Somedays you're the hero, Somedays you're the goat

At Talladega, where the 'Big One' can happen at any time and any where, if you're lucky, and in a good location, you can get some very good images of 'The Big One'.
I spent all weekend patiently waiting.
I kept telling myself that it would happen in front of me.
It has so many times before, and it would this time, too.
I've been blessed with 'The Big One' many times.
I've got the money shot of the weekend many times.
I've been the hero many times.
This weekend, I was the Goat.


I picked up a little something extra this weekend when a friend asked me to help them out when they couldn't be at the track until Saturday.
I should have known things were going bad when I came up on this horrible accident Thursday during lunch.
Poor guy. I hope he's feeling better.


Sometimes, passing notes is still the best way to share information.
Check 'yes' or 'no'.


Later in the weekend, like Friday afternoon, Jeff Gordon is showing off his new colors. Or is it the old, throw back colors of drivers past?


Robby Gordon after Friday's practice.


I think I caught Tony in an awkward moment.


My bad luck started Friday during the ARCA race when all I could get were images of smokers.


Another smoker came by me.
It's not like they were not trying to crash in front of me, bless their little hearts, they were slippin' and a slidin' and a beatin' and a bangin' almost every lap when they came by me.
They finally made it all the way down to turn four before bumping into every thing.
My buddy, Jeff was the hero Friday.


Things started looking up on Saturday.
The 61 car spun in front of me. RIGHT in front of me.
Too close to be shooting with my 400/2.8.
Oh well, maybe next time.


Justin Allgaier (12) and Bobby Gerhart (75) spin in together.
I've changed lenses and now have my 70-200/2.8
It helps when the cars spin right in front of you, but when they are a thousand feet away, it's not much good.


Another image of Steven Wallace after he crashed RIGHT in front of me. I'm getting lots of crash images from him.
I mentioned this phenomenon to a friend last year, and he told me everyone with a camera has a picture of Steven Wallace crashing.
I'm beginning to understand what he was talking about.
We had a Talladega Virgin shooting with us Saturday and Sunday.
Now she has a shot of Mr. Wallace crashing.
Way to go, girl!


I was all over this crash that involved Matt Kenseth.
He rolled his car three of four times before he went out of sight around turn three.
I was in the tower in turn two.
3500 feet away.
I've got my 400/2.8, but I'm too far away.
Now i'm Oh for three.


Finally, Michael Waltrip spun, again RIGHT in front of me. Too close for my 400/2.8, but he's sliding fast down track.
He's also kicking up lots of dirt and smoke.
This is all I got.
Oh for four on Saturday.
Thats OK.....I can wait until Sunday.


Most of the day, Ryan Newman (33) and Dale Earnhardt jr (5) were the class of the field.


On the white flag lap, this is how they came by me.
It's hard to believe that David Regan (6) came from fourth to win the race.


Finally, Sunday got here.
The day I had been waiting for all weekend.
MY DAY!!!!
It started off good when I got a decent shot of the fly-over after the National Anthem.


Even during these bad economic times, race fans still filled the grandstands.


But you could still find empty seats.


But, Hold on to your hats, the action is just fixin' to start!


As always, when the green flag started waving, the cars all bunched up into a really tight pack. Everyone was feeling racy early on.


Then on lap six,'THE BIG ONE'!
Again, I was in turn two. This time it happened going into turn four.


When Kevin Harvick came back by me, you could tell his day was gonna be long.
Just like mine would be.


Jeff Gordons car never looked better.


After a few laps, it turned into a boring race. Lots of good cars out of it.
Everybody else was cautious.
This gentleman just couldn't stand any more of it.
Something tells me, this is how he watches the races when he is at home in his recliner. Only his wife can't change the channel.
I bet she's wishing she had the remote.


Sometimes when they would come around, you could get a shot of them bump drafting.


My day was going downhill fast.
The only action I could find was a pack of cars.


Our little corner of Talladega Super Speedway was gettin more boring.
Some folks couldn't handle it.


Then finally, something to divert my attention from a boring race.
I SMELL CHICKEN!!!!!!


Finally, some action.
Robby Gordon gets bumped and spins out about half way down the superstretch.
Too bad it's going away from me.


Even the fans on top of the Allison Grandstands found something else to keep them amused.


Then I noticed this little boy peeping through the screen over the fence.
My inner Getty was beginning to come out.
It seems to do that when I get bored.
I get looking for ways to entertain myself.


I don't think he has an inner Getty.
But I did entertain myself for just a few minutes looking for images like this.


Just another boring pack of cars.


