Greetings to anyone that reads this,
I think it’s time to look back at my 2025 motorsports season.
Normally, I end each season with a thank you (or as I like to say, “It’s Been Real”) and an overall reflection on how it went as a journeyman motorsports writer and photographer.
However, circumstances and financial detriments kept me from finishing the year on a positive note. Let alone, thoroughly enjoy the journey. It’s why I RARELY capped off my travels with “It’s Been Real” in 2025 because something was missing and that’s the passion.
I’ve been vocal about the unlikelihood of looking back with how it ended prematurely.
Had I known Las Vegas was going to be my last race of the season, I would’ve personally enjoyed it more than I did.
For the record, I did for what it’s worth but compared to last season, I can’t say I’m fully satisfied with my efforts this year.
The events that happened last month left a bitter taste in my mouth and I purposely chose this day to reflect on my 2025 season because I’ve been bitter.
While I put out some of my better written works, especially features, I can’t say the same about my photography. I played it too safe.
Maybe playing too safe has helped hone my craft.
The biggest issue I had all season is the drama, the gossip and the overall disenfranchisement which impacted my overall interests.
For those who vocalized their frustrations on social media or within certain groups, I get it. I see it. I understand it. The outcomes in Arizona sucked, specifically the top-two national touring divisions.
Not being present was terrible because I’m a visual storyteller. If I’m not a part of the action where I should be, it’s painful. A one-way ticket of becoming abeyant in the industry over time.
At the same token, it gave me full clarity of the problems across the board. I get it. I see it. I understand it. More than ever before.
I chose to stay silent because I’d rather observe than vocalize the obvious issues. If you want me in my vocal state, top hits in music and other sports, especially Seattle sports, is where I will be. I should be less vocal on those things because nobody really cares what I say.
I’ve been covering racing for an outlet since 2018. Excluding the pandemic period, this season will go down as my most frustrating yet gratifying period of my career.
The frustrations consists those dramas that could either flourish or destroy the racing landscape as we know it. When it’s done, I’ll be glad it’s done because I’m over it.
I have no dog in the fight because of regional biases and face facts! Would anyone want to listen to a journeyman from Washington cover a story in North Carolina that dozens will anyway and on-location no less? Absolutely not.
Also, I’ve withdrawn from covering three races after only having to pull out once the previous seven years. It’s not a great look for me because I still want to go back to where I was at the start of the 2020 season. I gave up on that vision in late June because the battle isn’t worth it anymore.
Furthermore, when you also own a local photo business that’s struggling, painful decisions must be made. The truth is, if I can’t get projects going, I can’t cover any races. That’s the nature of the beast when you’re living a journeyman’s life and career.
One frustration after another, the fire was evaporating and thought I’ve reached a point where Steve Young was in 2000:
“The fire still burns, but not enough for the stakes.”
I’ve contemplated leaving the industry and strictly focusing on other sports in Washington such as the NHL for good. Hell, I’m still uncertain if I’m going to enter any of my works for awards at the time of this entry.
As disenfranchised, I am about a dozen things around the sport, it was also the most gratifying year I’ve had that’ll outweigh the shortcomings.
First off, I got to cover 4 1/10th Daytona 500 (1/10th because I don’t count 2020 as a full effort) and the first since 2022. My photography were the best it’s been for that specific race.
Second of all, experiencing cars kicking dirt and dust in Portland and struggling with it created a photography goldmine. I’ll never get to experience Riverside International Raceway, but I can only imagine what the photographers during that time had to deal with in that era. I found joy much to the chagrin on of the drivers during practice and qualifying.
Finally, getting to cover Las Vegas for Toby Christie. It was a pleasure to finally do stuff for them and challenge myself to do content for a bigger platform. I’m forever grateful for that opportunity he and Joseph gave me in October.
Plus, it allowed me to complete the cumulative West Coast gauntlet of covering every single NASCAR national touring track in that region. That said, I’ll have to cover the race in Coronado in 2026 to keep that accomplishment intact though.
Las Vegas wasn’t the only new venue I got to cover because I started the year covering Supercross in San Diego. It was fun going back to the 619 for the first time since 2019 and if there’s one town I want to go to next year, it’s San Diego.
I’m not going to pass up a chance going there and explore the drive to Anzo-Borrego Desert State Park. No trust device required, but deciding which period I want to go (January and/or June) will be.
Of course, having a place to write content and shoot photos for Motorsports Tribune will never go unnoticed. I didn’t get to write much because of my other jobs, but when I had time, I tried challenging myself in explaining what’s happening as precise as possible.
I wouldn’t have gotten out of my “divorce” of covering INDYCAR in May (still uncertain when I’ll ever focus on that sport regularly again) if it weren’t for both Joey and David.
It was a fun challenge, but at times uneasy. Even if it’s just social media graphics on Instagram during most weeks, I’ll always find a way to make things happen.
The one thing I’m most proud of is giving Will an opportunity to shoot photos for us in the fall Martinsville race. I’m happy he was able to display his works because it’s been so long (before I joined in 2018) we had a photographer other than myself in the gallery section.
Super thankful for that because it was a way to give back to the industry that’s given me much at the end of the day.
2026 will be ninth overall season covering racing and the eighth for an outlet. I’m far from giving up this journey and it’s because I’ll always have something to prove. There’s goals I want to accomplish and time will tell if those will be accomplished.
More importantly, start the season with a fresh start. No more drama, no more shortcomings eating me up. More than anything else, keep the fire burning.
To those who’ve made it this far into my post, thank you!
To those who are still with me and appreciate my works, thank you!
To those who have yet to see me worth or willing to give my efforts a shot, welcome aboard!
Until we meet again, I have more blogs to write about and photography sessions to book before 2025 wraps up. In the meantime, enjoy my works!
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