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.

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.

Yes, I Got In The Racecar

I know, I know, it was the big question after posting last night's blog. Would I get in the car or not?

Well, for the record, I did it. I know now that knowing what I know now, I would have been pretty upset if I hadn’t done it.

I’m not going to throw the wild “experience of a lifetime” superlatives out there, but I’ll say this, it was amazingly exhilarating riding around the 1.5-mile Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Thursday.

Here’s my thumbnail review of my three laps.

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.’

Called In By The Clash Of The Choirs

One thing I’ve never been a fan of is any sort of reality TV or reality game show or whatever it might be. I’m proud to say that I’ve never watched a single episode of Survivor.

But somehow this week I got sucked in to something I would have never expected.

Clash of the Choirs on NBC.

Can’t really explain it, stumbled upon it Wednesday night and couldn’t change the channel and I went back for seconds on Thursday night for the super duper live big time finals.

Red Bull Racing Resolutions

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a fan of those who don’t have to take everything in the world of big time sports so seriously 24-7.

Well, I mean, Michael Waltrip doesn’t take himself too seriously very often, but then again, really, who does take Michael Waltrip seriously ever.

That said, it put quite a smile on my face when I was rummaging through the inbox and found this little gem from Red Bull Racing.

Joey Logano Earns Second Team All-American Honors; Donny Lia On The Third Team

Seventeen year old Middletown native Joey Logano has been named to the 2007 All-American Auto Racing Team by the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association.

The AARWBA has named an All-American team since 1970.

Logano was named to the second team in the touring series category.

Logano, a developmental driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, captured the Busch East Series title this season, becoming the first rookie to accomplish the feat. In the process Logano became the youngest driver ever to win events in both the Busch East and NASCAR West divisions, winning in his series debuts in both divisions. Logano won 5 Busch East series events and finished in the top-10 in 10 of 13 races.

Randy "The Intimidator" Edsall

On Dec. 27, two days before the Meineke Car Care Bowl on Dec. 29 in Charlotte, UConn football players will be trading in their football helmets and uniforms for racing helmets and fire suits.

One of the perks for those playing in the Meineke Bowl is getting a chance to go out to Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. and go through the Richard Petty Driving Experience at the 1.5-mile oval.

Yes, that means UConn football players riding shotgun in NASCAR Nextel Cup stock cars at 160 mph at the track.