My buddy, Dale Barbee, was bored too.
Dale shoots for NASCAR SCENE/ILLUSTRATED.
He was also the photographer that got run over by Santonio Holmes during the Pittsburgh Steelers vs San Diego Charges game back during football season.
You can watch it here. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=54462&displayPage=tab_recap&sea...


Remember Newman and Earnhardt from the Nationwide race?


And the white flag lap, Carl Edwards had everyone covered. Right?


When they came back around, Carl Edwards was nowhere to be found.
The shot of the day happened on the last lap.
Edwards was tagged from behind and was spun into the catchfence.
Mr. Keslowski got his first Sprint Cup win and Mr. Earnhardt congratulates his driver.
Nowhere but Talladega.


The final finishing order.


Did you ever wonder what a bunch of tired photographers do after a race.
They sit around and tell lies about todays events, the good and bad.
Kinda like a debriefing.
Only with cookies.


And they play with their toys.


Here, Associated Press photographer Glenn, talks about the awesome images he got of Carl Edwards as he got into the catch fence.


As we were leaving the track later Sunday afternoon, I got a shot of the Talladega start/finish line as I was crossing it in my truck.


And I also got a shot of the turn one high banks as I was exiting the track.
WOOOoooo00000ooooo!!!!!!


And the sun finally set on another fun, but this time, mostly unprofitable, Talladega weekend.

Next week, I'll be posting images from the Honda SuperBike Race at Barber MotorSports Park.

See you then!

A New Sheriff In Town?

Well, not really........
It's just been so long since this familiar face has made the trip to Victory Lane that everyone, including Jeff, forgot what it was like.
But the old dog did learn a new trick during his absence.
After doing a burnout at the Start/Finish Line after he won the Samsung 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway, Jeff rode around the track with the checkered flag.
During the post race interview, Jeff admitted that he had not done that since his days when he was racing quarter midgets when he was 8 years old.


I wasn't sure he could win this one. He seemed to be good on restarts and short runs, but the Rousch cars of Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards were really good on long runs.

Tony Stewart showed some muscle on long runs, also.


But a caution with about 25 laps to go and some bad pit luck and strategy by the Rousch cars kind of sealed the deal for Gordon.


Sometimes you gotta gamble. When it works, you look like a hero, and if it don't.....well, I guess you're a goat.
The Rousch cars never could make up the deficit.


After a while, especially during a really boring race, I get looking for something different. Something to entertain my brain. Something you don't normally see.


Joey 'Sliced Bread' Logano pits during the Samsung 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway.


Just another different look to entertain my brain.


I got caught at the head of pit road with my 400/2.8 when Kyle Busch made a pit stop. So, when life deals you lemons, you gotta make lemonade. Right?
This shot worked as a candid portrait for the front tire changer.


My inner Getty is trying to escape.


Just another different look down pit road.


The pit crew of Denny Hamlin services his car during the Samsung 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway.


I can't help it.......I need to be exorcised of my inner Getty!!!!!!!


You just have to look around. Artwork is everywhere


I want to know, what the hell is Tucan Sam doing on pit road.


During a walkthrough of the garage area on Saturday, I caught Matt Kenseth and his crew chief Drew Blickensdorfer (or something like that) discussing shocks and springs. I know, because I watched them change both sides.


Joey Logano and his dad share a smile before little Joey goes off to play with the big boys.


Elliot Sadler gave me a moment for this quick portrait.


Did you ever wonder what happens to all of the lugnuts that comes out of the air gun after a team changes tires during a race?


During the Victory Lane celebration with Jeff Gordon, they shot confetti up in the air. At Texas, the confetti is shaped like the state of Texas. Yep, they're proud of their state.


Even the pavers in Victory Lane and throughout the Media Center is shaped like the state of Texas (and interlocks).


As we were driving through Fort Worth, we saw this billboard advertising the Texas Lottery..........9 Dollars?


On Friday night, we ate at a really cool steak house. Great food and decorated smartly. All kinds of eclectic signs, decorations, and chickens.


Yep....I said chickens. After they had visited the local taxidermist.


SaltGrass Steak House.
If you're ever in this part of Texas, or if you ever get a chance to have dinner at one, you won't regret it.
Best steak I've had in a very long time.


And what would a Texas bar be without a cowboy?
We found this one in the Stockyard district in Fort Worth at the Internationally known Cattleman's Steak House.


This place had a couple hour wait, so we ate in the bar.


We should have known what we were getting in to when the waitress walked up to the bar.


But we were distracted by the sights.


Don't waste you hard earned money on this place.
I've had better steaks at buffett's.
This place was the biggest disappointment of the trip. And costliest.