Perfect Timing: How We Captured Sting Ray Robb’s Helicopter Lift-Off at Iowa Speedway IndyCar

Our first IndyCar race at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa, was a weekend we’ll never forget—a whirlwind of adrenaline, triumph, and a heart-stopping twist we caught on camera. We were there all weekend with media passes, courtesy of our friend Tyler Anthony, a country artist from Gretna, Nebraska, who was performing in the beer garden. With our camera gear slung over our shoulders, we’d been filming the action nonstop, soaking in every moment of the high-octane spectacle.

The race itself was a nail-biter. The 0.875-mile oval roared with the sound of engines as cars whipped past at over 180 miles per hour. We’d been cheering hard for Will Power, watching him battle through the pack with precision and grit. As the laps ticked down, the tension built, and when the checkered flag finally flew, Will crossed the finish line in a blaze of glory. The crowd erupted, and we were right there with them, shouting ourselves hoarse, our cameras rolling to capture the victory.

But the celebration didn’t last long. Seconds after the flag waved, chaos broke loose. Sting Ray Robb, caught in a post-race tangle, lost control. His car launched into the air, flipping wildly before slamming into other cars in a shower of debris. The crowd’s cheers turned to gasps, and we pivoted our lenses to catch the stunned reaction rippling through the stands. It was surreal—one moment we were filming a champion’s triumph, the next we were documenting a wreck that looked like it belonged in a disaster flick.

Thanks to our media passes, we hopped on a cart ride to pit lane after it happened. Safety crews swarmed the track, pulling Sting Ray from the crumpled cockpit. A medical helicopter was on standby, and we kept filming, capturing the exact moment it lifted off, blades thumping as it carried him to the hospital. The image of his car soaring through the air was burned into our minds, and for a few tense minutes, we held our breath, unsure of his fate.

Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait long for good news. Word spread fast through the pits—Sting Ray was okay, battered but alive. The relief was palpable, washing away the knot in our stomachs. The weekend had already been a rollercoaster, from filming Tyler’s set in the beer garden to chasing shots of practice runs, but this was the moment that defined it.

Sting Ray Robb’s resilience shone through—he’s back racing today, undeterred. Will Power’s victory still stands as a highlight, but it’s the raw unpredictability of that day that lingers. Armed with our gear, we walked away from Iowa Speedway with more than just footage—we left with a story of triumph, terror, and the tenacity of IndyCar drivers.