Owosso Speedway Nationals: A Michigan Motorsport Photographer's Busiest Night
For September’s final Saturday, it was back to racing. Owosso Speedway's Nationals event drew dozens of late models, stocks, and modifieds with thousands of fans in attendance, and I was there wearing three hats. (Why it's called Nationals, I honestly couldn't tell you. If you know the story, tell me!)
Three Jobs, One Night
1. Reporting for MARC News. As a freelancer for the Michigan Area Racing Connection, I covered the event for the racing community that follows this sport across the state. That means shooting, taking notes, and watching for the storylines that make a good recap.
2. Photographing for Chase Pinsonneault. Chase is the current Turn One CRA Pro Series points leader, so I was on hand to capture his night for his team and fans.
3. Mounting in-car cameras for Chloe Mazzagatti. Chloe pulled double duty, racing in two different late model series that night, CRA Turn One and the Outlaw Super Late Models, so I placed cameras in both of her cars. In-car footage puts fans in the driver's seat in a way trackside photography can't. Before any of it can happen, though, the cameras have to be mounted securely, framed properly, and running at the right time, all on a race night schedule.
The Gear: Four Cameras, Two Lenses
Canon R6: my primary camera for race photography, paired with two lenses through the night:
Sigma 24-70mm Art for behind-the-scenes in the garages & wide track shots
Sigma 70-200mm Sport for the on-track action & making track fencing disappear.
Google Pixel Pro: for quick social media images and posting, and for editing Canon photos so I could deliver them right after each driver's session
DJI Action camera: an onboard, in-car perspective
DJI Osmo 360: 360° footage for immersive in-car coverage
Check out the exact gear I use and pick up your own HERE.
Fast Delivery Is the Difference
In racing, timing is everything. Drivers, teams, and sponsors want their photos while the night is still fresh, when the excitement is still fueling their social posts. By using the Pixel to edit and send images from the Canon between sessions, I could deliver photos immediately instead of days later. That quick turnaround is a big part of what makes a race photographer valuable to a team, and it's the standard I hold myself to.
Why I Love Michigan Short-Track Racing
Nights like this are why I keep doing this. There's the noise, the smell of race fuel, and the community of drivers, crews, and fans who make Michigan short-track racing what it is. Every frame is a small piece of that story.
While this is the second-to-last race of the CRA Pro Late Model season, the action hasn’t stopped, with the championship still, technically, up for grabs after tonight’s wild ride of a race. Next up is Winchester Speedway, and you can’t phone it in there.
See the Full Gallery
📸 https://biographyphotography.pixieset.com/chasepinsonneaultowossonationals2026/
Hire a Motorsport Photographer in Michigan
Whether you're a driver, team, sponsor, or track, I'd love to help tell your story. I'm a Michigan motorsport photographer covering short-track racing across the state. Contact me to talk about photos, in-car video, or event coverage.
This was an exciting weekend for photography; read more about it HERE. Dive in to read about the previous day at a bowling fundraiser, or two days before, photographing golf with the Boy Scouts of America & Ford.
