Shawn Courchesne | Auto Racing

No Open Doors At Lime Rock Park For the Whelen Modified Tour

With a dwindling base of short tracks looking to host major touring events, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour has seen their event schedule pared down over the past decade to a select few tracks.

The Modified Tour visits 8 tracks this season as part of a 16 race schedule. That schedule includes 5 events at Thompson International Speedway and 4 events at Stafford Motor Speedway.

Getting the tour to new venues is something first year series director Chad Little said recently was one of his goals.

Skip Barber Announces Major Changes At Lime Rock Park

There’s a second road course racing track coming to Connecticut.

It just so happens the second one will be in the same place as the existing one.

Thursday, Lime Rock Park owner Skip Barber formally announced plans for modifications to the current 1.53-mile road course that will create three new optional corners to the track and dramatically change racing at the facility.

Don't Blame The Racetrack For Racing Tragedies

The knee jerk reaction was nearly automatic when word started to spread Sunday that NorthEastern Midget Association driver Shane Hammond had been killed in an accident during the season opening Icebreaker at Thompson International Speedway.

Automatically people were pointing fingers at the track.

Three lives lost in less than 4 years at Thompson.

It’s not surprising that people, almost immediately following the news of Hammond’s death, came out firing against Thompson, blaming the track, calling it an unsafe place to race. 

Ed Flemke Jr. To Hit The Airwaves This Week

Ed Flemke Jr. will be making sure the Whelen Modified Tour gets its fair share of air time this week.

Coming off his victory in the season opening Icebreaker 2008 Sunday at Thompson International Speedway, the Southington driver will make a pair of radio appearances in the coming days.

Ed Flemke Jr. Reflects On The Tragic Days Of Racing From A Driver's Perspective

On Sunday, after being declared the winner of the rain shortened Whelen Modified Tour Icebreaker 2008 at Thompson International Speedway, Ed Flemke Jr. of Southington spent some of his time in the press box with the media on hand reflecting about the day and being a driver and dealing with deaths of other drivers.

Prior to Flemke and his fellow Whelen Modified Tour competitors taking the track on Sunday, 27-year NEMA Midget driver Shane Hammond had been killed in a crash in turn 3 of the .625-mile Thompson International Speedway oval.

“I’m getting tired of it. I’m getting real tired of it. It’s just so sad that the price is so great. You hit a foul ball, what’s the price? You fumble, what’s the price? You fumble the ball here, the price is just too great. I’m just getting tired of it. It’s sad, it’s really sad. But my dad told me a long time ago, at [Modified racing legend Fred DeSarro’s] wake, pick that chin up, it’s OK to cry, just pick your chin up and you’ll be alright. We’ve got to do it for them. We’ll be back. We’re too stupid to stop so we’ll be back.

History Making Day For Graham Rahal In The IndyCar Series

A little more than a week ago Graham Rahal couldn’t even get a glimmer of light shined upon as the spotlight shone down on the newly integrated IndyCar Series during the division’s opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Rahal was forced to sit out of the first event of the IndyCar Series season at Homestead-Miami March 29 because a test crash earlier in the week left his Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing team with no equipment for the second generation driver.

On Sunday though Rahal took center stage on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. and showed that the refugee teams and drivers from the ChampCar World Series may not be as far back from their IRL counterparts than once thought.

NEMA Midget Driver Shane Hammond Killed In Crash At Thompson Sunday

NorthEastern Midget Association driver Shane Hammond was killed in an accident Sunday at Thompson International Speedway, the Connecticut State police confirmed.

Hammond, 27, of Halifax, Mass. was involved in a crash on the fourth lap of a scheduled 25-lap NEMA Midget feature.

Hammond’s car made contact with the car driven by Chris Leonard of Pelham, N.H. heading into turn 3. Hammond’s car ended up going over the concrete wall at the entrance to the corner and into a loose banner billboard above the wall.

Thompson Sources: "Serious" And "Traumatic" Injuries Sustained By NEMA Midget Driver Shane Hammond

According to multiple sources at Thompson International Speedway, NEMA Driver Shane Hammond was being treated for what were described as “serious” and “traumatic” injuries following a crash in the NEMA Midget feature Sunday at Thompson International Speedway.

