AITLYN WARD is redefining what it means to blend passion and profession in the drag racing world . With her dedication to capturing the raw essence of racing , Ward has not only crafted a space for herself in drag racing photography but has also become an integral part of the drag racing community .

Ward ’ s journey began at Shadyside Dragway in North Carolina , where her grandfather first introduced her to the sport . She was immediately hooked by the thrill and fell in love with cars . With that always in the background , Ward found a new passion : photography . During the pandemic , her path as a photographer truly took shape .

“ I was a waitress and bartender at the time ,” she explains . “ But with everything shut down , street racing was still alive and well . I was always out there with my phone , capturing videos and photos of my friends . One day , a friend gave me a camera , and from that moment , I never looked back .”

The first event she covered was the Dig or Die no-prep race at the backside of Rockingham Dragway — a high-stakes , high-energy environment where she fell headfirst into the craft .

“ From then on , it was a fulltime commitment ,” she says . “ I just fell in love — I just went full force at that point .”

Ward began to take steps toward making photography a full-time job and pivoting when necessary to stay the course . What sets Ward apart in the competitive world of drag racing photography is her ability to evolve .

“ I moved around a little bit , and I had made it an even stronger point that I wanted to make this work . I never wanted to go back to waitressing or bartending . I fell in love with what I was doing ,” she repeats . “ I fell in love with capturing the moments , with being around cars , just the whole atmosphere and the vibe and how it made me feel .

“ I made a passion out of a hobby and then into a career , and it just really soared from there ,” she adds .

Her journey has taken her from street races and no-prep racing to shooting NHRA , PDRA ,

IHRA , and other events . Ward loves exploring different types of racing and taking on new challenges , like when she witnessed her first Pro Mod race .

“ Seeing my first car go over 250 MPH was insane ,” she says , describing the thrill of capturing such high-speed action .

She has since made it her mission to photograph Pro Mods , Top Fuel , and nitro Funny Cars , with her NHRA U . S . Nationals debut at Indianapolis Raceway Park marking a career milestone . She captured the event for Strange Engineering , which produces components for entries in nearly every class that competed at the prestigious Labor Day weekend event .

“ Top Fuel changed everything for me — the speed , the power ,” confesses Ward . “ Even when

you ’ re across the track , you can feel it . It ’ s something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime .”

At 27 years old , Ward is also the social media manager for ForcedInductions . com as well as the owner of her own business , KW Photography .

“ I wear so many hats at Forced Inductions , from social media to customer relations , and even though I work remotely , I ’ m deeply integrated into the team ,” Ward explains . “ They ’ ve supported me from the beginning , and it ’ s incredibly rewarding .”

In addition to her many roles , Ward collaborated with automotive influencer Payton Brown , or “ Racin ’ Payton ,” for a groundbreaking article in Playboy .

“ It was one of Playboy ’ s first features on an automotive influencer , and she ’ s fully clothed ,” Ward says , explaining that some of her photos were featured in the article .

Furthermore , Ward is always looking to improve her craft . “ Every race is an opportunity to learn ,” she says . “ Whether it ’ s a big event or just a local test-and-tune , I ’ m there to grow . I never want to stop pushing myself to capture the best possible images .”

Reflecting on her journey , Ward is thankful for the acceptance and support she ’ s received from the racing community .

“ I ’ m extremely grateful to the racers . Without them , there is no racing ,” she says . “ I ’ m just here to help highlight it and capture memories for them along the way .”

Her advice to aspiring motorsport photographers is simple yet powerful as she reflects on her own journey .

“ You have to want it more than anything . Racing has to be your heart and soul ,” Ward shares . “ I have to say I ’ ve put everything into my business . I won ’ t go back to working a normal job . Racing or performance will always be my life from here on out .

With plans to shoot more on the West Coast and a dream to someday capture Formula 1 , Ward ’ s sights are set on expanding her horizons even further . Her unwavering commitment and passion for racing photography make her a trailblazer in a space where she ’ s not just documenting moments , but preserving the essence of a sport that drives her forward , one frame at a time . – KAYLA ZADEL DI

150 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 191