NHRA in Norwalk
Two weekends ago, I found my self covering a sport I don’t know to much about except they go from 0-275 mph in about 4.8 seconds. NHRA Drag Racing was in Norwalk, Ohio about an hour from my house so I decided I spending three days shooting the races seeing what I could come away with.
Good friend Mark Rebilas shoots a decent amount of drag racing, and every time he goes to a race he comes away with a crash or a car exploding an engine. I was hoping I would get something that would make my weekend worth while. Be sure to keep reading to find out how I did.
On Friday the first day, I was hanging out were the drivers would get in our their cars. You can get some cool photos of them sitting in the cars waiting for their runs.
Ron Capp from NAPA sits in his car.
Nikon D3, 70-200, 2000iso, 1/640th, f6.3
Here is Ron Capp during his run down the track
Nikon D3, 70-200 with 1.4x, 800iso, 1/2000th, f6.3
Then I walked over to Tony Schumacher who has been nominated to win an ESPY this year.
Nikon D700, 24-70, 100iso, 1/200th, f8 with SB-800 flash
Antron Brown sits in his Top Fuel Dragster.
Nikon D700, 24-70, 250iso, 1/1250th, f5
Morgan Lucas sits in his car before his run
Nikon D3, 70-200 with 1.4x, 800iso, 1/1000th, f6.3
That pretty much ends day one for me.
Day two they started racing later in the day, which meant the last few races there was going to be some awesome light at the end of the track.
I spent most of the day in the pit areas looking for fan features or some nice light coming into the area were they work on the cars.
But I was able to find Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson and I asked him to pose for a portrait.
Nikon D700, 24-70, 250iso, 1/100th, f7.1 with SB-800 flash
Then across the was the garages of Ashley and John Force’s where I noticed a bunch of people gathered around, so I headed over to see what was going on. I found Matt Betzel of Cleveland, Ohio getting ins right calf signed by John Force. He said after the race he was going to get that tattooed.
Nikon D700, 24-70, 250iso, 1/250th, f11 with SB-800 flash
Nikon D700, 24-70, 250iso, 1/250th, f11 with SB-800 flash
As I was walking to the top end of the track where my car was, I noticed the awesome light that was coming across the track.
Top Fuel Dragster Brandon Bernstein
Nikon D700, 24-70, 500iso, 1/1000th, f2.8
Then an unidentifiable NHRA driver makes his away to the garage
Nikon D700, 24-70, 500iso, 1/2500th, f8
That wraps up day two for me, hopefully day three brings some action to the track.
I shot the driver introductions which ensured I would have a photo of every driver from the whole weekend. Just as they were finishing up it started pouring down rain, which lead to an hour and a half rain delay.
After the rain delay it was time to start racing, they did the national anthem and then a military helicopter did the fly over.
Nikon D3, 400mm, 200iso, 1/800th, f7.1
The second run of the day was Top Fuel Dragster Morgan Lucas who exploded his engine. Over a mile away from my spot at the starting line you can see him exploding his engine right off the bat.
Nikon D3, 400mm with 1.4x, 640iso, 1/5000th, f5.6
Then as he kept coming down the track shooting out fire.
Nikon D3, 400mm with 1.4x, 640iso, 1/6400th, f5.6
Nikon D3, 400mm with 1.4x, 640iso, 1/6400th, f5.6
After he raced the end of the track the NHRA clean up crew attended to him while the track officials cleaned the track.
Nikon D3, 400mm with 1.4x, 640iso, 1/3200th, f5.6
That was the excitement for the Top Fuel Dragsters. So I busted out the fish eye because I wanted to create a different look.
Nikon D700, 10mm fisheye, 320iso, 1/3200th, f7.1
I then fired off a few photos of the drivers coming down the track with their parachutes out.
Nikon D3, 400mm with 1.4x, 640iso, 1/3200th, f5.6
Nikon D3, 400mm with 1.4x, 640iso, 1/3200th, f5.6
That ends the first two rounds of the Top Fuel Dragsters next up were the Nitro Funny Cars. The Funny cars are the top cars and either explode an engine or crash the most often but not this weekend. They all made it successfully down the track with out crashing or blowing an engine.
After Ashley Force Hood got out of her car, she gave a thumbs up to her crew members after winning in the second round of the finals. Then during the semi finals Ashley Force wasn’t to happy as she lost in the semi finals. Her father John Force was talking to her while she was showing some emotion.
Nikon D3, 400mm with 1.4x, 500iso, 1/1600th, f6.3
Next up was the Pro Stock motorcycles, they usually don’t crash unless its really windy. Drive Shawn Gann didn’t crash but his brakes did fail and crashed into the sand at the end of the track.
Nikon D3, 400mm with 1.4x, 500iso, 1/2000th, f6.3
Nikon D3, 400mm with 1.4x, 500iso, 1/2000th, f6.3
Nikon D3, 400mm with 1.4x, 500iso, 1/2000th, f6.3
Then for the final races of both Top Fuel Dragster and Nitro Funny Cars I was at the end of the track were they received their trophies.
Valvoline drive Jack Beckman was the funny car drive.
Nikon D700, 24-70, 100iso, 1/250th, f8 with SB-800 flash
Nikon D700, 24-70, 100iso, 1/250th, f8 with SB-800 flash
Then funny car driver Larry Dixon holds up his trophy after winning.
Nikon D700, 24-70, 100iso, 1/250th, f8 with SB-800 flash
That wraps up my weekend of covering drag racing. I walked away with a few photos I can use for my portfolio, and I also learned how to cover these sports a little differently.
My next blog will be the LPGA Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic 
