The Sharpe Image

November 22, 2009; Homestead, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) during the Ford 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

Well, the last race of the season came and went in Miami.  I think that everyone knew that Jimme was going to again win the Championship about 4 races ago.  To say that this Team is STRONG is an understatement.  These guys know what they are doing, and I’ll bet they may pull it off again next year.  Since everyone knew that Jimmie had it wrapped up, the whole weekend was somewhat boring, but hey, I was in Miami, so there is always fun to be had……….. (continue reading…)

October 25, 2009; Martinsville, VA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) during the Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

Denny Hamlin wins the TUMS Fast Relief 500!  He had to battle all day against Jimmie Johnson to do it, but he was able to pull it off at the end.  I was glad to see this.  Jimmie has won this race the past 4 times that it has been run.  I was glad to see someone else win besides Jimmie.  Martinsville has become a very difficult track to photograph in the past few years……….

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October 17, 2009; Concord, NC, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) wins the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowes Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

This race was not the best race that I have ever seen at LOWES Motor Speedway, but it did have its moments.  After being dominated by Jimmie Johnson and the #48 LOWES Team, it is really hard to pick those moments out and remember them.  The above image is about as good as it gets for a celebration.  One thing is for sure about the LOWES Car winning at LOWES Motor Speedway, it is a Dream Come True for capturing an image that really makes the LOWES Corporation happy.  I know all too well about that, I shot for LOWES for years.  This image that is above always made them smile.  To bad Jimmie has forgotten how to really celebrate when he gets out of the car……………

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Sept 20, 2009; Concord, NC, USA; NHRA top fuel dragster driver Brandon Bernstein during the Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

I really like Drag Racing, problem is, I just do not get to shoot enough of it.  It is always either too far away, or it conflicts with something that I already have a commitment too.  So when the NHRA comes to zMax Dragway here in Charlotte, I am ALL over it!  Some of you may know that I shot Drag Racing on a pretty regular basis back in the early 90′s.  I got my motorsports start with a small racing paper called Inside Motorsports.  Inside Motorsports was a great little newspaper, but made the mistake of trying to cover too much “grass roots” racing with ignoring the big Series such as Sprint Cup, NHRA, IRL and some others.  They skimmed over these Series, but never made any real attempt to cover them in the way that they should have been covered in order to generate cash flow.  When they did cover them, they sent me.  That is really how I got my start in all this crazy stuff.  Anyway, least I digress.  This is about the Carolina Nationals.  I LOVE this event.  I am so glad that NHRA has put it on the schedule twice next year.  What a great move!  But enough of that for now, lets look and see what I came up with………. (continue reading…)

Kyle Busch wins the SHARPIE 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway!

August 22, 2009; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) wins the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

Kyle Busch was able to hang around the Top 5, and when it was time to go……guess what, he went! (continue reading…)

August 21, 2009; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Mark Martin (5) during qualifying for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe/www.TheSharpeImage.com

I LOVE Bristol Motor Speedway!  The Night Race in August has a “Medieval” feel to it.  There is no other race on the Series that really compares to it.  I was unable to get to the Track in time to shoot either of the practices for this weekend, but I was able to get there in time to shoot Qualifying.  It is mostly portraits, but that is really all one can get during the Qualifying.  I can’t wait for the race tomorrow night. (continue reading…)

"Man Made Thunder" by Godwin Kelly. Photography by Sam Sharpe and The Sharpe Image

National Speed Sport News reviewed “Man Made Thunder” this week and posted the following review.  Needless to say, I am proud of it.  Again, thanks to Smyle Media, www.SmyleMedia.com, and Dakini Books, www.dakinibooks.com
Man Made Thunder
By Godwin Kelly
“Written by  veteran auto-racing journalist Godwin Kelly and supported by the breathtaking photojournalism of the late Don Hunter and The Sharpe Image, this hardcover 320-page book captures the heart and soul of NASCAR stock-car racing.
The book tells the story of stock-car racing’s heroes, including three-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, through up-close visits with the drivers behind the wheel, the mechanics and the team owners.”
$49. Produced by Dakini Ventures and Speed. Available from www.speedtvbooks.com and www.dakinibooks.com.

