Free downloadable desktop calendar for April 2016. Head over to here: Calendar April 2016 and rightclick to download. Easy as pie. This month's picture is from a trip my wife and I took a few years ago to Sedona AZ. We participated in a balloon ride to get a different perspective of the beauty of Sedona and it was amazing. The trip began in the pre-dawn light and created spectacular views as the day filled in the darkness. Enjoy.
Jimmie Johnson celebrates in victory lane after winning the Auto Club 400 in Fontana CA.
NASCAR at Auto Club Speedway 2016
It was really a Super weekend for Jimmie Johnson. Sporting not only his usual Lowe's livery for the Auto Club 400 in Fontana California, but also promoting Warner Brothers' "Batman v Superman" movie, Jimmie Johnson played the Superman role straight to the end, claiming victory under beautiful California skys. Scroll down to check out my favorite pictures from the weekend. All pictures are copyrighted by Action Sports Inc. ©2016
The NASCAR Roush Fenway Racing haulers wait for the golden hour to make their grand entrance into Auto Club Speedway.
The #42 Chip Ganassi Racing hauler for Kyle Larson makes its way into Auto Club Speedway
Jimmie Johnson tests the limits of his #48 Superman/Lowe's Chevy as races through turn two at Auto Club Speedway
A pedestrian cat walk divides the Sprint Cup garage to make better views available to NASCAR pit pass holders.
Close up of Kyle Larson's #42 Target Chevy with the official NASCAR decals
A view of the Sunoco fueling station in the middle of Auto Club Speedway with the San Gabriel Mountains in the background.
Darrell Wallace Jr., driver of the #6 Ford Ecoboost Ford, gets ready for action during the first practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series 300 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA.
Austin Dillon leads the pack in the Rheem Chevy during the NASCAR Xfinity Series 300 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA.
Casey Mears, driver of the #13 GEICO Chevy, gets ready for action during the first practice session for the Auto Club 400 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA.
Rows of Goodyear Eagle tires wait for action in the pit of #6 Trevor Bayne before the Auto Club 400 in Fontana Ca.
The #48 crew puts dials in the final adjustments on the Lowe's / Superman Chevy before the Auto Club 400 in Fontana Ca.
A crew member for #5 Kasey Kahne races back to pit wall with a blown tire during the Auto Club 400 in Fontana Ca.
David Ragan races the #23 Dr Pepper Toyota in front on the Sprint billboard during the Auto Club 400 in Fontana Ca.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr (#17) and Greg Biffle (#16) race down the front straight during the Auto Club 400 in Fontana Ca.
Jimmie Johnson celebrates his victory in front of photographers as he stands atop the #48 Lowe's / Superman Chevy at the start / finish lane after wining the Auto Club 400 in Fontana Ca.
The Excitement of the Beginning
For as long as I can remember Daytona has always marked the beginning. The commencement of the NASCAR season has begun at the famed racetrack since 1982. Even the word Daytona brings forth memories of legions. Great race car drivers sped through the corners of this hallowed asphalt and one great racer even lost his life there. The Florida weather can be fickle over the World Center of Racing, but for February 2016 the pleasant Spring days flowed with no end. Here's some of my favorite pictures from the long weekend. All images here are Copyrighted by Action Sports Photography Inc. ©2016
The mirror like windows in Victory Lane reflect the grandstands filled with people
"NO BRAKES" reminds Brennan Poole, driver of the number 48 DC Solar Chevy, to drive without fear while qualifying.
Brennan Poole sits in his race car ready to head out onto the track for practice
Kyle Larson getting into the #42 Eneos Chevy. Preparing for an Xfinity practice session.
Darrell Wallace Jr shows off his Nixon watch as he backs the #6 Selfeo Ford out of the garage
The colors of Darrell Wallace Jr's #6 Selfeo Ford were fantastic in the light of the garage
The #16 Lilly Diabetes Ford of Ryan Reed waits patiently to head onto the track
The #2 Rheem Chevy, driven by Austin Dillon, leads the pack down the front strait during the Xfinity race
The Lilly Diabetes pit crew change tires for Ryan Reed during the Xfinity Race at Daytona
Chase Elliott stands in front of the TaxSlayer.com Chevy on the start / finish line celebrating his victory in the Xfinity race. Chase's race car had run out of fuel and had to be pushed back to Victory Lane.
A few of the events during the weeks of racing at Daytona take place at night which gives the whole affair some extra magic and mystery
Sprint cars wiz by the Daytona sign crossing the start / finish line under the flag stand during one of the Can Am Duels
The 5-Hour Energy Chevy of Clint Bowyer gets its tires changed during a pit stop during the Can Am Race
The #1 McDonalds / Cessna Chevy driven by Jamie McMurray speeds down the front stretch during the Can Am Duel
Fans write well wishes, happy birthdays, and cheers for their favorite drivers on the checkered finish line.
NASCAR fans are special people. They love to be involved and to get onto the track right where their heroes will be risking life and reputation for that last ounce of speed.
Kurt Busch gently places his hand on the Monster Energy / Haas Chevy and looks deep into the soul of the fire breathing racecar before he heads out to the track.
Fans look on and snap pictures from behind the viewing area of the garage as Kurt Busch climbs into his racecar
Trevor Bayne collects his thoughts behind the wheel of the #6 Advocare Ford before heading out to the track
The line of Toyota Tundras wait for the signal to pick up the drivers after they have been announced for a parade lap around Daytona
Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Hellmann's Chevy, waves to the crowd as he is taken to his racecar for the start of the Daytona 500
Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Jimmie Johnson lead the pack through turn one of the Daytona 500.
Denny Hamlin leads the field in the #11 FedEx Express Toyota as he enters turn one during the Daytona 500
The Prize! The wining trophy for the Daytona 500 waits in Victory Lane for the best driver of the day to come and claim it.
In a photo finish, that was the closest in Daytona history, Denny Hamlin won his first Daytona 500 just beating Martin Truex Jr. to the finish line.
As the smoke from the celebratory burnout of Denny Hamlin cleared, the #11 FedEx Express Toyota sat proudly on the infield Daytona sign claiming its place in Daytona history.
Congratulations to Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, FedEx, and Toyota!
All images here are copyrighted by Action Sports Photography Inc. ©2016
February 2016 desktop calendar
Here it is, a little late but hey, that's what vacation is for right? This was the view from our resort in Curacao, the Papagayo. The infinity pool stretched out from a small beach and then there was a four foot drop at the edge down to the ocean. For those of you that have never heard of Curacao I will go into greater depth on a Travel Tuesday post after I have finished editing the pictures, but for now suffice it to say, the place is wonderful. So here's you little Winter taste of the Caribbean. Download the calendar here: February 2016 and enjoy it every time you look at your desktop.
Curacao Nikon D4 Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28mm f/9 ISO 160 1/250sec
Countdown to Daytona
With only 34 days left until the running of the #Daytona500 I thought I would share one of my favorite #NASCAR pictures from last year that doesn't have a car in it, and isn't even at a racetrack. For the race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway there is a hauler parade that takes place as the teams roll into town. All the transports gather at one end of "The Strip", while the police shut down traffic, and slowly, with all the glitz and flash of Las Vegas the eighteen wheelers roll through Sin City. The City of Lights celebrates a NASCAR weekend in its own special way. @Actionsports #ActionSports #MotorsportPhotography #SportsPhotography #LasVegas #Vegas #racing
2015 NASCAR rolls into Sin City