MASSIVE GROUP OF NHRA SUPERSTARS SCHEDULED FOR TEXAS FALL NATIONALS FAN FEST
ENNIS, Texas (September 30, 2025) — 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.
Dave Schmidgall from Bartonville, Illinois USA (Comp Number: 265) 1996 - Category: ALKYFC, Type: CN, Class: TA/FC, Div: 3 "Week End Warrior" Owned by Dave Schmidgall from Bartonville, Illinois USA '86 Chevrolet Corvette by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.530 at […]
George Schreiber from Lakewood, California USA 1996 - Category: JETDRAG, Type: JN, Class: Jet Dragster, Div: 7 "Star Jet" Owned by George Schreiber from Lakewood, California USA '94 Dragster by Jet Shop | Powered by a J85 General Electric thrust engine 1/4 Mile ET: 5.360 at 1996 | 1/4 Mile MPH: Unknown at Unknown 1/8 […]
Micke Bjork from Falun, Sweden 1996 - Category: PM-NITROUS, Type: NE, Class: Pro Modified, Div: 9 "Bjork & Bergman" Owned by Micke Bjork & Micke Bergman from Falun, Sweden '69 Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 632 cubic inch Donovan Chevrolet with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.010 […]
Jan Muren from Nykoping, Sweden (Comp Number: 123) 1996 - Category: PS-500, Type: LE, Class: Pro Stock, Div: 9 "McDonald\'s/Nykoping" Owned by Larsson Muren from Nykoping, Sweden '92 Pontiac Trans Am by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Oldsmobile with 5 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.229 at Alastaro […]
John Smith from Williamston, South Carolina USA (Comp Number: 747) 1996 - Category: TOPFUEL, Type: TN, Class: TF, Div: 2 "Hartman Enterprises" Owned by Virgil Hartman from Williamston, South Carolina USA '96 Dragster by J. Ed Horton | Powered by a 500 cubic inch TFX Hemi by Virgil Hartman with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: […]
Gary Scelzi from Santa Maria, California USA 1996 - Category: TOPFUEL, Type: TN, Class: TF, Div: 7 "Team Winston" Owned by Alan Johnson from Santa Maria, California USA '95 Dragster by Brad Hadman | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Alan Johnson Chevrolet with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.560 at Unknown | 1/4 Mile […]
Brad Simpson from Victoria Australia (Comp Number: 214) 1996 - Category: TOPFUEL, Type: TA, Class: TF, Div: 8 "Santo\'s Cranes #2" Owned by Santo Rapisarda from Sydney, New South Wales Australia '92 Dragster by Murf McKinney | Powered by a 496 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.630 at Unknown […]
Steve Read from England (Comp Number: 893) 1996 - Category: TOPFUEL, Type: TA, Class: TF, Div: 8 "Santo\'s Cranes" Owned by Santo Rapisarda from Sydney, New South Wales Australia '94 Dragster by Al Swindahl | Powered by a 496 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 4.940 at Unknown | 1/4 […]
Jim Read from Merrylands, New South Wales Australia 1996 - Category: TOPFUEL, Type: TA, Class: TF, Div: 8 "Jim Read Racing" Owned by Jim Read from Merrylands, New South Wales Australia '94 Dragster by Brad Hadman | Powered by a 511 cubic inch TFX Hemi with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 4.940 at Unknown | […]
Rocky Epperly from Long Beach, California USA (Comp Number: 720) 1996 - Category: TOPFUEL, Type: TN, Class: TF, Div: 1 "Carey Trucking" Owned by John Carey from Dover, Delaware USA '94 Dragster by Marc Rowe | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi by Bill Pike with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.020 […]