Thanks for looking!

Sam

I was asked to submit some images for another possible book cover for a high profile publisher.  The client wanted something from putside of a turn, and that was fairly dramatic.  I love to shoot outside of Turn 4 at LOWES Motor Speedway.  Usually I have to shoot this at night due to the races being Night Races, but with the Rain Out of the Coke 600, and the race being run during the day, it made for some pretyy damn good pictures.  These are what I submitted to the Editor for possible Cover.  Sometimes I get lucky and get something good.

Thanks for looking,

Sam

Kasey Kahne in Turnn 4 at LOWES Motor Speedway

My Cover Shot of Dale Earnhardt Jr for Man Made Thunder by Godwin Kelly for SPEED TV Books

I LOVE Book Deals!  They can be time consuming with the research involved, but it makes me feel very special when someone cares enough about my work to include it in a book that will most likely out live me.  Sports related books are a documentation of History, and I have always considered it a privledge to work on one.  Not to mention, they can be very lucrative!

This book was written by Godwin Kelly who has worked in racing for some time now.  You can find him on FACEBOOK.  Go there and find him, sign up as a friend, he will love it.  Tell him I sent you.  He can be contacted at GodwinKelly@aol.com.

The book is being produced by Dakini Books out of London.  Their site is www.DakiniBooks.com.  The Book is being sold through SPEED TV at www.SPEEDTV.com.

Dakini Books produces only a limited amount of title each year aimed at selected Markets.  Their books have been considered “works of Art” in their own right.  I am just proud that they chose me as one of the Partners on this Project that is in conjunction with SPEED TV.

Here is the Back Cover from the book:

Back Cover of Man Made Thunder

The Images that are mine are 1) Jeff Gordon from The ALLSTAR Race, 2) Mark Martin and the ARMY Car, 3) Dale Earnhardt Jr putting his helmet on, 4) Kyle Busch standing on top of his car,  5) Tony Stewart winning The Brickyard 400, and 6) the pit stop shot of Kevin Harvick in the GM Goodwrench Chevrolet. The Book contains over 100 images that are mine from 1993 to present day.

Here is the actual shot that the cover was made from:

Dale Earnhardt Jr wins the 2008 BUDWEISER Shoot Out at Daytona International Speedway

I had converted this image into a Black and White and worked with it from there.  I used to hate Black and White Photography, but it seems the older I get, the more I like it.  Here is the same image in Black and White:

Black and White Image of Dale Earnhardt Jr winning the 2008 BUDWEISER Shoot Out

Anyway, please take some time to check out the book.  www.SPEEDTVBooks.com.  I think that it is a nice piece of work.  I would also like to put out a big Thank-You to Don Smyle and Smyle Media. You can check out Smyle Media at www.SmyleMedia.com.  His company handles content from years of racing, both historical and present, and from Open Wheel to NASCAR.  Without Don and Smyle Media, this project would have not taken off.

Again, Thanks for looking!

Sam

David Reutimann celebrates with his daughter after the race is called by NASCAR

All Right, let me get this out of the way right now……………..I have read several different articals basically taking something away from David Reutimann because he won this race due to a rain delay.  That’s Bullshit! David played by the rules of the game and won fair and square!  The other 13 drivers that were ahead of him and pited when the red flag was thrown for rain could have (and should have) elected to stay out and hold their position.  It is just that David’s team played the best move for them, and it just happened to be the best move for the “end game” of the race.  He won it fair and square…..no two ways about it. Not only did he win it, but he won it in a very spectacular, and very “smart” fashion.  Good going David………..job well done!

As far as this reaction shot to winning the race, the above shot is really nothing all that great.  NASCAR made all of us stand out in the rain for more than 2 and 1/2 hours before they called it.  And when they did finally call it, they would not let the MEDIA anywhere near David to get his reaction.  This shot was made AFTER we were allowed to run over to where David was standing.  His daughter had just gotten to him, and this was the resulting Image.

Thanks for looking,

Sam

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