The sport management major is working as a credentialed photographer for Race Pro Weekly and recently chronicled the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia.
What does it take to be a motorsports photographer? Well, Aidan Blake ’26 is learning that on the job.
The sport management major is working this spring as a photographer for Race Pro Weekly, covering NASCAR’s Southeast racing events for the motorsports news outlet. Most recently, the Elon junior was assigned to document a triple-header NASCAR race weekend at Martinsville Speedway – located 50 miles north of Elon’s campus.
Over three days, the Communications Fellow chronicled all the action in southern Virginia, culminating in Sunday’s Cook Out 400, the seventh race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. In total, he logged nearly 30 hours at the track, captured thousands of images, and ended the weekend coated in rubber, grease and other track debris.
“I ended up having like $20 worth of Goodyear tire attached to my shoes,” he joked.
But that’s exactly the kind of up-close experience Blake hoped for when he responded to a LinkedIn post from Race Pro Weekly recruiting volunteer photographers. He submitted a portfolio, landed an interview, and secured the position.
“They said I could use this as a stepping stone for my career – to get to the next place – and so far, it has worked out pretty well,” Blake said.
Fortunately, Martinsville’s tight .526-mile oval delivered plenty of short-track excitement. Blake has graciously shared a selection of his photos, offering a firsthand look at what his lens captured from pit road to the finish line.
Prior to winning Sunday’s Cook Out 400, Denny Hamlin greets fans during the pre-race grid walk.
Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing, acknowledges fans before the start of the race.
Josh Berry and his family stand in silence during Sunday’s pre-race invocation. Berry earned his first career Cup Series victory earlier this season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Kyle Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet defends position against Ross Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet during Sunday’s race.
Ty Gibbs, driving the No. 54 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, spins with help from Zane Smith (No. 38) of Front Row Motorsports.
Members of Christopher Bell’s pit crew work quickly during the Cook Out 400. The effort paid off – Bell started from the pole and finished second in the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.
A tire changer for 23XI Racing prepares for action at Martinsville. The NASCAR Cup Series team is co-owned by Hall of Fame basketball player Michael Jordan and Hamlin.
Ryan Blaney, driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang, takes a lap around Martinsville Speedway.
Noah Gragson and his No. 4 Ford repped a new sponsor last weekend: A&W Root Beer.
Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE (right)– now sponsored by Progressive Insurance – circles the track during qualifying.
Hamlin celebrates his sixth career win at Martinsville – the most among active drivers.
The pit crew for Josh Williams completes a refueling stop during Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
Starting from the pole, Corey Heim led 149 of 200 laps in Friday’s Craftsman Truck Series race. Despite dominating most of the event, he finished sixth.
To capture the speed of Corey Day’s No. 7 truck during Friday’s race, Blake used a slow shutter speed of 1/5 second. According to Blake, motorsports photographers use slow shutter speeds to help create a sense of motion in racing photography, making the cars look like they’re actually moving rather than standing still.