Texas Motorplex: Race Weekend Guide

What Texas Motorplex is

Texas Motorplex is an all-concrete NHRA "super track" in Ennis, TX — one of the premier drag-racing venues in the country, drawing more than 500,000 fans a year. The racing season runs roughly February through November, with the NHRA Fall Nationals in October standing out as the marquee weekend on the calendar. If you're planning a trip around a race weekend, this page covers what to expect and what else Ennis has to offer while you're in town. It's part of our Things to Do in Ennis hub.

Season overview

Check the track's own schedule before booking travel — dates shift year to year, and the Fall Nationals in particular sells out lodging in the area well in advance.

What to do in Ennis on race weekend

A Texas Motorplex trip doesn't have to be a there-and-back for the race alone. A few minutes from the track:

• Downtown Ennis — restaurants, shops, and the historic Dallas Street district; see Where to Eat and Downtown Ennis.
• Ennis Railroad & Cultural Heritage Museum — a compact, worthwhile stop for a slower morning before or after a race day.
• Big O Speedway — a dirt track running roughly March through October, if you want a second dose of racing in a very different format.
• The Bluebonnet Trails — only relevant if your race weekend happens to fall in April, but if it does, it's a genuinely unusual pairing: NHRA drag racing in the morning, wildflower trails in the afternoon.

If you're the kind of visitor who's at Texas Motorplex because you like driving, not just watching, Drive & Go is a 1-hour self-drive Slingshot experience on the Bluebonnet Trails during April — a different kind of driving than the strip, but for the same audience. See Slingshot Rental Near Dallas for how to combine a DFW trip with both.

Where to stay for a race weekend

Ennis hotels fill up fast around the Fall Nationals specifically — book well ahead if you're coming from out of town. See Where to Stay for options in Ennis and nearby Waxahachie.

FAQ

What is Texas Motorplex known for? Texas Motorplex is an all-concrete NHRA drag strip in Ennis, TX — one of the sport's premier tracks, drawing more than 500,000 fans annually. It hosts an NHRA national event, the Fall Nationals, every October.

When is the Texas Motorplex season? The racing season runs roughly February through November, with the biggest crowds in March and October. The NHRA Fall Nationals in October is the marquee weekend.

What else is there to do in Ennis on a Texas Motorplex race weekend? Downtown Ennis, its restaurants, and the Ennis Railroad & Cultural Heritage Museum are all a short drive from the track. If the trails are open, the Bluebonnet Trails and a Slingshot experience are worth combining with a spring race weekend.

Check the calendar before you go

See the Ennis Events Calendar for current race dates and everything else happening the same weekend.