The signature photos from Daytona International Speedway are always the shots of drivers celebrating atop their car in Victory Lane after the race. Usually the confetti is falling and there is much screaming and joy.
Getting those pictures can be a challenge for a few reasons.
To begin with, there are a very limited number of people allowed into Victory Lane, and even far fewer “premiere” photo spots available to shoot the best pictures. A photographer from each of the major publications is allotted a “GVL” (Gatorade Victory Lane) credential. Following the race finish, there is usually a mad rush into Victory Lane by those photographers who have this credential. The very best photo spots, right in front and in the middle of Victory Lane, are marked off for the bigger publications (Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, etc.). Fortunately, the Orlando Sentinel is among those publications that have a spot marked off. Around the edges of Victory Lane are some of the big-money ticketholders from The Daytona Club and other celebrities who are lucky enough to talk their way in.
When the winning race car pulls into Victory Lane, all the photographers are prepared with lenses raised as we await the driver climbing from the car. It can be challenging to capture the peak moment of jubilation when the driver first gets out and starts yelling and “jubing” (our slang verb for jubilation). We always say that you’ve only got about 15 seconds of real jubilation to shoot, when they are most excited, and then it dies down quickly. Finally, the confetti is another tricky situation. Sometimes the confetti is perfectly timed and drifts in a nice cloud over the celebrating driver. Other times, like in the ROLEX 24 last Sunday, the confetti all falls in a clump, putting a cloud over the driver’s faces. After those initial images of celebration, sometimes the driver will spray the photographers with champagne, or, in Kevin Harvick’s case Budweiser Beer. I also included a funny picture of Matt Kenseth nearly dropping the heavy trophy!
It is obvious that many fans would like to be inside Victory Lane for the postrace festivities. The fans are typically crowded around the three entrances into Victory Lane, trying and hoping to get in. We photographers usually have to pass through this gauntlet on our way in and out of Victory Lane. This time, at the ROLEX 24 on Sunday, I saw several fans climbing the back fence to get a peek in.
I’ve included pictures to illustrate this. The Tony Stewart picture is one of the only times I’ve ever seen a driver NOT jubilant in Victory Lane last year. He was upset and concerned over the Kyle Larson crash into the catch fence that had just happened, and didn’t think it was appropriate to be celebrating at that point. The Jimmie Johnson picture, from last year’s Daytona 500, is the perfect example of the confetti doing the right thing. In the overhead picture of Victory Lane with Tony Stewart’s #14 car, you can see the few premiere spots where photographers are at the top of the frame. (That photo was taken by co-worker Joe Burbank).
smdowell@tribune.com Follow Stephen M. Dowell on Twitter @dowellstephen. Like us on Facebook: Orlando Sentinel Photography.
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