If history has a way of repeating itself, Shane Hmiel (No. 15 Whitaker Farms Chevrolet) figures the third time has to be the charm. Saturdays OReilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway has produced the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series two youngest winners Ricky Hendrick in 2001 and Jon Wood (No. 50 Roush Racing Ford), each at 21 years of age. The fact that the 1.5-mile speedway doesnt favor the more experienced competitors could bode well for Hmiel, 24, wholl be appearing in just his tenth series race. Id like to add my name to that list, said Hmiel, who finished 15th in last years NASCAR Busch Series standings but continues to pursue his first NASCAR national touring series victory. I really think (Kansas Speedway) is a neutral advantage for both the veterans and the young guys, as they like to call us. Ive said it before; Im hungry for a win. The North Carolina competitor nearly won each of his past two starts at The Milwaukee Mile and Memphis Motorsports Park. Hmiel also led at Texas Motor Speedway before engine failure sent his Billy Ballew-owned Silverado to the garage. Ballew, an Atlanta resident whose team has competed full or part-time on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series since 1998 also is ready to visit Victory Lane. Until Hmiel finished second at Memphis, the teams best performances were fifths with Rich Bickle at Richmond in 1998 and Andy Houston (No. 2 Team ASE/Carquest Dodge) a year ago at Daytona. Ballew definitely has tasted the lows. Now hes enjoying the highs that come with running fender-to-fender with and frequently ahead of former series champions Travis Kvapil (No. 24 Line-X Toyota), Mike Skinner (No. 42 Toyota Tundra Toyota) and Jack Sprague (No. 16 Chevy Trucks Chevrolet). To see us get out on the track and go and lead the amount of laps we led and having a shot to win is overwhelming, said Ballew. Its like a payback for all the struggles you go through as a team owner or team member. Ballew has completely revamped his team in 2004 from driver to crew to trucks. Hmiels father, Steve Hmiel, technical director at Dale Earnhardt Inc., has made significant contributions. Ive really enjoyed working with Steve and hes been a tremendous help to us, said Ballew, whose driver and team stand 16th in series standings with three top-10 finishes. His unsurpassable amount of knowledge has been a great asset to Shane and the team. Ballew also rehired veteran crew chief Richie Wauters and, despite not having a national sponsor, has pushed the team to the series top tier with the help mainly of several Atlanta small businesses. Everyone on the team is pulling in the same direction and they also are friends, said Ballew. Its not a 9 to 5 work atmosphere. What free time they have, they hang out and go to dinner and stuff like that. I think its always that way if you have chemistry and everyone is on the same page. Driver Hmiel, as well, is on top of his game. He did the Milwaukee Mile double and finished a glossy fourth leading more than 60 laps – in Saturday nights NASCAR Busch Series event as stand-in for Kasey Kahne. Hmiel was 12th in the Black Cat Fireworks 200 although the finish hardly was indicative of his performance. A lap 199 spin dropped Hmiel out of the top five where hed run for most of the race. I just want to work hard and win some races, he said. Thats who I am; a racer through and through. As long as it has four tires and a steering wheel, Im ready to drive it.
NEWS & NOTES, PART II
Series pioneer Smith adds to record streak Ted Musgraves victory in the June 25 Black Cat Fireworks 200 made Ultra Motorsports Jim Smith, owner of the No. 1 Mopar Dodge, a winner at least once in all ten seasons on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Smith, one of four off-road owners who in 1994 proposed to NASCAR the idea of racing trucks on Americas top oval tracks, counts 31 wins in series competition, three behind all-time leader Jack Roush. Musgrave, who also won the race in 2001, is the first repeat winner at The Milwaukee Mile. The winner started from the Bud Pole to claim Craftsmans pole-to-victory bonus of $18,000. Etc. A third-place finish at Milwaukee gives Dennis Setzer (No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet) a 131-point championship lead over Carl Edwards (No. 99 Superchips Ford). He enjoys the largest margin since Oct. 28, 2001 when Sprague led Scott Riggs by 141 following the seasons next-to-final event at Phoenix International Raceway. Spragues engine failure at Milwaukee ended the series longest finishing streak by an owner. IWX Racing was running at the finish of 54 consecutive races beginning with the March 15, 2002 stop at Darlington Raceway. Matt Crafton (No. 6 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet) became the series 25th career $1 million winner. Crafton finished tenth. This weeks OReilly Auto Parts 250 marks the 100th NASCAR Craftsman Truck start by David Starr (No. 75 Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet). Hes the 16th competitor to reach the century mark. Dennis Connor has resigned as crew chief of Andy Houstons No. 2 Team ASE/Carquest Dodge. Trip Bruce, former car chief for Ultra Motorsports NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series program, becomes interim crew chief.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Wood, Setzer master Kansas Speedway Jon Wood and Dennis Setzer have completed all 501 laps and 751.5 miles contested at Kansas Speedway. They are the only drivers with three top-10 finishes at the venue.
QUOTEBOOK
Dont get me wrong, everyone likes short track racing, but after having a couple consecutive races on some of the circuits shorter tracks, its nice to not see quite as much of each other. Raybestos Rookie contender Brandon Whitt (No. 38 Cure Autism Now/McMillin Homes Ford), who seems ready for a change of pace this week at Kansas Speedway.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The OReilly Auto Parts 250 played a major role in Mike Bliss drive to the 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. Bliss won the race when Rick Crawford (No. 14 Circle Bar Motel & RV Park Ford) suffered a freak mechanical failure while leading four laps from the finish. Crawford, who wound up 12th, lost 43 of the 46 points by which he lost the title.
FAST FACTS
What: OReilly Auto Parts 250 (Race No. 10 of 25).
Where: Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kan.
When: 3 p.m. ET, Saturday, July 3.
Track layout: 1.5-mile paved speedway.
Race length: 250.5 miles/167 laps.
Posted awards: $564,324.
TV: SPEED Channel, 3 p.m. ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2003 winner: Jon Wood.
2003 polesitter: Chad Chaffin.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Friday Practice 9 10:15 a.m. and Noon 12:50 p.m. Qualifying 2 p.m. Final practice 4:50 to 4:45 p.m., time permitting.(NASCAR PR)(7-1-2004)
