Billy Meyer signed an agreement to host an NHRA national event in November 1985, before ground had even been broken on the facility. Construction began in January 1986, with the track designed using post-tension, all-concrete construction — a first for a quarter-mile drag strip purpose-built for the sport. The stadium-style layout prioritised spectator sightlines and fan amenities from the outset, setting a new standard for purpose-built drag venues in the United States.
The Texas Motorplex hosts racing and car show events from March through November each year. In 1997 it became the first non-NHRA-owned facility to host two national events in a single year, cementing its status as one of the premier drag racing venues in North America.
The Motorplex pioneered on-site hospitality infrastructure that has since become standard at top-tier drag venues. In 1997 it opened the Divisional 4 Hall of Fame — the only track-hosted hall of fame in NHRA — and built a permanent hospitality structure initially called the Top Eliminator Club, later renamed the Champions Club. The Champions Club covers 11,000 square feet and serves fully catered events for fans and corporate guests throughout the season. In 2004 the facility further expanded its premium offering by adding starting-line balcony seating in the tower suites, another NHRA first.
The Texas Motorplex has been the site of several landmark performances in drag racing history.
On 25 September 1986, during the first national event pass on the new track, Darrell Gwynn ran a 5.280 elapsed time to set a Top Fuel ET record. On 9 April 1988, Eddie Hill became the first driver to complete a four-second quarter-mile pass, recording a 4.990 run at the facility — a watershed moment for the sport.
In October 1993, John Force officially scored the NHRA-recognised first four-second Funny Car pass, set at 4.997 seconds on 16 October and backed up during the race on 18 October to meet sanctioning body requirements. Force would go on to win his ninth NHRA Funny Car championship at the track in October 1999, defeating Tommy Johnson Jr. in what was described as the quickest side-by-side Funny Car race in history at that time.
On 19 October 1997, Cory McClenathan became the first driver to record a pass in the 320 mph range, clocking 321.77 mph at the Motorplex. The following year, in October 1998, the FallNationals qualifying session produced the quickest qualifying field in NHRA history, led by Gary Scelzi, John Force, Warren Johnson, and Larry Kopp.
October 1999 also marked Tony Schumacher's first NHRA national event victory, en route to his first Top Fuel championship. In September 2004, Greg Anderson clinched his second consecutive NHRA Pro Stock title at the Motorplex, doing so faster than any other driver had secured an NHRA title in history.
The Texas Motorplex's influence on drag racing extends beyond the records set on its track. Its design template — all-concrete surface, stadium seating, permanent hospitality infrastructure, and on-site fan amenities — became the blueprint for subsequent NHRA super tracks. The facility demonstrated that drag racing venues could function as comprehensive entertainment destinations rather than purely utilitarian strips, helping to elevate the sport's commercial profile. Past winners at the FallNationals include some of the most decorated names in NHRA history, including John Force, Kenny Bernstein, and Tony Schumacher, reinforcing the event's standing as a marquee fixture on the national drag racing calendar.