it. You could tell that they really appreciated where
VALERIO: Is this aspect captured in any of the
they came from and where they were.
photographs?
One of the first things that NASCAR told me before
MORAN: No. Anytime there was a serious crash
I went out to my first race was that it’s good to get
I had to hand over all my film to NASCAR. I’m a
to know the drivers, just don’t get close. I never
sports fan. I love all major sports. I bleed Eagles
really understood what that meant until I became
green; I love the Flyers and the Sixers. One thing
very good friends with Kenny Irwin, Jr., and he was
that NASCAR has always prioritized is that they’re
killed at Loudon in New Hampshire. It really tore me
very family-oriented, way more than I’ve seen in any
up. Then I understood what they meant: it’s OK to
other professional sport. You could tell that these
be friends and to get to know them, but don’t get
guys cared about each other and the causes they
too close, because you never know. You never know.
got involved in and family.
MARUDAS: Were you there, unfortunately, when he
When you’re in NASCAR, you’re looked at as
passed?
part of the NASCAR family. Even if you’re the
MORAN: Thankfully, no. He was killed after I had
resigned. Even the fans become like family at that moment, at that point.
photographer, you’re still part of that family. If something happens to you, everybody is there for you. Everybody would be there to support you, whether you’re a crew chief or one of the pit crew
ORTWEIN: When there’s a tragic event, is there a
or the transport driver. Everyone was very close-
memorial at the next race?
knit, very open, and very appreciative of the fans. It’s the fans that are buying DuPont automotive
MORAN: Not really. Every driver knows and accepts
finish, Tide laundry detergent, and Valvoline motor
the risks. They know if you get in that car this might
oil, and so on. The drivers, the crew, and the team
be the last time. It’s not something they talk about.
of NASCAR have never forgotten that. It’s why the
By the time of the next race, during the driver
drivers make themselves accessible. They’ll set up
meeting, they might say, “We all lost so-and-so last
hospitality tents and invite their guests over, the
week. It was a tragic loss,” but then we’ve got to
employees of the sponsor companies.
move forward. RACHEL MCCAY: You mentioned in a previous ORTWEIN: It’s not hanging over the fans? MORAN: The fans will pay tribute, probably even
for the rest of the season, like in other professional sports. When somebody from the team that had a big impact dies, they’ll put their initials on the helmet or something like that. You’ll see that on
conversation that NASCAR is a team sport. It’s not just the driver, it’s a team and your photography captures the teamwork of the race. One that stands out for me is Jeff Gordon and His Pit Crew; it captures the fact that everybody on the team has a job, and they’re working like clockwork.
the cars or the trucks. It wasn’t like they just forgot
MORAN: This photograph shows a pit stop. During
about them, but it’s just like anything else. They
a race, a driver pulls into the pit stop and gets four
have to move on.
new tires, a full tank of gas, and a little adjustment
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