07/19/2026
So as a track photographer I get the privilege every week to capture some amazing moments, some heartbreaks as well, but it is the ones where father and son run side by side for laps. My dad would have been beaming tonight watching his friend Vernon Hill Racing Vernon Hill and son Vernon Hill Jr. do just that....and even more tickled when the son found his groove to bring the JR1 Motorsports 1H WISSOTA Late Model to victory lane.
The Hill Family encouraged my passion for track photography back in 2006 when I first got started. My first customers actually. Back before I had the proper equipment, before I understood photoshop, before the 20 year career began.
I still remember a day up at their house doing the Saturday scramble and taking my daughter to with us. I am almost sure Lisa can remember this day as well. 2 bored kids and a wagon. How Vernon Jr convinced my daughter to pull him around, I am not sure, but he would yell, "Faster! Faster!" until my daughter was running in tight circles and tip him out. They did this for almost an hour. It was then, my dad knew that a son would follow in his dad's footsteps and race with the "Big Boys".
Not sure if he ever got to watch these two race each other, but he knew and would be proud for both of them.
When we lost my dad, it was the Hill family that reached out to me. It was Vernon winning the last race of the night and before the interview coming to me at the fence the following weekend. It has taken me 5 years and I can finally remember which of his two younger boys is which. In fact, I will mentor one of them in a way so that when I can no longer do what I love to do the next generation will be the keeper of the memories. Not that I plan on going anywhere soon.
Tonight I was actually able to give a little back, capture that moment of sheer joy coming out of the Late Model. One that at the beginning of the season had its struggles.
This isn't bias in any way. There have been multiple father/son duos over the years. It is one of.my favorite things to watch. Any multi-generational race family is why we are all still here.
The Tinkers, The Azures, The Miesmers, The Wermlings, The Harvies, The Hills, The Prices, The LaMeres, The Leaches, The Petersons, The Myres, The Kropps, The Pophams, The Shumates, The Cravers.....the lists goes on and so many to count. Walk around the pits and you can't miss a multi-gen family.
So to say I am biased won't work. Yes, I have drivers who's pit I frequent, I am friends with many, and of course over almost 51 years I have seen rivals become friends, friends become rivals, drivers disagree over simple disputes. But...what truly amazes me is how this racing family sticks together, how they fight and argue like a bunch of siblings at times and in the end have each other's backs and those who have taken up the call to be in charge of this group of misfits.
Do I have drivers I love to see win, of course. When they screw up and try to pass the buck, I also am not afraid to call them out. And if I say you screwed up they listen.
I love this dysfunctional family and it has been a pure pleasure to be the keeper of my generation's memories, to carry on the stories passed down, and to watch new memories being created.
Thanks to everyone who has supported me and continue to support me for all these years.
