Alex Laughlin, the drag racing equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, makes his Norwalk Funny Car driving debut on Friday, but only after adding another inclusion into his already extended skillset. He’s now experienced as a human catapult. Laughlin has driven just about every style of race car on the drag strip; why not become a human catapult?

Exactly how does one become a human catapult?

For those connoisseurs of adrenaline, there’s the MidAmerica Outdoors event, six days of non-stop action, including action from the biggest off-road racing series to a new partnership with Travis Pastrana’s Nitro Circus and Nitrocross. Human catapulting is just another part of the show that Laughlin struggles to describe.
 
“Man, where to even start… what an event, period,” Laughlin said of the Visions Off-Road extravaganza. “I’ve been racing my entire life, traveling from coast to coast, plus international venues. From the high banks of Daytona Speedway to across the nation in the valleys and vineyards around the dragstrip in Sonoma, I’d thought I’d seen it all. Rolling through the gates of MidAmerica Offroad was like scanning my passport as I walked aboard a giant cruise ship for vacation. It’s a complete standalone, turnkey, fully established civilization and community. 

“Whatever a person could need along their stay, it’s there. Not only does it have everything you could possibly need, it’s all so well thought out and laid out, and everything has its orderly place. From the food, the pools, the tracks, and the pro shop, I can’t brag enough about what they’ve established there in Jay, Oklahoma. 

“From Nitro Circus, Nitrocross Rally Cars, freestyle jet ski show, pool party, Barbie Jeep races, and hitting the human catapult with Travis Pastrana, the place had no time to be bored.” 

Then this weekend brings the Summit Racing NHRA Nationals at the Bader Family’s incredible facility located in Norwalk, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland. It, just like the event Laughlin left, is an experience to behold. 

“I’m excited for Norwalk, one of my most favorite races on the circuit,” Laughlin said.