After what always seems like a short off season , the stars and cars of the NHRA are back in Pomona to kick off the season with the Winternationals. Trying to be good about getting blogs posted faster this year so lets go!
Despite just one qualifying session, Thursday at Pomona is always a busy day for me. Teams have lots of photo needs with new cars, sponsors, drivers, crew members that all need updated photos done. Its an ongoing project the first few races compiling fresh imagery of so many different things. But its also what makes my job fun.
Oh, and as promised, camera settings have returned…
Canon 1Dx, 24-70mm, 2000iso, f4.5, 1/3200th, Aperture Priority
New to the NHRA for 2013 is new series sponsor Mello Yello. Here a crew member puts the mandatory sticker on the wing of NHRA top fuel dragster driver Khalid Albalooshi in the pits.
Randomly walking through the pit area led me to a red carpet set up in the middle of the pits. Hmm I don’t remember seeing a red carpet in the middle of the pits before.
Turns out there was a press conference with several of the drivers that was open to the fans.
Canon 1Dx, 24-70mm, 125iso, f9, 1/250th, Manual
Fans greet NHRA funny car driver Jack Beckman as he walks a red carpet prior to attending a public press conference in the pro pit area.
After that fun it was back to prowling the pits for pics to take.
Canon 1Dx, 24-70mm, 2000iso, f3.5, 1/5000th, Aperture Priority
NHRA top fuel driver Clay Millican tests the fit in his new dragster in the pits.
Canon 1Dx, 70-200mm, 1600iso, f3.2, 1/800th, Aperture Priority
Fresh off an off season of travels and tattoos, NHRA funny car driver Alexis DeJoria warms up her car in the pits prior to qualifying for the Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
Canon 1Dx, 24-70mm, 2000iso, f4.5, 1/640th, Aperture Priority
Rookie NHRA top fuel dragster driver Leah Pruett is one of two female rookies in the sports premiere class vying for rookie of the year honors.
Canon 1Dx, 24-70mm, 125iso, f9, 1/250th, Manual
The other rookie driver is Brittany Force, daughter of a funny car driver you may have heard of. Brittany is one of only four top fuel drivers to have a canopy on their car.
Canon 1Dx, 70-200mm, 3200iso, f2.8, 1/1000th, Aperture Priority
NHRA funny car driver Del Worsham was in a good mood as he sat in his car prior to the first qualifying session at Pomona.
Now a few photos from action on track.
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 250iso, f4.5, 1/8000th, Aperture Priority
The scary moment of the day came courtesy of funny car driver Gary Densham who, after running the low qualifying time of the day, had his parachutes fail to deploy on one of the shortest tracks on the tour. While he did end up in the sand trap, the car got stopped prior to hitting the net.
Canon 1Dx, 24-70mm, 500iso, f5, 1/5000th, Aperture Priority
NHRA funny car champion Jack Beckman (near) races alongside Ron Capps during qualifying for the Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 320iso, f5.6, 1/4000th, Aperture Priority
Another car featuring a new canopy is top fuel dragster champion Antron Brown. Looks so badass!
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 320iso, f5.6, 1/6400th, Aperture Priority
At the end of the day it would be Brandon Bernstein proving you don’t need a canopy to go fast as he would take the top qualifying position for the day.
That wraps up day one of the season. Only 74 more days of racing till the off season….. not that I’m counting or anything!
15 Responses to “10 Spot: NHRA Pomona Thursday”
Leave a Reply
Check out my Facebook page devoted my photography where I routinely share my favorite photos from each shoot as well as favorite photos from the past. Click the below banner to check it out. Be sure to "like" the page so you can be kept up to date on all the events I am doing!
Lovely pictures as always and it’s great to see the camera settings again.
But, Canon?
Hey! Great pics as always! Speaking of new teams; Looks like you’ve made the switch to Canon! Looking forward to all this season’s pics.
Safe travels out there!
Todd
Mark, I always look forward to your pictures of the NHRA tour. I go to as many of the races as I can.. I hope to be able to run into you at Norwalk or Indy and say hello. Keep up the great work!
Michael Jones
Looks awsome as if i was there good pics man really nice
“Only 74 more days of racing till the off season…” I know I’m bad at math, but that seems like a miscount to me!
24 races x 3 (for days)=72 days of racing. Add 3 additional days for both Pomonas and Indy (which each have 4 days of pros) and that takes it to 75 days of racing during NHRA season. Minus yesterday and we have 74 days remaining.
great images mark,your work is amazing…
4 days at Indy
Awsome photo’s it’s great to some new cars and young drivers coming out to race this year…….we have only one top fuel car in New Zealand..
I was great to finally meet you at Firebird last year. I enjoy all of your photos. Thanks and have a safe year.
Dave Graham, Flagstaff, Az
It was great to finally meet you at Firebird last year. I enjoy all of your photos. Thanks and be safe out there.
Dave Graham, Flagstaff, Az
What? No shot of me and Lewis??? Look forward to giving you your cackle tomorrow.
Mark, Always look forward to seeing your photos. My husband thinks you are one of the coolest photographers out there, not only covering our favorite sport, but a little bit of everything.
I will i can be there. I’m Crazy about this sport. But i’m Disabled.
Great photos, love the shot of B. Force. Thanks for sharing the settings with us! Best wishes for a great year, and I hope to see you at MAPLE GROVE!!