Hammond, 27, got together with the car driven by Chris Leonard of Pelham, N.H. heading into turn 3 on lap 4 and his car ended up going over the concrete wall at the entrance to the corner and through a loose banner billboard above the wall.

It was unclear if Hammond’s car impacted with the stanchion holding the banner billboard upright.

Harrowing NEMA Midget Wreck At Thompson International Speedway

A dramatic crash in turn 3 on lap 4 of the NEMA Midget feature has brought action to a stop at Thompson International Speedway.

According to track officials NEMA driver Shane Hammond of Halifax, Mass. was transported to Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam following the wreck.

Hammond got together with another car on the track going into turn 3 and his car ended up going over the concrete wall at the entrance to the turn and through a loose banner billboard above the wall.

Moving Right Along On Icebreaker Sunday At Thompson

Ah peace again in the press box at Thompson International Speedway.

The radio boys from the morning show have disappeared (to their credit, the small bit I listened to was quite funny). It’s back to normal life here though with the regular band of merry characters populating the cozy warm confines up here.

Yes, it still feels at Thompson like Christmas is right around the corner. It is April right?

Welcome To Thompson: I Want My Press Box Back

Welcome to Thompson International Speedway.

Well, that would be the frozen tundra of Thompson International Speedway.

It’s cold, it’s windy, its overcast.

Did I mention that its cold? Very cold.

James Civali On Top In Icebreaker Qualifying; Marvin, Zuidema Win Features

Defending race winner James Civali kicked off Icebreaker 2008 race weekend in style, winning the pole in qualifying for Sunday’s Whelen Modified Tour season opener at Thompson Speedway. The Meriden driver toured the .625-mile oval in 18.613 seconds (119.916 mph) for his first career Modified Tour pole.

“I didn’t think we’d be able to get it,” Civali said. “We were fast all day but the track changes so much. You can go from one tenth to another. You never think you’re going to get a pole. I never get a pole.”

Bobby Grigas of Marshfield, Mass. was second (18.792 seconds) and Todd Szegedy of Ridgfield third (18.759 seconds). The top six qualifiers redrew for their starting spots putting Grigas at the front of the field. Ronnie Silk of Norwalk will start second. Civali will start fifth.

Don't Believe The Hype: Playing The Public Relations Game In Short Track Racing

Tuesday I got some news forwarded along to me from a colleague in the business. And really, it was big news.

Donny Lia finished in the top-5 in just the fifth Craftsman Truck Series event of his career. Wow, and here I thought I remembered him finishing 9th Saturday in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway.

Lo and behold, I went to NASCAR’s media website where, there it was in a big headline, sure enough, “Donny Lia Scores Top-Five In Just His Fifth Craftsman Truck Race.”

And The Oscar For Best Actor Goes To . . . : Michael Waltrip !!!

Is it any surprise that Michael Waltrip stars in some of the best racing commercial spots on TV these days.

The man struggles with driving a race car and has all he can do to keep a race team solvent but darned if he doesn’t have a knack for being an actor.

And Waltrip was right back offering up another Oscar winning performance on Saturday at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

Waltrip admitted that it was the Sprint Cup Series organization that he owns that was in possession of the sway bar that went missing from Roush Fenway Racing, the sway bar that had Roush Fenway Racing co-owner Jack Roush calling for lawsuits and moral repair in NASCAR.

High Comedy From Another Edition Of The Jack Roush Show

I love my MP3 player, couldn’t live without it. It’s a 40 gigabyte Creative with storage space for more music than I could ever even imagine having. I don’t even think about getting in my car without it. 

It’s a possession I’d like to keep in my possession.

For that reason, when I leave my car it comes with me. I could very easily leave it sitting on the front passenger seat and it would most likely be safe in most places I go. But why take that chance that it’s not safe? Why leave it out there to just tempt someone to break in and take it?

Donny Lia Scores Career Best Truck Series Finish At Martinsville

Being back in the short track element proved to be the elixir Craftsman Truck Series rookie Donny Lia needed.

