Shane Hmiel Fails Third Drug Test

Shane Hmiel Fails Third Drug Test
Former NASCAR driver, now USAC Silver Crown driver Shane Hmiel has been suspended by NASCAR indefinitely after failing a third substance abuse test. Charlotte Observer journalist Jim Utter reports in a story on the newspaper’s website that Hmiel has been given a lifetime ban by NASCAR. The young driver was initially suspended by NASCAR in 2003 after failing a substance-abuse test. NASCAR required Hmiel to complete a rehabilitation program before he could be reinstated. Shane Hmiel was also subject to numerous drug tests as part of that program. Unfortunately Hmiel was suspended a second time for violating NASCAR’s substance-abuse policy. The Charlotte Observer reports that Hmiel had been participating in a rehabilitation program directed by NASCAR when he failed a random drug test last month. Shane’s father, Steve Hmiel a technical director for Dale Earnhardt Inc. did not to comment to the Charlotte Observer Friday about the suspension.

I did not make any attempts to contact USAC or any other parties involved on this story late Friday evening.

Kraig Kinser to Miss the Truck Race
Kraig Kinser was the twentieth fastest truck Friday afternoon at California Speedway but with the new rules he wasn’t fast enough to make the field. Full time teams from 2005 bumped the rookie from the field, even though he was faster than them. Kinser’s team was not a full time organization last season.

"I am disappointed that our CENTRIX Silverado won't be in the race but we did qualify 20th out of the 38 trucks here,” said Kinser. “It's just the way the system works for getting into a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race. It is an extremely competitive series and there are so many good trucks, it just doesn't give any of us any room to be off even a little bit. We turned a few really good laps late in practice yesterday but when I went out to qualify today, we were just too tight and I couldn't get through the corners like I needed to. I feel bad for everyone at Morgan-Dollar Motorsports and MB2. They have worked hard to put this program together for me and have given me great equipment with Randy Goss as the crew chief. But I am a rookie and we knew going into to the season that we faced this challenge of having to qualify every week. The more laps I get under my belt in the truck, the better it will be for our No. 47 team."

We will update the website following the NCTS race with images and results from the Open Wheelers.