What’s happening at the Texas Motorplex

Streetcars, drag racing, music festivals, national championships, local competitions, TV show competitions, lantern festivals: the Texas Motorplex, located in Ennis, has it all in their upcoming events.

“We’re in full swing for our season,” co-owner Christie Meyer Johnson said. “We have lots of things coming.”

On April 27-29, the Motorplex hosts the Street Car Takeover, where street cars take the track in both roll racing and drag racing. The event includes two days of racing, a car show and more.

“It’s a different type of racing than what you would see at an NHRA event,” Johnson said. “You see really pretty cars. (It’s) a great family friendly event.”

The Motorplex hosts the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series NHRA Double Divisional on May 18-21, where Sportsman racers compete in the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car competitions.

“That’s an opportunity for people to come and get their feet wet into NHRA drag racing to get ready for the pros that are coming in October,” Johnson said.

On June 17, local fans can participate in Hot Summer Nights as a spectator or as a racer, with the event taking place later in the evening to avoid the hot summer weather. As a racer, you can drive your own car on the track.

“People that are interested in racing can come out and have the opportunity to make a couple passes (on the track), hang out, have some good food (and) drink a couple beers,” Johnson said.

Night Lights Lantern Festival returns Sept. 30. The festival includes the releasing of sky lanterns, food trucks, beer and wine gardens, s’mores kits and more.

Stampede of Speed, a 10-day event with drag racing, a music festival, fan experiences and the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, returns for the third year to the Motorplex on Oct. 6-15.

The final race of the Discovery Channel TV show, “Street Outlaws No Prep Kings,” the newest series in the Street Outlaws franchise, is slated for Oct. 27-28. According to Discovery.com, the show follows street racers as they compete at tracks across the country, earning points on performance at each race with the racer with the most points at the final race “crowned the true No Prep King.”

Johnson said the Motorplex has hosted the final race for the show the past several years.

“It’s neat because you see the TV aspect like the production side and watch as they film a TV show,” she said. “People follow this show all year long on the Discovery Channel, and they’re competing at tracks all over the country, and they get to see everything come to fruition (at the Motorplex).”

For the first time, the Motorplex will host Light the Way, Christian music festival, on Nov. 10-12, with Johnson saying more updates will be posted on the festival in the coming months.

Another new event fans can look forward to is TX2K, which is coming to the Motorplex in spring 2024, Johnson said. TX2K is a premier streetcar automotive event previously hosted at the Houston Raceway Park. Cars like Toyota Supras, Nissan GT-Rs, Lamborghinis, McLarens, Dodge Vipers and Audi R8s compete in TX2K.

To purchase tickets, call 1-800-MOTORPLEX, or visit https://texasmotorplex.com. To stay up to date, follow @TexasMotorplex on Facebook.

Originally published April 23, 2023 - https://www.waxahachiesun.com/sports/what-s-happening-at-the-texas-motorplex/article_fe401900-e23f-11ed-aaea-673debd5fa70.html