ENNIS, Texas (Jan. 4, 2012) – From start to finish, the 2011 season at the Billy Meyer owned-Texas Motorplex was certainly one to remember.
Who could forget battling snow as the season opener approached? Who could forget the record 100-degree days just months later?
Loyalties and American car manufacturing history were on display several times in 2011 as the Mopars at the Motorplex and Super Chevy Show events continued to grow while Fun Ford Weekend returned to the track with new ownership after several absent years.
Few will forget the Grand Marshall of the 2011 AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, as Miss Texas Kendall Morris seems to attract attention and smiles everywhere the Ennis native travels.
And what about Bob Vandergriff? The Top Fuel champion from the Fall Nationals made history (and highlight reels) as he earned the win light for the first time in his career – a career that started with Rookie of the Year honors in 1994.
But that wasn't all – Vandergriff got out of his C&J Energy Services dragster at the top end of the track and started running back to the starting line to celebrate with his team. To put it mildly, it took Vandergriff a little longer to go that distance on foot than it did in his 300-mph dragster.
Thankfully, someone picked him up by the finish line and brought him to the team on the starting line.
"It was a lot further than I thought it would be when I got out and started running," Vandergriff said that day. "But what a great feeling."
The official track photographer of Texas Motorplex, Milton Hinnant, was there to capture the entire run on film – the ONLY photographer to grab those shots.
"Milton is one of the best photographers to attack drag racing and we are beyond proud to have him on site throughout the year, chronicling the best in motorsports," Gabrielle Stevenson, president and GM of Texas Motorplex, said. "Milton has captured some of the most amazing shots and events in the history of the Motorplex."
The Motorplex highlights don't stop there.
The NHRDA Texas Diesel Nationals had a record crowd turn out to see the best in truck and diesel racing.
The local chapter of the American Cancer Society continued to call the Motorplex home for its April Relay for Life event as hundreds of participants walked the property in the name of cancer research.
The Texas Motorplex bracket track champions made it interesting during the season-long battle. William Bubolz earned the No Electronics track championship; Erin Scott took home the Jr. Dragster Modified and Quick Championships; Chad Broom won the Electronics and Quick titles and Alexis Longoria was crowned the Jr. Dragster Sportsman.
"We are lucky to be in such a rich racing community," Meyer said. "We offer a great place for racers to compete and give the fans a thorough selection of the best racing events."
The 2011 season started strong with a big Super Chevy Show captured by Super Chevy Magazine Editor Jim Campisano, who was one of many who survived the first of many 100-degree weekends in North Texas.
The season ended with one of the most hectic and exciting finales in Motorplex history. The AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals kicked off a string of four major events in just five weeks, including the ADRL World Finals and awards banquet.
So what does 2012 have in store? More, more, more!
"We are opening our gates to the local street racer more with 20 Fast Friday events and we are going to be the host of some incredible feature events for the entire family," Stevenson said. "The AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals is a major playoff race on the national tour, we are hosting the season finale for the ADRL and NHRDA and we are going to host the National Biker Roundup in August. We have a major season on tap for our racers, fans and partners."
Texas Motorplex was the first all-concrete stadium-style drag racing facility ever constructed. Built in 1986, Texas Motorplex has been the place of many drag racing milestones and world record performances. The Billy Meyer-owned facility hosts a number of racing and car show events between March and November each year and also features the Champion's Club – an 11,000 square-foot facility – that serves fully catered events throughout the year.
PHOTO CREDIT: MILTON HINNANT
