The climb did not happen overnight, and it did not happen loudly. It happened one assignment at a time, one image at a time, and one earned opportunity after another as Robert Richard quietly established himself behind the lens in drag racing’s most demanding environments.
That body of work was formally recognized when Richard, one of the newest members of the CompetitionPlus.com editorial team, earned a place in the Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 Class of 2025. The annual recognition honors professionals under the age of 30 who are shaping the future of drag racing across competition, media, and business.
The 30 Under 30 program is designed to spotlight emerging talent while providing mentorship, professional development, and industry visibility. Richard’s selection followed a breakout year that saw him transition from seasonal contributor to a regular presence covering major events.
Richard joined CompetitionPlus late in the 2024 season, beginning with coverage of the DI Winter Series before quickly becoming a consistent photography contributor. His work ethic, reliability, and eye for the sport accelerated his responsibilities and expanded his access.
For Richard, the recognition carried significance precisely because he never expected it to come his way. He said his perspective on the program had always been shaped by watching others earn the honor.
“It’s insane to me,” Richard said. “I never thought I’d really be in this position. I grew up always looking ahead to see all these really high-level individuals who have made it on the list. And I always thought it’d be cool to be part of it, but never thought I would be.”
Richard said he had spent several years nominating others for the recognition, believing their work deserved attention while assuming his own contributions would remain behind the scenes. That mindset, he said, made the moment more meaningful.
“In the last few years, I’ve been throwing in the names, but never really brought up up until now,” Richard said. “And it’s really insane to be here. Whenever I started racing back when I was a kid, I saw friends of mine who made it on and now I’m here. So it’s really cool.”
The makeup of the 2025 class reinforced his respect for the program. Richard said many of those selected were people he had long believed merited recognition.
“I always looked at other people and thought they really deserved to be on it and never thought I was one that would make sense to work for it,” Richard said. “And it worked out really well this year because a lot of the people that made it this year were people I thought deserved it, so it was really cool to be a part of it.”
Richard’s rise within CompetitionPlus began during Snowbirds near the close of the 2024 season. What started as event coverage quickly evolved into a steady role with increasing responsibility.
The opportunity carried personal significance rooted in Richard’s earliest memories of attending drag races. Long before he ever picked up a professional camera, he was a spectator absorbing the rhythm of the sport.
“When I was a kid, I went to Norwalk every year with my mom,” Richard said. “We’d stay in our little pop-up tent. And I always would see these people shooting on the wall. I always wanted to be in that position.”
That ambition remained in the background as Richard developed his skills. Joining CompetitionPlus gave him a platform to apply them at the highest levels of the sport.
“Ever since I started working with Competition Plus, it’s opened up a lot of gates that I never thought would be open,” Richard said. “I shot my first NHRA race this year. Actually, I’ve shot three this year with Competition Plus. It’s been really cool.”
Covering events sanctioned by the NHRA marked a significant step forward. Richard said his expectations entering that environment were quickly reshaped.
“I always thought the NHRA side of things were going to be a lot more like white shirt to blue collar, everyone’s going to have their professional side on,” Richard said. “And really, when I first walked in, it was a whole different vibe than I was expecting.”
Rather than formality, Richard described an atmosphere that was welcoming and collaborative. The reception, he said, helped him focus on execution rather than intimidation.
“It was a lot more upbeat,” he said. “Everyone was, ‘Nice to see you. I’ve heard about you. It’s finally good to meet you.’ It was really cool.”
That openness did not lessen the responsibility that came with the assignment. Richard said he understood immediately that performance mattered.
“And when I knew I had to provide, and do good, and I think I did pretty well the first race out,” he said.
Despite the scale of the events, Richard said the work itself has not felt overwhelming. When asked about challenges, his answer reflected confidence.
“I don’t really think there’s anything been tough,” Richard said.
Organization and consistency remain essential. Richard joked that staying focused is part of maintaining trust.
“Oh, yeah, that,” Richard said. “As long as I keep everything straight and don’t get the old ‘you had one job thing,’ we’re good to go.”
In addition to his work with CompetitionPlus, Richard continued to expand his portfolio through assignments across multiple sanctioning bodies. His photography included events associated with the IHRA and commercial work alongside veteran photographer Bryan Epps.
Those opportunities placed Richard behind the lens for drivers he once watched from the stands. The experience, he said, underscored how quickly his career has progressed.
“It’s really cool,” Richard said. “I mean, I get to sell photos to people that I watched on TV as a kid. So really, it’s a full circle moment.”
Among those moments were assignments involving established competitors whose careers helped define modern drag racing.
“Being able to sell photos to people like Del Worsham, and people like Annette Summers, running a pro nitrous car for the first time in a car that hasn’t been ran since the ’90s,” Richard said. “It was really cool to be able to do stuff like that this year.”
As Richard looks ahead, his focus remains on continuing the work that earned the recognition rather than chasing it again. The honor, he said, reinforces the standard he expects from himself.
“Hopefully, a bunch of the same as what we did last year,” Richard said. “Maybe some NHRA stuff here and there, a bunch of IHRA, PDRA stuff at Bradenton with the Drag Illustrated Winter Series and just see how it goes from there.”
For Richard, earning a place in the 30 Under 30 class is less about arrival than confirmation. It validates the path he is already on and the expectations that now follow.
“I’m just trying to keep earning my spot,” Richard said. “If the work keeps speaking for itself, that’s all I can ask for.”
