(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)
By Aaron Bearden
This has been the worst year I’ve ever had in racing.
Next year will either be the best or my last.
It’s time that I be honest with all of you that follow me here at Motorsports Beat: I haven’t been in the place I’ve wanted to be for the past two years.
I launched this outlet with big intentions heading into 2019. Early on, I delivered on them fairly well, too. “The Morning Warmup” chugged along just fine to the thousands of newsletter subscribers. I held my own with stories, brought fair analysis and even managed to cover a litany of races, including the entirety of the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, in person. At the time I was feeling well, delivering on objectives and even preparing to add staffing.
Everything was going great heading into 2020, even after that calamitous Daytona 500.
Then came the pandemic.
I don’t want to say this as an excuse, because it’s not. But the past two years haven’t been easy on me, just as they haven’t been for anyone else. I made a necessary move, but have since been filled with multiple large expenses due to vehicle issues and other personal circumstances. The COVID-19 situation pushed me into isolation for 2020, but my finances have remained a point of concern through 2021 and have kept me from going to many races in recent times.
Without being at the track, the distance has proven to be an issue. My passion waned for a time as a bout of depression set in. I started going through the motions instead of actively seeking good stories and engaging with people. Worse yet, the distance made me an afterthought. Those on the racing beat know – when you’re not at the track, you’re easily forgotten. I’ve found it harder to get interviews or make anything unique without being present at races. I tried to launch a podcast, but it’s lost steam (at least for now – more to come).
As a result, I’ve provided inconsistent, underwhelming coverage and storylines outside of my newsletter, which is admittedly chugging along just fine. I’ve let down those that come to me for knowledge, stories and guidance through the racing world. I’ve failed to fully give back to an industry that’s been the great joy and passion of my life. And more than anything else, I’ve missed out on countless late nights and good memories with friends and fans within the industry.
That’s nobody’s fault but my own. I know that. I’ve essentially wasted a year.
Now it’s time to do something about it.
I’m going to voice this now so that everyone can hold me accountable: I intend to give the 2022 racing season everything I’ve got. After taking some time away to think and reflect on my life, I’ve decided that it’s time I either give this racing world my all or nothing at all.
Being a full-time racing beat reporter may never happen for me. I don’t delude myself into thinking I’ll ever have the top level support to make that happen sustainably. But if I’m not going to go into this with my full heart, then I shouldn’t waste my time and the resources of the various racing series that have afforded me credentials and help with lackluster effort and a poor product.
So I’m issuing myself a personal ultimatum: 2022 has to be the year or the last year.
This year will see me work harder than ever before. Racing is to be my primary focus. I’ll do everything in my power to be a genuine value to this industry and give you the sort of content you expect, both on this outlet and others if the right opportunities arise.
I don’t just want to be a person that tells stories. I want to be the person that everyone wants to tell their stories.
And if it doesn’t work out, then I’ll take a step back at year’s end and try something new for 2023.
I don’t have great resources financially or otherwise to go all-out travel-wise, but what I do have are time, effort, and a joy for auto racing matched by few people on this entire planet.
It’s time I prove that… Starting right now.
If you want to play a part in this effort, let me know – my email is AB93@MotorsportsBeat.com, and I’d love to hear from you. If you want to support me and help me get to the track, shoot me a message or consider donating to my outlet’s Patreon and helping it grow with the new year. I intend to update the “reward” options heading into the new year.
But more than anything else, please feel free to engage with me. I want to hear your opinions on stories, share in successes and be held accountable for failures. Tag me when you see interesting things on social media, crawl into my replies or DMs if you have questions and say hi when you see me at the track.
Being a small part of the racing community is the greatest privilege I’ve ever had. Now I need to I show you all how much I value and appreciate it.
Let’s get to work.
Love you all. Keep an eye out for some new stories soon.
Best,
Aaron Bearden
