Shawn Courchesne | Auto Racing

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.

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.

Serving Up A Heaping Helping Of What's In My Head

Just throwing it all in a pot here and mixing it up. Get ready to ride the rollercoaster of what goes through my head while thinking that racing season is still too far away.

. . . I hate name changes and it’s going to be a bad year for name changes. Not only with the new Sprint Cup Series, but there's also the Nationwide Series and then there’s the Camping World East Series. None of them are exactly rolling off the tongue just yet. Give me until at least August before I’m used to them.

What Does Age Have To Do With Being Ready For The Sprint Cup Series?

On Wednesday the Charlotte Observer reported that sources had confirmed that NASCAR is considering raising the minimum age for drivers in its top tier Sprint Cup Series (formerly Nextel Cup) from 18 to 21 years old.

The story cited concerns that drivers are being moved along the developmental ladder too quickly.

There’s some irony in the change. A year ago NASCAR lowered the minimum age for its regional developmental series’ from 18 to 16. It seemed at the time that the impetus for the change was not only based in getting younger drivers seat time and experience in NASCAR divisions but also for the selfish reason of getting more cars in divisions that were struggling to attract numbers.

Sealed Deal At The "New" New Hampshire Motor Speedway

It’s official. New Hampshire International Speedway is now New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Closing documents were filed Friday completing the sale of the track from Bob and Gary Bahre to Speedway Motorsports Inc. for $340 million in cash.

The name change of the track was also officially announced.

Local Racers Hit The Ice In Bobsleds

This sounds like a much more interesting cold weather endeavor than catching smelts.

A number of NASCAR stars are taking part this weekend in the 3rd Bodine Bobsled Challenge in Lake Placid, N.Y.

On Friday a field of NASCAR and NHRA drivers practiced and took two qualifying runs each. Included in the field of competition are 17-year old Middletown native and 2007 Busch East champion Joey Logano - a developmental driver for Joe Gibbs Racing – and 2007 Whelen Modified Tour champion Donny Lia.

Hey There, Remember Me?

What’s going on?

It’s been a while. Miss me?

I know, probably not.

I've been busy trying to start a second career as a place kicker. It's not going well.

I’m sure Bill Elliott nation and the Denny Hamlin fan club have definitely missed me. By the way, I can’t mention Hamlin without pointing out the fact that clearly one of his biggest fans discovered me recently. Hmmmm, Hooked on Phonics or a leather Denny Hamlin coat? I’m thinking she went with the coat.

Michelle Theriault Still Looking For A 2008 Ride

Bristol driver Michelle Theriault, who competed full-time last year on the Busch East Series, is still looking for a full-time seat for the 2008 season.

Theriault participated in an ARCA RE/MAX Series test session last weekend at Daytona International Speedway with Rick Markle Racing.

“I’d like to once again thank Rick Markle Racing for providing me a car at the test.” Theriault said in a release. “Without their support, I probably would not have been able to participate. . . . I learned a lot about restrictor plate racing and hope to have the chance to put it to use in the ARCA 200 in February [at Daytona].” 

Camping World East Series Added To Stafford's CarQuest Fall Final

Stafford Motor Speedway’s season ending CarQuest Fall Final will be getting a big facelift for 2008.

Stafford officials have added a NASCAR Camping World East Series race to the card for the Sept. 27-28 event. The event has long featured a Whelen Modified Tour event.

NASCAR announced over the weekend that the Busch East Series will be known starting in 2008 as the Camping World East Series.

From 2001-2003 the Camping World East Series was part of the Fall Final weekend at Stafford.

Michelle Theriault Looking At Possible ARCA Ride

Bristol driver Michelle Theriault is looking at the possibility of a ride for Speedweeks in February at Daytona International Speedway.

Theriault, who competed last season in the Busch East Series for Spraker Racing, will be taking part in a test today through Sunday at Daytona.

The 21-year old will test with Rick Markle Racing of the ARCA RE/MAX Series.

“At this point my plans for 2008 are still undecided,” Theriault said in a release. “My goal is to compete full-time in ARCA but without proper funding, it is proving to be extremely difficult. Rick and Del Markle have been longtime supporters of me and my career. They offered me the chance to test in one of their cars at Daytona and I jumped at the opportunity.”