Night Live,\u201d featuring the popular \u201cBattle for the Saddle.\u201d More than $40,000 in bonus money is on the line for drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. The low qualifier under the lights on Friday night will net Top Fuel and Funny Car stars $15,000 each in bonus money, with $7,500 going to the quickest qualifier in Pro Stock and $5,000 in Pro Stock Motorcycle.<\/p>\n

For the must-see night session, fan are encouraged to wear black and yellow as part of a special \u201cBlack and Yellow Bash,\u201d another fun aspect of \u201cJEGS Friday Night Live\u201d.<\/p>\n

Like Friday Night\u2019s action, fans will enjoy VP Racing Spirits Final Qualifying during the second qualifying session on Saturday afternoon (and fourth overall). VP Racing Spokesperson Ida Zetterstrom will be joined by the VP Racing Mad Scientist mascot to represent the brand and their Twisted Sisters Texas Whiskey debuting at its first motorsports event, the NHRA FallNationals.\u00a0All four pro classes will be competing for a \u201cSpeedy Armadillo\u201d trophy during VP Racing Spirits Final Qualifying, where Zetterstrom will present the awards. Eliminations will commence on Sunday, where winners will be crowned at the legendary facility during another memorable stop at Texas Motorplex.<\/p>\n

As NHRA\u2019s year-long celebration of its 75th anniversary season, fans will be treated to incredible racing from the 340-mph nitro-burning machines as well as a tribute to Texas Motorplex owner Billy Meyer, as he is honored as one of NHRA\u2019s Top 75 Drivers.<\/p>\n

Last season, Top Fuel\u2019s Kalitta earned his third Dallas victory and then won his second world title. This season, Kalitta has four wins as well as the regular season title, but his teammate Shawn Langdon has been red-hot with seven wins. He\u2019s currently on a three-race win streak, while taking on the likes of Antron Brown, Leah Pruett, rookie standout Maddi Gordon and motorsports legend Tony Stewart.<\/p>\n

Prock picked up his first Dallas win last year before rolling to his second consecutive Funny Car title. This season, four-time world champion Matt Hagan currently leads the points, with Jordan Vandergriff sitting second. Former world champions Ron Capps, J.R. Todd and Jack Beckman are also firmly in the mix as one of the closest Funny Car points battles in recent years heads to Dallas.<\/p>\n

Pro Stock standout Glenn won for the first time in Dallas last year en route to the world title. He won the regular season title and currently sits third, behind Matt Hartford and current points leader Greg Stanfield. Others to watch include Greg Anderson, Jeg Coughlin Jr. Troy Coughlin Jr., as well as Texan Erica Enders.<\/p>\n

Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Gadson won over Brayden Davis last season on his way to his first world title. Gadson won the regular season championship and remains in the points lead early in the Countdown, facing off against a field that includes Gaige Herrera, Matt and Angie Smith, John Hall, Ryan Oehler and Chase Van Sant.<\/p>\n

The Texas NHRA FallNationals will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which begins on Wednesday, Oct. 14, as well as the finale in Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown and Right Trailers Outlaw Street.<\/p>\n

Fans will also be treated to the JEG\u2019s Allstars event, which pits sportsman racers from across the country against each other, beginning on Friday, Oct. 16. The unique specialty race is back as a highlight of the 2026 Stampede of Speed at Texas Motorplex and is one of the most highly-anticipated sportsman events of the year.<\/p>\n

Leading into the race weekend, fans can take part in several events during the massive 10-day Stampede for Speed. That includes the Stars of Texas Music Festival (October 9-11), the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional race (October 12-13) and the popular NHRA FanFest presented by Red Line Oil at Railyard Park in downtown Waxahachie (Thursday, October 9), where fans can meet and get autographs from the top stars in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and the JEGS Allstars.<\/p>\n

Race fans at Texas Motorplex can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk, as well as the winner\u2019s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans can congratulate the winners.<\/p>\n

Fans with reserved tickets with a pit pass get access to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction. They can see their favorite teams in action in the pits, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers and more. They can also visit NHRA\u2019s Manufacturers Midway with interactive displays, merchandise and food.<\/p>\n

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:15 and 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 16, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 12 p.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 18. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 3 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n

To purchase tickets to the Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, call\u00a0800-668-6775<\/a>\u00a0or visit\u00a0tickets.texasmotorplex.com<\/a>. For info about NHRA, visit\u00a0www.nhra.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This story was originally published on September 30, 2026. \"Drag<\/p>\n

The post Stampede Of Speed Brings A Texas-Sized Showdown To Playoffs With Texas NHRA FallNationals<\/a> first appeared on Drag Illustrated<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is headed to the famed Texas Motorplex for a Texas-sized event for the sixth annual Stampede of Speed and the main event of the 10-day extravaganza, the 41st annual Texas NHRA FallNationals, which takes place Oct. 9-18 at the famed facility as part of NHRA\u2019s 75th anniversary season. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-104922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104922"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104922\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racepages.com\/Videos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}