NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano, a Middletown, CT native, returned home to kick off the Inaugural Joey Logano Hometown Showdown at On Track Karting in Wallingford on Thursday, September 18, 2014. The night provided an opportunity for fans to test their racing skills against Joey in a fun competition along with other racers while raising money for The Connection. Hundreds of individuals gathered at On Track Karting to get the opportunity to meet Logano, take pictures and ask for autographs.

“It’s an honor for me to host this event in Connecticut where my racing career began and give back to the community who helped me get where I am today.” said Logano “I have wanted to do something like this for a long time and seeing it come together is really exciting for me. Thanks to AutoTrader.com partnering with us for the event it has become a reality.”

Prior to the Hometown Showdown, Logano participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Connection’s Logano Place. Logano Place is a new transitional housing program for up to 28 homeless adult men and women who are actively working on their recovery from behavioral health and substance abuse issues. The goal of the program is to provide supports to these men and women so that they can successfully re-enter the work force and permanently exit from homelessness. The program, located in Middletown, CT will offer second chances to those who are working to achieve independence in their lives.

Says The Connection President and CEO, Peter Nucci, “We are thrilled that Joey Logano has reached out through his foundation to better the community where he got his start. It is our honor to name this program for Joey and know that the program residents will be grateful for Joey’s support of The Connection’s services.”