IMSA NASCAR NHRA PWC CCS MOTOAMERICA AHRMA Photographer
Michael ONeill Photographer Writer Motorcyclist Adventurer
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IMSA NASCAR NHRA PWC CCS MOTOAMERICA AHRMA Photographer

I just love this motion blur shot I captured of the K-PAX Racing McLaren race car blasting through the turn known as West Bend on the road course at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT; arguably one of the most beautiful road racing courses in the world. This image was captured during the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) event at Lime Rock. A direct quote from the K-PAX team’s web site gives a short history about their involvement in Pirelli World Cup competition. It reads as follows: "Since joining the Pirelli World Challenge in 2007, K-PAX Racing has celebrated a total 103 podiums, 41 wins and four driver championships, solidifying the team as a continuous championship contender. In 2014, K-PAX Racing expanded its relationship with McLaren GT, bringing two new 2015 McLaren 650S GT3 race cars into competition. The renewed effort kept K-PAX Racing at the forefront of competition, becoming a serious championship contender in the seasons to follow. In 2016, the team expanded to three full season McLaren 650S GT3 race cars, and clinched the Pirelli World Challenge Team, Driver, and Manufacturer Championships". Being knowledgable about the racers and race teams I am called upon to photograph is essential. My clients, be it a motorsports or racing magazine editor or a principal in the corporate sponsor of the race team want to see the images they need…not those that the photographer thinks they can capture most dynamically. When I receive a racing photography assignment I immediately set out researching every single bit of information that I can turn up about the racer, the team, the sponsors, the venue I’ll be photographing at, the race series they are competing in and the results and standings for that series. It doesn’t matter whether I’m covering an IMSA, NASCAR, NHRA, Pirelli World Challenge (PWC), Championship Cup Series (CCS), MotoAmerica, Indy Car or AHRMA event; I head to the track informed and with objectives in mind to satisfy my magazine editor and the publication’s readership. At the track I stay informed. The media centers at most racing venues offer up the complete entry list at the beginning of the day as well as the final results at the end of the day. NHRA goes so far as to update the competition ladder after every round of qualifying so us media types can stay informed up to the minute. Staying in the loop is the best way to insure that you capture the most important players in the day’s speed contest.