At small local tracks such as Midstate Dragway near Havana, Illinois, young racers are learning the fundamentals of drag racing alongside the parents who make each trip down the quarter-mile possible.
by Alan LookBest Look Magazine
Before the mega-sponsors, the stadium seating, and the thunderous roar of nitro-burning Top Fuel monsters echoing on national television, every legend in drag racing starts in the exact same place. They start at small, local tracks tucked away off county highways. Places like Midstate Dragway near Havana, Illinois, where the pavement tells a thousand stories and the love of speed is passed down like a family heir.
Among the next generation chasing the light is Tony Fillipponi, a young teenager out of Heyworth, Illinois. Racing under the banner of TFR Racing, Tony isn't just turning laps for fun—he’s fueling a fire. Every time he stages his Junior Dragster, eyes locked on the tree, he’s rehearsing for the future with his mom and dad, Cori and Mario, working as his dedicated crew. Like so many who came before him on these rural Illinois strips, Tony holds a clear vision: stepping up through the ranks until he’s strapped into the cockpit of a 330-mph Top Fuel Dragster. On hot, sticky race days at Midstate, watching him roll up to the line with his crew in tow, you get the distinct feeling you aren't just watching a weekend event—you're watching the opening chapter of a lifelong dream taking flight.
About the Author & Photographer:
Images and coverage by Alan Look Photography – Capturing the Soul of the Heartland. For more photo stories, grassroots racing coverage, and features on local talent, visit the Best Look Magazine blog.
Images and coverage by Alan Look Photography – Capturing the Soul of the Heartland. For more photo stories, grassroots racing coverage, and features on local talent, visit the Best Look Magazine blog.
