Shawn Courchesne | Auto Racing

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.”

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.” 

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.

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.

Jeff Gordon And Jimmie Johnson Taking A Wait And See Attitude On Kyle Busch

So would the Hendrick Motorsports super team have still included Kyle Busch if his tempestuous ways on and off the track didn’t go so far against the grain of the seemingly buttoned up organization?

Jimmie Johnson, Busch’s former teammate, thinks things may have been different for the current Sprint Cup Series points leader had there been fewer incidents for Busch during his time at Hendrick.

“When [Dale Earnhardt Jr.] came on the market and was available, there were a lot of things that were being jockeyed around and pushed around,” Johnson said. “And there was a lot that went on in rooms that quite frankly, I don’t know about.

New Support For Female Racers Trying To Climb The Ladder

Women looking to make their way up the racing ladder have a new place to turn to help ease the financial burdens that come with trying to make it in racing.

Project Podium is the newest initiative from the Women In Winners Circle Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by former racer Lyn St. James which is designed to empower young female drivers and help further their professional careers.

Project Podium will offer racing scholarships to female drivers in all forms of motorsports. The unique part of the scholarship program is that it will award funds equal to what a driver can prove they’ve raised through acquiring sponsorship.

When Is Fast Just Too Fast? Might Just Be Darlington In May

At its core the release screams out like one of those over the top advertisements for the local tractor pull or monster truck jam.

They may as well have made the first line “SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY !!!”

You can just hear it.

See NASCAR’s death defying superstars of the Sprint Cup Series attempt to tame the most dangerous asphalt lady in the game !!!!

Stewed Up: Don't Make Me Turn This Car Around And Go Home Because I Will

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.

--- It looks as if Dillon Moltz, who last year became the youngest driver ever to win in the Late Model division at Stafford Motor Speedwa, could be looking to make some noise on a bigger stage this season.

The 16-year old from Waterford has been approved by NASCAR to run in the Camping World East Series for 2008. An announcement on who Moltz could be driving for in the division this season is expected in the near future.

Kyle Busch Beats Dale Earnhardt Jr. And Hendrick In Race To Victory Lane

There’s no Big Shrub candy bars on the counter of the local 7-11 and Kyle Busch likely won’t be found hobnobbing with Jay Z and Danica Patrick on far away commercial shoot sets.

Busch isn’t going to sell as many t-shirts, or for that matter as many die casts cars or hats or sweatshirts or can cozies or any other knick knacks NASCAR fans so desire. In the game of marketing and fan support Busch finishes more than a few laps down from Dale Earnhardt Jr.

But Busch beat out Earnhardt in one big category on Sunday.