Great drag racing shots

As drag racing gained fans, so did the organization of the sport and the publicity and marketing of it. Event photographers bring us closer to the action, when we can't be on the staring line. Sometimes they bring us to an event we were unable to attend. No matter how you turn it, we (re)live the action through their lens.

There are overhead shots, taken from a blimp or from a helicopter (can we call it that), as photographer extraordinair Mark J. Rebilas shared with us on his blog. The one below was taken a week ago during pre-season testing at PBIR, where the Nitro-breathers were stretching their legs.

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Every now and then do we get a shot like this one. Mark must have given that track worker a valuable hand shake in order to get this great shot! No one is allowed on the track right in the path of a car, only when backing up after the burnout. Then again, maybe the track worker knows how great pictures like this can be, and thought "whathehell".

There is nothing particularly amazing about the picture below. I just like it!

Then you have this picture. I don't know who took it or who the driver was, but it is a cool picture. I wish I could be that cool too.

Then you have this crazy shot. This an example of how quickly things can go wrong in drag racing.

And my favourite type of drag racers, the sling shots. There you are (speaking of the driver) sitting between two huge tires, a large engine just in front of you (which can explode at any moment during the run), the rear end slightly in front of a man's most prized possession (or at least should be).

Last year at the Winternationals in Pomona, California, my attention was drawn towards a photographer that towered above everyone around the starting line. Mark snapped this picture of him. Most of these photographers occasionally use a short ladder from which to shoot from. Not this guy! Do you recognize him?

Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas