Hamilton savoring return to IRL seat

Davey Hamilton has already faced his toughest challenge.

An Indy Racing League mainstay and two-time runner-up during the series' early years, Hamilton was out of the sport almost six years after a crash in 2001 mangled his feet and legs. He underwent 21 operations over the next few years and had to undergo an intense rehabilitation program just to learn to walk on his reconstructed feet.

"Physically, I've been staying in shape. It's something I have to do the rest of my life anyway, to try to stay light and fit just because of my legs," said Hamilton, whose persistence brought him back into racing last year and landed him another ride this month with IRL boss Tony George's Vision Racing team.

"After I ran Indianapolis last year, I started back in doing some short-track racing in midgets, sprint cars, super modifieds ... and then I did some tests earlier this year," said Hamilton, who will join Vision's Ed Carpenter and A.J. Foyt IV. "I just hope to be able to stay with those two guys, because they're in a position to win a race."

The 45-year-old driver got another chance with Vision in a partnership with Kingdom Racing announced Sunday, just two days before the start of practice for the May 25 race.

MARTINSVILLE IMPROVING: Fans and competitors will be the beneficiaries of more than $2 million in improvements planned for Martinsville Speedway. The projects are expected to be completed before the Oct.19 running of the Sprint Cup TUMS QuikPack 500, speedway president Clay Campbell said.

A 120-foot-tall scoreboard will be added in the backstretch, pit road will be resurfaced with concrete, the fourth-turn pit gate will be reconfigured to include SAFER barrier technology, and portable chair seats surrounding the track will be replaced with individual stadium seats.

SADLER AUCTIONING HELMET: NASCAR driver Elliott Sadler is auctioning his Autism Awareness helmet to benefit autism awareness programs through the Hermie and Elliott Sadler Charitable Foundation. Bidding at www.sadlerfoundation.org ends May 19.