Alex Laughlin has built a racing career around versatility, consistently demonstrating an ability to adapt to virtually anything with an engine and four wheels. Now, he has added another remarkable accomplishment to an already extensive résumé, securing a place in NHRA history that no other driver has ever achieved.
Following the Mopar NHRA Las Vegas Nationals powered by Dodge at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Laughlin completed the licensing requirements for Pro Stock Motorcycle aboard a TK Motorsports Suzuki owned by Tim Kulungian and Chase Van Sant. With that achievement, he became the first driver in NHRA history to earn competition licenses in all four professional categories: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Previously, Funny Car legend Bruce Larson held the distinction of being the only driver licensed in three of the four professional classes, having competed in Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock. Laughlin has now taken that accomplishment one step further.
However, earning the license wasn’t enough. Laughlin wanted to make sure his place in history included actually competing on two wheels. To accomplish that, he set his sights on making his Pro Stock Motorcycle debut at this weekend’s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals.
“I would hate for somebody to come later on and then my little claim gets lost in history because somebody else actually competed,” Laughlin said.
To make the appearance possible, Laughlin organized a fan-funding campaign to help cover the costs of racing the motorcycle. According to Laughlin, the necessary funding came together in approximately 24 hours. He plans to compete with TK Motorsports aboard the same Suzuki Hayabusa he used during his licensing process.
His best licensing pass was an impressive 7.54 seconds at 168 mph, although Laughlin estimated the motorcycle had reached approximately 180 mph before he lifted. Despite the successful licensing effort, he understands that there is still a learning curve ahead.
“When I go to Pomona, at least for the first couple of runs, I don’t plan on making a full pull just to make sure that I can get the bike slowed down in that shorter shutdown there,” Laughlin explained.
Collecting the Whole Set
Laughlin’s accomplishments extend well beyond the four NHRA professional categories. Over the years, he has held or earned competition licenses in approximately 15 different classes, including Pro Mod, Mountain Motor Pro Stock, Top Alcohol Dragster, Comp, Factory X, Super Comp, Super Gas, Top Dragster, Top Sportsman, and several E.T. racing categories.
His journey began in the Sportsman ranks before he made the move to Pro Stock in 2015. That category helped establish Laughlin as a nationally recognized competitor, and he eventually became a Pro Stock event winner. Rather than limiting himself to one discipline, however, he continued looking for opportunities to explore other forms of drag racing.
By 2017, Top Alcohol Dragster had become part of his growing résumé. In 2021, he climbed into Scott Palmer’s Top Fuel dragster before making his Funny Car debut with legendary team owner Jim Dunn in 2023.
Laughlin also ventured into Mountain Motor Pro Stock, including an appearance in Charlotte, before turning his attention to Comp Eliminator. There, he made passes in a ProCharger-equipped Camaro at events in Dallas and St. Louis. Factory X became another addition to his racing portfolio when he competed in the category during the 2024 season.
The idea of becoming the first driver licensed in all four professional categories had been on his mind for quite some time.
“Really, since I licensed in Funny Car in 2022 and learned that I’m only the second person in history to ever have done that,” Laughlin said. “I thought, man, at some point I need to ride a bike and do it.”
While the idea sounded appealing, actually transitioning from four wheels to two presented an entirely different challenge.
Laughlin grew up riding dirt bikes, but he had never operated a purpose-built drag racing motorcycle. His first experience came on the Monday following the 2025 Las Vegas event, and it quickly became apparent that his extensive experience behind the wheel wouldn’t automatically translate to success on a motorcycle.
“The first time I ever let the clutch out on that thing, I thought, ‘I don’t think that I can actually do this,'” Laughlin recalled. “Holding on to it and staying on it for the first 20 feet was a huge, huge undertaking.”
He estimates he made approximately six attempts during that initial session, with only three resulting in actual runs. A demanding racing schedule prevented him from returning to the motorcycle over the following months, creating a gap of nearly a year between his first experience and the runs that ultimately secured his license.
Life on Two Wheels Is No Easy Ride
Laughlin describes Pro Stock Motorcycle as the most physically demanding vehicle he has ever driven, even when compared with the experience of handling more than 12,000 horsepower in a nitro-powered race car.
“Physically, yes, without a doubt,” Laughlin said. “Mentally, the nitro stuff is harder because it’s just so hard to describe what it does to your brain and being able to process that. Physically, though, the motorcycle all day. It’s man versus machine. It’s 50-50.”
The physical demands became particularly evident at speed. During one pass at approximately 170 mph, Laughlin said the wind caught underneath his right knee and pulled his foot completely off the peg. Despite trying to reposition his leg, he couldn’t physically bring it back to the motorcycle.
“I just sat up there and just floated like the tail of a kite until I slowed down enough,” he recalled.
The starting line presented perhaps the biggest shock of all.
“The first time I ever let the clutch out, man, it snapped my neck back,” Laughlin said. “Shoulders came up. I was barely hanging on to the handlebars with the tips of my fingers. I thought I was ready for it. I’ve seen videos of people that have rolled off the back of it, and I just thought, ‘My God, I don’t want that to be me.'”
With more experience, however, Laughlin began getting comfortable with the motorcycle. Working alongside Kulungian and Van Sant, he completed the necessary runs and officially added Pro Stock Motorcycle to a collection of licenses unlike anything else in NHRA competition.
Laughlin was quick to recognize the importance of the team behind his achievement, crediting both Kulungian and Van Sant for their patience and willingness to help him learn an entirely new discipline.
“They’re absolutely awesome folks, some of the best people that I’ve been around,” Laughlin said. “Depending on who it is that you’re partnering with on the team, it matters so much. To be able to find a cohesive group of people makes all of the difference. There’s no doubt I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Pro Mod Remains the Priority
Although Laughlin has accumulated an impressive collection of licenses, Pro Mod remains the category that feels most natural to him. He continues to be heavily involved in the class and sees it as an appealing combination of performance, competition, affordability, and scheduling.
That doesn’t mean Pro Stock Motorcycle will be a one-time experience. Laughlin expects to make occasional appearances on two wheels, but Pro Mod remains his primary focus.
“Pro Mod probably, because it’s really a happy medium,” Laughlin said when asked to identify his favorite category. “For being able to pay for it, it’s still heads-up racing. The cars are badass. Extremely competitive. The 10-race schedule is extremely attractive, especially at this point in my life with family and business and stuff away from the racetrack.”
Laughlin’s upcoming appearance in Pomona will add another chapter to a racing career defined by curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to take on new challenges.
Whether his Pro Stock Motorcycle debut produces a memorable result or simply another valuable learning experience, the historical significance of what he has already accomplished is undeniable. He has become the first driver to earn licenses in all four NHRA professional categories, adding yet another distinction to one of the most diverse résumés in drag racing.
There are more videos on the Cycledrag Youtube channel (please subscribe here) and like the Cycledrag Facebook page (Please like here) and more will be coming soon. Also subscribe to our NEW Youtube channel “Racing Jack” and Check back daily.