After a pair of disappointing finishes to begin his 2008 campaign with TRG Motorsports, Lia, the 2007 Whelen Modified Tour champion, scored his first career Truck Series top-10 Saturday, finishing 9th in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

“We made up a lot of spots there at the end but we lost a lot of spots that we shouldn’t have,” Lia said. “I was pretty mad at myself for that. I guess that was kind of like redemption, you know, to make up those spots at the end. I think we could have had a top-10 and then we lost a slew of positions.  I got stuck on the outside.  So to come back and get a top-10, even if it was gifted back to us then you know what, hey, we’ll take it any way we can get it.” 

Garage Theft: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Doesn’t Like It; Jeff Gordon Laughs It Off

Jack Roush’s claims that an unnamed Toyota backed team stole a Roush Fenway Racing designed sway bar during an event last year brought totally opposite reactions from two of NASCAR’s biggest stars Friday at Martinsville Speedway.

Roush claims the team that stole the sway bar from under a toolbox during an event last year at Dover International Speedway attempted to copy the design but was found out when a vendor contacted about reproducing the part tipped off Roush Fenway Racing officials about the theft.

“What’s he doing with stuff just laying around the garage area?” Gordon said. “If that was a proprietary piece I think that you would have some tighter grip on it, not letting it go.  I think the whole thing is just hilarious.  I think it’s a great story, certainly we’ve been talking about it.  Once I heard about it today, we were talking about it up in the truck so I’m sure it’s making for some good entertainment around the garage area and here in the media center.

Jack Roush Offers Sordid Details On Alleged Theft Of Parts By A Toyota Team

The battle between Roush Fenway Racing and Toyota brewed even hotter Friday at Martinsville Speedway.

Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing, used Friday afternoon to go into great detail concerning his accusations that a Toyota team stole a Roush Fenway designed part last season.

The topic first came to light in an ESPN The Magazine article recently where Roush was quoted saying that a Roush Fenway part was found missing and later discovered to be in possession by a Toyota team.

Full Text From Jack Roush's Statement Friday Concerning Alleged Theft Of Parts

Below is the full text of the statement Roush Fenway Racing co-owner Jack Roush made Friday at Martinsville Speedway concerning the alleged theft last season of propietary Roush Fenway Racing parts by an unnamed Toyota backed team.

"I find myself in the eye of the storm. Unlike the last time I was here, I’m not mad today.  I’m not gonna answer any question that all of you might have that would take me past the point of giving you information that I think is appropriate given the other considerations that are going on behind the scenes right now.  My apologies to one or more of you that approached me as I entered the garage area this morning before I had a chance to see what in fact had happened in the news.  I don’t hang on the web for any inflammatory comment than anybody might make that could aggravate me or be relevant or irrelevant to facts that are developing.

Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin On The Front Row At Martinsville Sunday

There was little shocking about who will be sitting on the pole Sunday for the Sprint Cup Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

Hendrick Motorsports drivers Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have dominated at the track over the past few years and on Friday it was Gordon blistering the field in qualifying to score his 65th career pole.

Gordon toured the .526-mile Martinsville Speedway in 19.666 seconds (96.288 mph).

"Obviously I am very excited with that lap,” Gordon said. “We were, I don't know where we ended up in practice - fifth or so, the car was tight. I know we always say this, but I am really really proud and excited about what [crew chief] Steve Letarte and this DuPont Chevrolet team did today because I felt like we got beat in practice.

Injured Elliott Sadler May Sit Out Sunday at Martinsville

A homecoming trip this week for Elliott Sadler might not be the happiest one for the Virginia driver.

Sadler injured his back this week and there’s a possibility he may have sit out Sunday’s Goody’s Cool Orange 500 Sprint Cup event at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

Craftsman Truck Series regular Dennis Setzer was behind the wheel of Sadler's Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge for practice Friday afternoon at Martinsville.

Donny Lia Quick Out Of The Gate At Martinsville

The results haven’t been exactly head turning in two events this season on the Craftsman Truck Series for 2007 Whelen Modified Tour champion Donny Lia.

Could a short track trip be just what the Jericho, N.Y. driver needs to turn things around?

Last year it was Lia celebrating in victory lane at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway when the Whelen Modified Tour visited the track in September. He showed Friday that he hasn’t forgotten the quick way around at Martinsville.

