My Top Ten Tracks to Photograph in the U.S.

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As a media professional I have the privilege of traveling the country for most of the year and seeing amazing racetracks. Interacting with drivers and fans is one of the best parts of my job. The best part though is being able to capture the moments that happen at an event. With that in mind, I have decided to put together my own personal top ten list of tracks that I love to photograph.

While this list is pretty much in order, six through ten could really be swapped around all day long. So, I will start at #10 and work my way to #1. Again, this is just a personal preference list from me as a photographer.

#10 Galot Motorsports Park in Dunn, NC

Truth is that there are few tracks that I have only shot at once that left an impression on me. This was one of those tracks. The facility is laid out very nice for you to be able to walk around and see everything. The thing that impressed me the most about this place was the lighting though. Very rarely do smaller venues have impressive lighting. This place is certainly the exception to that rule. If you are a photographer that loves to shoot at night, I suggest getting over to Galot for an event. You will be blown away.

#9 World Wide Technology Raceway (Better Known as Gateway Motorsports Park) in Madison, Ill.

This is a track that I have not only photographed at but has personally raced at as well. From the pits, to the tower, to the return road, and everything in between, Gateway has always been one of my favorites to be at. The tower is spacious enough for media to stretch out and get work done. There is a gas station right across the street. The lighting certainly isn’t terrible at night either. As a photographer, a variety of places to stay is nice too. The area around WWTR is great for that as well. Whether you stay across the river in St. Louis, or up the road in Collinsville, the prices are good, and there is always something to do.

#8 Tulsa Raceway Park in Tulsa, Ok.

Track owners and their appreciation for photographers and media go a long way in my book. Todd Martin and Keith Haney have done an amazing job at Tulsa. They do better than almost any track owners in the country at making you feel like family, and they do an amazing job at interacting with the fans and keeping them wanting to come back. A photographer loves to capture and feel the excitement of the crowd. There are very few places in my career that can compete with Tulsa when it comes to their fan base.

#7 Orlando Speed World Dragway in Orlando, Fl.

OSW is a track that I am quite fond of. The history of the track, the events, the fact that it is Florida, all of those are a bonus for me. While the lighting is difficult to say the least at night, during the early evening when the sun is setting, it is one of the most beautiful things you will see. Wade and Ozzy are amazing to deal with, as well as the rest of the crew at OSW like Marco, Sean, Sydney, etc. Tower space here is tight but manageable. Excellent for top end shooting and shut down area shooting as well. Add to that you can go 30 minutes in one direction and be at Disney, or 30 minutes the other direction and visit the Kennedy Space Center.

#6 Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tn.

If you can handle a lot of walking, then Bristol is the place for you. I have shot NHRA there over the past few years and fell in love with the place. Now, I have never really had to shoot there at “night” so I can’t tell you how the lighting is, but I have zero issues during the day. In fact, my favorite place to take panning photos in the country is at Bristol. The left lane past the grandstands there is a gravel area between the building and where they park RV’s. I can spend hours hanging out up there and panning everything that comes my way. The tower is a pain in the ass if it’s packed, and there is a lot of up down walking, so be prepared.

#5 Virginia Motorsports Park in Petersburg, Va.

This is another track that I have just recently had the opportunity to photograph at. If you want to talk about a great place to shoot at though, VMP has got a lot of things. First and foremost, for me is the roof. We are so used to see on track stuff from the wall, but last year at Shakedown I made it a mission to shoot a lot from the roof of the tower. There is so much room and makes for great shots, even at night. Lighting is phenomenal there as well. There are only two other tracks in the country that I have shot at where the lighting is as good or better than VMP. Tommy, Judy, and Tyler have done an amazing job with the place, and I certainly look forward to shooting there again in 2020.

#4 The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV

It’s Vegas Baby!! I am going to warn you though before I tell you how great shooting at Vegas is, shooting during the day is a damn nightmare. I mean the lighting is some of the worst in the country. Terribly harsh and backlit. Now, with that said, shooting at night there is glorious!! One would think that shooting at night there would be the highlight of that track, when in fact that is a distance second to shooting the return road. Yes, I said the return road. When I was in Vegas last year for SCSN, I walked up and laid in the middle of the return road. The mountain background is most likely the most beautiful background you will see at any dragstrip in the country, at least any that I have been to. Fair warning for newbies, the staff is a bit rough around the edges at time, but if you just go out and do what you are there to do, you shouldn’t have issues.

#3 Emerald Coast Dragway in Holt, Fl.

As you can tell by now, I have an affinity for tracks in Florida. This track is one that most photographers seem to ignore. If you are only going to shoot at night and don’t know how to use a flash, then yes you may have some issues. One of the reasons that I love shooting this track so much is the left lane and the way that they track is compared to wall height and grass. I am about 6’1 and when I kneel down with a 200-500 lens on, it feels like I am at the most perfect track level height. The way the sun sets is just beautiful as well. As with most smaller venues (though ECD isn’t that small), you don’t have the luxury items like you do at a Bristol or St. Louis when it comes to a big tower to work in etc. But the fans are great and shooting there with a long lens is a dream come true for me.

#2 Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Fl.

WOW…another Florida track. This really shouldn’t surprise anyone. There are numerous reasons that I love shooting at BMP. First off, the track owner Victor is very media friendly. That makes everyone’s job a tad easier. He is open to suggestions on how to make things better for not only the track and event, but the media as well. There is plenty of room in the tower for media staff, along with a small fridge and brand-new microwave as well. Lodging isn’t that far from the track either. While the lighting isn’t the greatest, and your best bet is to shoot with a flash, Victor has stated that over the next few years he plans on continued improvements to the facility. I am a big fan of the left lane while kneeling, a lot like ECD. The level just seems right. I would love to see at some point a specific area for media to park like other tracks have. If you must shoot Winner Circle you will really appreciate the new backdrop that they have installed there as well.

#1 South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Ga.

This should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone that has picked up a camera and shot at this track before. I have personally shot at this track more than any other track in the country. In my opinion, SGMP has the best lighting at night of any track in the country. Both sides are grass, which makes long days even easier. The concrete grandstands in the left lane are great for shade and to stretch out. Plenty of room along the walls and the walls are a great height no matter if you are kneeling or sitting on your hard case. Staff at SGMP is some of the best in the country as well. Nelson and Marla are both great to deal with. The starters Keith and Jamie are two of the best that I have ever dealt with, and their consistency is something that I can always count on. Plenty of lodging nearby, no matter if you are hotel staying or RV camping. The pit area is vast but flat and easy to walk from the tower all the way to the front gate if needed. Since the storms came through and wiped out the suites a while back, there is really not much room anywhere to set up a workspace, but if you plan accordingly, you’ll get it done. If you are a photographer and haven’t shot at this track yet…YOU NEED TO!!

So, there you have it. My personal top ten list of tracks to shoot in the country, and a brief description of why I enjoy each one. There are different reasons for each one. You may ask why this or that track didn’t make my list. Well for one, I must have shot at it to have an opinion. Secondly, there are a lot of tracks that are a nightmare to shoot at. Tracks like Gainesville, Joliet, Memphis, Bowling Green, Maryland International, Ohio Valley, Byron, Indy, Norwalk, etc. All great tracks but doesn’t mean they are the best track to shoot at.