There’s no official media briefing. No assigned seats. No press buffet. Just a wristband, a vest, a waiver, and the hum of cars being prepped before sunrise.
That’s what covering a WRL weekend looks like — and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
From the outside, race media might seem like it’s just standing by the wall, clicking a shutter every time a car passes by. But if you’ve been in the paddock at 6 a.m. with a lens in one hand and an energy drink in the other, you know it’s a different kind of grind.
So I thought I’d take you behind the scenes and show what it really takes to tell the story of a WRL race weekend through the lens of Throttle Point Media.
Arrival: Before the First Lap Turns, the Hustle Starts
Most WRL weekends begin early (like, pre-dawn early). I’m usually on-site before the sun comes up, scouting pit lane and the paddock while the first coffee of the day starts to hit. Teams are unloading, some half-asleep, some already wrenching.
This is where the stories start.
Before a single car hits the track, I’m capturing:
- Teams prepping gear and strategy boards
- Mechanics taping over headlights and swapping wheels
- Drivers pacing, stretching, or zoned in behind their sunglasses
It’s not always glamorous, but it’s real. And it’s where I find a lot of the gold.
Track Time: Chasing the Shot, Corner to Corner
Once qualifying or green flag rolls around, it’s go time for me too. Unlike fans, I’m not parked in one corner with a long lens all day. I’m moving a lot.
Between pit access and corner stations, I’m hiking gear over terrain, negotiating with corner workers, and timing my angles to match the light. And all of this is while keeping my eyes on the cars, staying alert to marshal calls, and swapping cards and batteries on the fly.
The goal? Find the emotion in the speed.
That means:
- Front-straight battles with background blur
- Lock-ups into heavy braking zones
- Wheel-to-wheel moments mid-apex
- Exhaust glow under bridges as night sets in
You only get one chance at most of these moments; miss it, and it’s gone.
Pit Lane Chaos: Fast Hands, Slower Shutter
Pit lane and the paddock are where I really get to blend storytelling with speed. You’ve got crews yelling, drivers diving out of seats, fuel rigs hissing, and I’m weaving through it all with a wide lens and my focus locked in.
Some of my favorite shots don’t even show a car.
They show:
- A fuel man fueling the car during a pit stop
- Crew members working under the hood
- The team watching in anticipation as their car battles for position in the closing laps
- The joy of a team celebrating after securing their place on the podium
This is where the human side of racing lives — and capturing that is just as important as getting the hero shot on track.
The Off-Track Work Nobody Sees
While the race keeps going, I’m backing up cards, editing previews, and sending out quick-turn images so teams have content that day to post. I don’t want teams waiting a week to relive their best moments. I want them sharing the win while the fuel smell is still fresh.
Then, after the race is over and the teams are heading home, I’m usually in a hotel room or AirBNB editing until 2 a.m. or driving back with a hard drive full of moments I can’t wait to process.
Why It’s All Worth It
Covering WRL isn’t always easy. It’s long days, sore feet, and sunburned arms. But it’s also the kind of access you can’t get anywhere else. Real racers. Real stories. Real moments.
And for me, that’s what Throttle Point Media is about: showing the world that grassroots doesn’t mean second-rate. It means passion-fueled, gritty, human, and raw.
Every shutter click is a chance to honor that.
📣 Want to Be Featured?
If you’re racing WRL and want someone to document your weekend the way it actually felt, I’d love to be your media guy.
Use the contact button below to go to our contact for and reach out today!
Or follow along on socials at the bottom of the page for more behind-the-scenes stories from the paddock.