Denny Hamlin Looking For A "Pick Up" Sunday At Martinsville

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin has an interesting garage sale going on.

With a unique program to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the fiery Virginian is selling off all the things in life that slow him down.

Yes that includes items like a slow cooker, molasses, a copy of War and Peace and this week’s item, a pair of spa slippers.

Don’t be surprised to see the parts of a Joe Gibbs Racing engine that ran at Bristol Motor Speedway last week to soon be on the list.

News And Notes From Around The Scene

A season of honoring past Modified Champions begins April 6 when the Whelen Modified Tour kicks off its 2008 season with the running of the Icebreaker at Thompson International Speedway.

At each Modified Tour event this season NASCAR plans to recognize every past Modified champion. The Icebreaker will see Frankie Schneider, Donny Lia and the late Richie Evans celebrated.

Schneider was the 1952 NASCAR Modified division winner and is the oldest living former champion.  Evans won 9 Modified titles over a 13-year span including the first Whelen Modified Tour title in 1985. Evans had already clinched the title in 1985 when was killed during a practice session at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Lia, who is now running on the Craftsman Truck Series, won the Whelen Modified Tour championship last season for Mystic car owner Bob Garbarino.

Our Little Piece Of Interweb Real Estate Is Growing Up So Fast

They said it couldn't be done.

A racing blog, at the Hartford Courant? Nobody is going to look at that.

Ok, so maybe it's just a few select friends hitting refresh over and over and over and over again, just don't tell the management types here our little secret.

Yes, its a big day at our treasured little piece of undervalued web space here, our little blog is growing up.

Stewed Up: Intimidating It Surely Doesn't Seem

Another edition of The Backstretch’s semi-regular concoction, brewed of the meatiest newsworthy items, opinions and meaningless meanderings down some paths that might not have anything to do with racing. Strap in for the ride.

--- Austin Dillon, the 17-year old grandson of Sprint Cup Series car owner Richard Childress, will race this season in the Camping World East Series for Andy Santerre Motorsports in a car designed strikingly similar to one very familiar to race fans from coast to coast.

Channeling The Frustrations Of Tony Stewart

Put the bet down now, Tony Stewart is raising the Sprint Cup Series champion’s trophy over his head in Homestead, Fla. in November.

Well, that is as long as life stays so thoroughly infuriating for Stewart for the next 8 months. Face it, the 2-time Sprint Cup champion seems to race best when he’s aggravated and aggravation has been the overwhelming theme for Stewart in this young season.

Stewart was angry the moment he sat down for his media day obligations on Feb. 7 at Daytona International Speedway and on a scale of 1-10 on the annoyance meter he has seemed to be at about 36 since that day.

Joey Logano Itching To Get Back Behind The Wheel In Competition

Joey Logano might be a phenom behind the wheel of a racecar, but he’s not a good racing fan.

May 24 can’t come quick enough for the Joe Gibbs Racing developmental driver from Middletown. That’s the day he turns 18 and becomes eligible to race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Logano will make his Nationwide Series debut May 31 at Dover International Speedway. Until then he pretty much, grudgingly, has to play the part of racing fan.

Looking Deep Into The Sports Monster That Is ESPN

So it’s not entirely about NASCAR, but, if you’ve got 20 minutes or so to kill there’s an outstanding article to be found at Sports Business Journal concerning ESPN.

The Worldwide Leader is the most fascinating Tyrannosaurus is in the sports media landscape and the Sports Business Journal article delves deeply into the topics of perceived assumptions about how ESPN does business, interestingly examining the business and how it relates to conflicts of interest inside the walls of the monster network and how it effects the relationships ESPN has with the many sports entities it deals with.

Post Bristol Thoughts: We Get It Denny, It's Never You

Is there a guy less appreciative of what he has in the Sprint Cup Series garage than Denny Hamlin?

And is there anybody who more often publicly blames his team for his own misfortunes? Hamlin did it again Sunday after he had fuel pickup issues while leading going to the green flag for the final restart of the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway?

You want to try to like Hamlin for his determination, for his fiery driving style, for his passion for racing for wins. Then he opens his mouth and you can’t help but just wonder what his issue is.