I
t was the last day of eighth grade, and it was a big deal for
Alex Laughlin and the nine total students graduating from
tiny Morgan Mill Independent School District. With a
population of just 206 – not 206,000, just 206 – Morgan
Mill, Texas, had no high school, which meant they all were
about to head 15 miles south to Stephenville. But already
dreaming big, Laughlin made sure to leave his classmates
with a valuable memento. ¶ “I gave everybody a picture
of me in one of my go-karts and I autographed it and said, ‘Hang
onto this because it’ll be worth something someday,’” Laughlin
says with a laugh. It was done partly in jest, but the start of big
racing ideas had arrived for Laughlin. ¶ The dream has changed
several times over the years, but it’s still alive and well for Laughlin,
who still resides in the tiny town. From aspirations of racing in a
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nitro category with a big-named sponsor to the
current dream as drag racing’s ultimate doorslam-
mer utility man, Laughlin has carved out one of
the most interesting identities in the sport.
No challenge is too great, no class is out of
question and no sponsor is off-limits – at least
for a phone call. Laughlin is a DIY professional
racer at its best and he loves every minute of it.
But it’s not all show and no go. This isn’t a
tale of a young, face-made-for-TV driver relying
on a shtick. It’s not a guy trying to play all nine
positions in a baseball game just to get a highlight
that could go viral. It’s a 30-year-old rising star
dedicated to learning his craft, committed to
finding sponsors on his own and eager to take
on every challenge that comes his way. Through
it all, it’s also been clear that Laughlin has never
been scared of failure.
He’s dueled with Street Outlaws drivers in front
of huge television crowds and received relentless
ribbing on social media. He’s been told no by
sponsors more than he cares to recollect. But it’s
all fuel for the fire and Laughlin has risen above it
all, managing to get the last laugh in the process.
Issue 144