Traxxas, the Fastest Name in Radio Control, is bringing the legendary Nitro Shootout to Texas Motorplex September 20-23 during the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, the annual Texas playoff stop for the Full Throttle NHRA Drag Racing series. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout is a race-within-a-race that pits pre-qualified drivers in a three-round battle for $100,000 and the title of Traxxas Nitro Shootout champion.
This is a unique opportunity to experience the fanfare and the intensified competition as drivers lay it on the line for the Traxxas Nitro Shootout during a highly anticipated championship playoff event for all four NHRA pro categories.
“As a long time NHRA fan, I always enjoyed the intense competitive spirit that the large payout brings out in these drivers,” Traxxas President Mike Jenkins. “It’s fun and the winner gets a year’s worth of bragging rights. The fact that our own Courtney Force was able to qualify her Traxxas Ford Mustang for the shootout in her rookie year through the fan vote is just icing on the cake. I couldn’t be more excited that Traxxas is helping to bring up the next generation of pro drivers with new faces and talent like Courtney.
“Growing up in the Dallas area, we always marked our calendars for when NHRA came to town because we knew that the now legends of the sport were going to re-write the record books at Billy Meyer’s incredible Texas Motorplex. We are so fortunate to have this great venue essentially right in our own backyard. It’s a perfect fit for Traxxas and you can count on us bringing plenty of radio controlled fun for everyone to enjoy. ”
John Force, 15-time NHRA Funny Car champion, is one of the Nitro Shootout competitors along with all three of his teammates. He said his team will be ready to compete in the Nitro Shootout and the playoff event.
“Sure the venue matters,” Force said. “First, racing in Dallas is good for our sponsor, Traxxas, and second, I like to win but so do all of our drivers. When a company invests that kind of money they deserve to have a great crowd.
“Dallas is a key market for NHRA, and it is Traxxas’ home base. Every race track I take on with the same confidence, and I am going to go into Dallas swinging.”
Texas Motorplex is also very familiar with running all-star events at the first super-stadium of drag racing. The first ever all-star event – the Winston All-Stars – was held at the Motorplex in 1987. Legends ruled that first all-star event as famed driver and tuner Dick LaHaie earned all-star honors in Top Fuel, Texas icon Kenny Bernstein topped the Funny Car class and Pro Stock superstar Warren Johnson took the top honor in the door slammer category.
“Texas Motorplex has been the site of jaw-dropping iconic performances throughout NHRA history and we are proud that hosting the inaugural Funny Car Traxxas Nitro Shootout will be held in front of the best fans in racing,” Motorplex owner Billy Meyer said.
The Traxxas Nitro Shootout will be held on Saturday, Sept. 22. The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series points leader – Ron Capps – earned the top seed. The next six positions were filled by event winners and point standing positions –John Force, Robert Hight, Mike Neff, Jack Beckman, Johnny Gray and Jeff Arend.
The eighth and final spot was earned by Courtney Force after she earned 63 percent of the fan vote and then won a lottery drawing held in Indianapolis.
The NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootouts will award $100,000 to the winners in both the Top Fuel and Funny Car events. Fort Worth native and resident Spencer Massey already claimed his $100,000 for winning the Top Fuel Traxxas Nitro Shootout.
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