I’ve covered auto racing for about half a decade now, and I’ve written for several outlets in that timespan. I’ve done Pit Notes reporting for Phoenix Raceway, and have had stints with PopularSpeed.com, Frontstretch.com, Speed51.com, and TheRacingExperts.com.
The New Mexico Motorsports Report has been my platform since 2017, though, and I’ve cared for it as a parent does for a child. I’d say it’s the place that most of my best work resides.
As you know, 2020 has been an unexpectedly challenging year for all of us so far. For myself, I moved from New York to Indianapolis in January, started a sales job, lost that job in March, and I’m now seeking new, career-related work.
Since I have a lot of time on my hands, I decided I should start acting on something I’ve had on the back burner for a while.
Over the years, I’ve had friends and family members ask me why I don’t just try to start my own website. I could be my own boss and choose what to cover, right? Well, I never really wanted to do that for several reasons:
1) I like having a boss (looking at you, David Swope) who gives me directions. This might sound silly, but it helps me stay motivated and not let myself get lazy.
2) Time and money. You need a lot of that to start any type of entrepreneurial project.
3) My following isn’t big enough. I have about 1,200 Twitter followers and more than 670 Facebook “friends,” but I don’t feel those numbers are sufficient for attracting adequate viewership numbers. Getting advertisers and procuring media credentials can be difficult with an upstart outlet, and I wasn’t sure if I had the patience or will to build something from scratch.
So, here’s a look at why I’m nonetheless doing The Circuit Journal:
Three years ago, I covered my first race as a New Mexico Motorsports Report / ESPN Albuquerque reporter at Pocono Raceway. Kyle Busch won the pole for that weekend’s race, and I raised my hand to ask a question during his press conference.
I started with, “John Haverlin, ESPN Albuquerque,” and before I got to ask my question, Busch says, “You’re a long way from home.”
I told him I was actually from New York and that I work remotely for the outlet. He obviously wasn’t expecting that response, and he made a little chuckle at it. To this day, I somewhat pride myself knowing I can make the sometimes grouchy Mr. Busch laugh.
Anyway, back to my point: I’ve had dozens of conversations like this with fans and industry folks over the last three years — this brief tale about Busch is just one example. People sometimes assume I should be covering racing events in New Mexico and the Southwest when that simply isn’t the case. I’ve been coast-to-coast covering NASCAR, IndyCar, and several other racing leagues. New Mexico has had nothing to do with it, really.
Dave and I have had conversations about either rebranding NMMR or starting a new website over the last few months. During this dull time of quarantine, I figured now is as good a time as ever to get this project off the ground. Thus, The Circuit Journal is born.
My goal with TCJ is to build it into a reputable and recognizable outlet that covers auto racing. I have several relationships with the great folks at NASCAR and IndyCar, so I firmly believe I can demonstrate the credibility TCJ will have in the coming months.
It’s going to be difficult, obviously, since there aren’t any races transpiring at this time, and no one knows when exactly the season will resume. But I know that as long as I stick with it, my 2021 NASCAR, IndyCar and IMSA hard cards will say “John Haverlin – The Circuit Journal.”
I’m not going to make a fortune with this. I’m doing it because it’s a passion. And if I never acted on my desire to start a professional auto racing new outlet on my own, I’d be afraid I might one day regret it and wonder what could have been.
Welcome to The Circuit Journal, everyone. I hope you enjoy reading and watching my content as much as I enjoy creating it.
“I had discovered journalism to be my life’s ambition.” – Walter Cronkite
