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.

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.

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.

John Force Continuing To Rehab From Wreck; Attempting To Map Out Next Steps

It’s unclear just how long legendary drag racer John Force could remain at Baylor University Medical Center.

Force has been at the facility since a horrific crash with Kenny Bernstein Funny Car competition at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Tex. on Sept. 23.

Force has been through reconstructive surgery on his feet, legs, and hands and has been rehabbing at Baylor since the wreck.

A release Tuesday from the NHRA said Force, 58, has been in discussions with doctors and family members to determine the best course of action for continuing his recovery.

NHRA Founder Wally Parks Dies At 94

Wally Parks, the driving force behind the formation of the National Hot Rod Association died Friday at St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank, Calif.

Parks was 94.

Parks founded the NHRA in 1951. Today the NHRA is recognized as the largest motorsports sanctioning body in the world.

"Today is a sad day in the world of NHRA and the sport of drag racing," Tom Compton, president of NHRA said "Words simply can't describe the immeasurable impact Wally has had on the sport he created and the millions of people's lives he touched along the way. The name Wally Parks is synonymous with drag racing, and his vision and direction will guide NHRA for years to come.  Everyone in drag racing, and the industries formed to service the sport, will forever be indebted to Wally, his vision, his focus and his desire to create, build and grow NHRA."

John Force Welcomes Famous Visitors And Works Through Rehab Wednesday

Drag racing legend John Force continued on the road to recovery Wednesday at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.

Team publicist Dave Densmore said in a release posted on the NHRA website Wednesday evening that Force spent the day "napping, rehabbing, and taking numerous phone calls from racing stars in all forms of motorsports.”

Force was seriously injured in a wreck Sunday with fellow racing legend Kenny Bernstein at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Tex.. Force went through six hours of reconstructive surgery Sunday evening on his feet, legs, and hands.

John Force May Be Out Of The Hospital As Early As Friday

Legendary drag racer John Force could be released from Baylor University Medical Center as early as Friday according to a release on the NHRA website.

Force has been undergoing physical therapy to rehabilitate a broken left ankle and deeply lacerated knee.

"John's doing great for all that he went through," Dave Densmore, public relations director of John Force Racing said. "He told me that anytime he'd ever hit the wall before his neck was sore for weeks, and his neck is not sore at all after this accident where he got thrown around quite a bit."

John Force Speaks; On The Road To Recovery In Dallas

Legendary drag racer John Force was undergoing physical therapy on Monday at Baylor University Medical Center.

Force was seriously injured in a wreck Sunday at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex outside of Dallas. Force went through six hours of reconstructive surgery Sunday evening on his feet, legs, and hands.

In a story on the NHRA’s website Force said Monday after viewing the crash for the first time: “We don't really know what went wrong. “I don't remember much. I remember thinking that I had to cut a light to beat Kenny Bernstein. The next thing I remember is them trying to get me out of the car.”

Thinking Back To An Eye-Opening Day With John Force

I was stunned to hear of the news of John Force’s injuries Sunday at the O’Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex outside of Dallas Sunday.

I immediately thought back to May, 2003, when I got a chance to spend some time with Force during an NHRA weekend in Englishtown, N.J.

It was my first time at any sort of drag racing event, and yet Force, upon meeting me, treated me like I had been covering the sport for 50 years.

I had expected to get a couple minutes with Force after the racing had ended on Saturday. Needless to say I was stunned when he dragged me to his personal motor coach and regaled me with story after story for at least an hour and half.

John Force Undergoing Surgery At Baylor University Medical Center

The NHRA website updated their information at about 10:30 p.m. concerning the medical status of legendary drag racer John Force, who was involved in a brutal crash Sunday in the second round of eliminations at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex outside of Dallas.

The most recent update said that Force is undergoing surgery at Baylor University Medical Center to repair damage to his knee, ankle and wrist.