NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

On Wednesday night before the 39th annual NHRA Texas FallNationals the 2023 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event winners were honored one last time for their respective historic achievements. Top Fuel’s Leah Pruett, four-time Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan, six-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders and 2023 Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Gaige Herrera were all in attendance and enjoyed an intimate evening of conversation, photos and celebration reflecting on their success on track last year.

“Tonight was really cool to be able to look back at the win last year one more time before we get into the race,” said Gaige Herrera, rider of the RevZilla Vance and Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle. “Being able to hang out with the other winners like Matt, Leah and Erica plus winners from other years was a lot of fun. I want to thank the Meyer family and the Motorplex team for putting this dinner together.”

In addition to the previous year’s winners, the crowd was populated with former Texas FallNationals winners including Greg Anderson, Ron Capps, Tony Schumacher, Del Worsham, Matt Hartford, Matt Smith, Eddie Krawiec, and Andrew Hines. Drivers and fans were welcomed by Oliver the African Watusi as they approached the red-carpet entrance flanked by a unique Stampede of Speed backdrop. Current drivers Buddy Hull, Shawn Reed, Aaron Stanfield, Angie Smith, Terry Haddock, Chris King, and Chris Bostick also attended the event.

Following the tradition of major sporting events around the world the menu was selected by the previous year’s champions. The meal started with a Fall Salad featuring cranberries, pecans, carrots, and cucumbers on a spring mix with champagne vinaigrette dressing. The main course selected by Pruett and Hagan featured a steak medley of Filet and T-bone steaks, with gruyere mashed potatoes, roasted hot honey asparagus, and an assortment of dinner rolls. The dessert selections were made by the Pro Stock winners Enders and Herrera who selected peach cobbler with ice cream and Oreo cheesecake trifle to wrap up the meal. 

“This was my second Champions’ Dinner in a row and I love this event,” said Enders, a native Texan who will be looking for her third Texas Fall Nationals win in a row this weekend. “It is all about Texas and the Texas Fall Nationals and I love my state. We had sponsors, family and friends in attendance, and everything was first-class. The food was great and then the concert on the lawn was a definite highlight.”

“Every year the Champions’ Dinner has become more special,” said Christie Meyer Johnson, Texas Motorplex co-owner. “We had more previous winners and next year we expect even more winners to return for the fifth Stampede of Speed. We are so proud of all our Texas Fall Nationals winners so to be able to celebrate the newest winners as well as previous champions makes this a one-of-a-kind event. It was a lot of fun to see the drivers telling stories during the American Lube Supply and Royal Purple Q&A and just relaxing before a busy weekend of racing at the Texas Fall Nationals.”

The evening wrapped up with a special after-party sponsored by El Bandido Yankee Tequila. The after-party concert was headlined by 90 Proof, a 90s country music cover band and an El Bandido tequila tasting and cigar rolling.