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.

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.

OK Fine, I'll Be Excited About Riding In The Racecar

I’m mere hours away from riding around a 1.5-mile super speedway at nearly race speed.

Yes, I know, according to just about everyone I’ve talked to I’m supposed to be jumping for joy at the chance to get a ride along with the Richard Petty Driving experience Thursday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.

It’s the same thing from pretty much everybody, ‘You cover racing, you’re supposed to want to do this.’

Whelen Modified Tour Schedule For 2008 Released By NASCAR

In conjunction with the 2007 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour banquet, the sanctioning body Friday released the schedule for the 2008 Whelen Modified Tour and Whelen Southern Modified Tour

Below is the press release from NASCAR and the two schedules.

The Modified Tours have always been an integral part of NASCAR racing, dating back to the first race in NASCAR history in 1948. As NASCAR celebrates 60 years of racing and 60 years of Modified champions, the 2008 schedules for both the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour enable the series to race at  some of the best short tracks in America and revisit some of the roots of the sport.

One More Nail In The Modified Tour Coffin

O. Bruton Smith, chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc. said all that needed to be said when it came to handicapping the future of the Whelen Modified Tour and Busch East Series at the new New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

During a press conference announcing the purchase of the speedway by SMI from Bob Bahre on Friday Smith was asked about what the sale would mean to the two regional divisions at his new speedway in Loudon, N.H.

Smith said he wasn’t familiar with them.

A Done Deal: Speedway Motorsports Inc. Buys New Hampshire International Speedway

O. Bruton Smith, CEO and Chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc. announced early this afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway that he has agreed to purchase New Hampshire International Speedway from Bob Bahre.

Smith will pay $340 million in cash for the 1.058-mile facility in Loudon, N.H. The track will be renamed New Hampshire Motor Speedway following completion of the acquisition.

Smith said there is nothing in the purchase agreement that mandates that he must keep 1 or 2 Nextel Cup events at the track. NHIS currently hosts two Nextel Cup events annually.

Asked what New England race fans should think about the purchase Smith said: “Don’t be nervous.”

“We don’t plan to make any changes at this time,” Smith said.

Statement From NASCAR CEO Brian France On SMI Purchase Of New Hampshire International Speedway

Today’s announcement that Speedway Motorsports Inc. has purchased New Hampshire International Speedway is yet another indication that the NASCAR industry continues to grow and thrive. Capitalizing on NASCAR’s national appeal and growth, the Bahre family created a passionate fan base and developed a valuable venue that has hosted the largest sporting events in New England including 26 consecutive sellouts.

The success of NHIS, and the desire of the Bahre family to sell, made the track very attractive to SMI and several other interested buyers. SMI has a highly regarded record for hosting some of the most successful and enjoyable race events in all of NASCAR, and there’s no doubt that will continue.

Reports That SMI Will Announce Friday The Purchase Of New Hampshire International Speedway

The future of big time NASCAR racing in New England could be changing dramatically.

Officials from Speedway Motorsports Inc. are expected to announce in a press conference Friday at Texas Motor Speedway that they have purchased New Hampshire International Speedway from current owner Bob Bahre.

The Boston Globe is reporting today, through a source close to the deal, that O. Bruton Smith, CEO and Chairman of SMI, has entered into an agreement to purchase NHIS from Bahre.

Faceless Insurance Industry A Perfect Fit For Identity Lacking Busch Series

The city of Hartford is commonly referred to as “America’s Filing Cabinet,” and fittingly so.

Hartford is the Insurance Capital of the world and its fits that image so perfectly.

You have to know that any city where women’s basketball represents one of the biggest attractions in getting people to visit is hardly hopping with life or excitement.

Hard To Believe The Hype When It's Simply Invented Public Relations Falsehoods

Maybe it was the first line of the press release that just got to me.

I’ve been in this business long enough to know that the job of the public relations representative is to get attention for their cause, whatever that may be.

But sometimes the story they’re trying to convey can get stretched, twisted and massaged so much that it just comes off as simply being fictional.

A release was sent to The Courant this week concerning the career of Bristol driver Michelle Theriault.