Tom was on assignment for AAA. The job—travel by car within a defined territory to find “America” photographically. The images were to be used in decorating a new AAA headquarters. 

On the first day, after getting his bags and rental vehicle, he headed north from Minneapolis and stumbled on an oval dirt racetrack going full speed. It was a Friday night. “You could picture this track back in the ‘20s and ‘30s. Drivers with home-built cars and guys handy with screwdrivers and wrenches would show up at a dirt oval to see who was fastest,” he says. No big sponsors, no glass suites, just skill, passion, friends, family and the hope of a checkered flag. The final checkered flag falls over the finish line. Trophies and cold beer get shared as trailers are loaded. Lights go out and the hopes and plans for next Friday night’s chase start revving up. See more of the Racetrack images here and follow @tomhusseyphotography  for more updates . Follow @dougtruppe  for latest news and stories.