---
title: "NHRA Racing At The Texas Fall Nationals Is A Sight To Behold"
description: "The NHRA was in Dallas, and we were there to shoot it."
date: "2017-10-16"
modified: "2017-10-16"
authors:
  - name: "Rip Shaub"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/rip-shaub"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/article/15196/nhra-racing-at-the-texas-fall-nationals-is-a-sight-to-behold"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "drag racing"
  - "Motorsport Photography"
  - "NHRA"
  - "racing"
  - "Texas"
  - "Top Fuel"
---

# NHRA Racing At The Texas Fall Nationals Is A Sight To Behold

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/10/ripshaub_hero_nhra_plex_2017.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The NHRA brought its show to the Texas Motorplex, outside of Dallas, this weekend. Caleb Jones has [the results](<https://www.thedrive.com/start-finish/15160/results-nhra-fall-nationals-from-texas>) but we are also bringing you the sights. A delay on Friday led to some night qualifying, which is a visual delight as Top Fuel cars spit flames into the darkness. And the rest of the weekend did not disappoint.

![message-editor%2F1508199763619-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199763619-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-1.jpg>)
*Rubber wrinkles as a car launches off of the line in qualifying on Friday., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199770403-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199770403-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-2.jpg>)
*Robert Hight would have a big weekend, winning on Siunday. Here, during the first qualifying session on Friday, Hight does a burnout before his first pass., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199776356-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-3.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199776356-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-3.jpg>)
*An alcohol dragster burns out in preparation for a pass on Friday., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199782543-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-4.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199782543-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-4.jpg>)
*Defending season champion Antron Brown readies for a qualifying pass as the sun starts to set on Ennis, Texas. , *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199789737-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-5.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199789737-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-5.jpg>)
*Ron Capps gets the big fireworks going as darkness sets in., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199797498-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-6.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199797498-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-6.jpg>)
*Courtney Force matches Capps with a spectacular show as she sets off in qualifying., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199804461-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-7.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199804461-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-7.jpg>)
*Terry Haddock lights up the line with his Top Fuel dragster. , *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199812148-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-8.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199812148-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-8.jpg>)
*Terry McMillen's crew readies his dragster for a pass Friday night., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199818426-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-9.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199818426-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-9.jpg>)
*McMillen goes head to head with Leah Pritchett. Pritchett would outlast him, making it to the quarterfinals on Sunday., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199823115-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-10.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199823115-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-10.jpg>)
*The jet-powered cars make an appearance to cap off the show on Friday and Saturday., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199828355-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-11.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199828355-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-11.jpg>)
*David Hope has a quiet moment as he preps for his pass in Pro Stock Motorcycle on Saturday., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199833649-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-12.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199833649-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-12.jpg>)
*Shane Tucker streaks past the fans in a Pro Stock qualifying pass., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199839361-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-13.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199839361-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-13.jpg>)
*Funny car driver Matt Hagan sits deep in his car as he waits for his pass., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199844627-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-14.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199844627-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-14.jpg>)
*An alcohol dragster takes to the Plex as its crew looks on., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199849750-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-15.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199849750-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-15.jpg>)
*Defending champion Antron Bron burns out in his final qualifying run late Saturday., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199855282-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-16.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199855282-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-16.jpg>)
*Alcohol dragsters in action late Saturday., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199860910-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-17.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199860910-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-17.jpg>)
*Kebin Kinsley does a big wheel stand in a first round heat against Doug Kalitta., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199866081-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-18.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199866081-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-18.jpg>)
*Funny car winner Robert Hight in his Quarterfinal heat on Sunday afternoon., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199872088-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-19.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199872088-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-19.jpg>)
*Four teams pitch in to build local hero Steve Torrance a new car from scratch after a blown tire led to the destruction of his dragster at the end of a winning quarterfinal pass. , *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199878219-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-20.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199878219-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-20.jpg>)
*Fans watched for an hour as Torrance's car was built. Here they cheer as the engine is fired for the first time., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199884172-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-21.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199884172-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-21.jpg>)
*Torrance's car is rolled out. He'd lose the semifinal in the new car by .04 seconds, which then exploded in a spectacular fireball., *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1508199891085-ripshaub\_nhra\_plex\_2017-22.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508199891085-ripshaub_nhra_plex_2017-22.jpg>)
*Top Fuel winner Brittany Force launches next to Shawn Langdon in the Top Fuel final. , *© Rip Shaub - All Right Reserved**

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/ripshaubphoto>)