NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The inaugural Stampede of Speed at the Texas Motorplex, home of the 36th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals, roared out of the gate with a Cattle Drive through downtown Waxahachie on Friday followed by a massive full day of festivals and music on Sunday highlighted by country superstar Dustin Lynch and Night Light lantern festival.

Crowds gathered around the historic Waxahachie Courthouse to see almost two dozen longhorns parade through the city. Working with the Waxahachie Convention and Visitors Bureau the Texas Motorplex staff led by General Manager Andy Carter organized the cattle drive to create excitement for the inaugural Stampede of Speed and give the inaugural event real Texas flair.

On Sunday Texas Motorplex began celebrating the start of the event on-site with a Beer Expo sponsored by Armadillo Brewing, BBQ contest, car show and Stampede of Speed welcome center. United Rodeo treated thousands of fans to two hours of bull riding excitement leading up to the country music festival. As the sun began to set country music filled the air as Kyle Park, Wade Bowen, Flatland Calvary and ultimately Dustin Lynch thrilled tens of thousands of fans in attendance. In conjunction with the concert and additional activities, Night Lights festival closed out the evening with a beautiful lantern release ceremony inspired by the traditional Thai lantern festivals celebrated around the world.

“We had tens of thousands of people here on Sunday and every one of them had an amazing time by all accounts,” said Christie Meyer Johnson, Texas Motorplex co-owner. “From the Beer Expo to the Bull Riding to the country concert it was an amazing day to celebrate the Stampede of Speed. This event will continue to grow and bring even more people to the Texas Motorplex from all over the country. We had fans here from Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Illinois as well as from all over the state of Texas. This is going to be a historic week for the track and NHRA.”

The Stampede of Speed event calendar will feature ticketed and non-ticketed events leading up to the NHRA Texas FallNationals. Fans can visit www.texasmotorplex.com or www.stampedeofspeed.com for more information.