Kerry Earnhardts name was still above the door, but it was Shane Hmiel testing the #15 Billy Ballew Chevrolet Wednesday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Only two days ago, Hmiel had no plans to compete this year in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series. But he received a call on Tuesday to return to the vehicle he drove last year in time for the March 18 World Financial Group 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He will be taking over for Earnhardt, who will not be racing at Atlanta because of lack of sponsorship. Albertsons parted ways with the team this week.
Kerry is a great guy, Ballew said. It takes lots of money to keep these operations running, and because of lack of sponsorship we were unable to run Kerry in the Atlanta race. Shane Hmiel was more than happy to accept the offer to drive the #15 after his immediate success with the team last year made Billy Ballew Motorsports a familiar place to Hmiel. This is like my home (Billy Ballew Motorsports), Hmiel said. Billy is like a father to me. Hes always there to bring me back into racing, and last year he paid out of his own pocket. Racing with him feels like Saturday night racing, six guys and the truck, thats it. Its good to come here and be the fastest above these factory-backed teams. And Hmiel was the fastest during Tuesdays test, despite jumping back in the truck just that morning. Hmiel circled the fastest track in NASCAR in 30.81 seconds (179.940mph). Ballew is anticipating an announcement regarding that new sponsor within the week.
#47-Bobby Labonte also continued testing Wednesday as the team began to make changes to the truck, trying to find a better balance for what they think is needed for the March 18 World Financial Group 200. Turning in a lap of 31.02 seconds (178.723mph), Labonte seemed content with his teams progress.
#29-Brad Keselowski also tested his Craftsman Truck on Wednesday, turning in a top lap of 31.50 seconds (175.999 mph). Busch drivers Blake Feese and Stanton Barrett joined Wednesdays test. Feese was fastest in his #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, turning in a lap of 30.14 seconds (183.94 mph). Barrett was just a tick slower at 30.18 seconds (183.69 mph).
Testing will continue throughout next week as drivers prepare for the upcoming March 18-20 Golden Corral 500 race weekend. Great seats are still available for all three days; for more information call Ticketmaster or the Atanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or visit www.AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.(AMS PR)(3-2-2005)
UPDATE: being told that Albertson’s didn’t pull their sponsorship from the #15 team, they were only on the truck for the Daytona race (regional reasons) through DEI’s association with Kraft. Stater Bros was on the truck for California (same reasons) through Kraft… the Kraft deal was only for the first two races.(3-3-2005)
UPDATE 2: from Albertsons: “The story regarding Albertsons sponsoring Kerry Earnhardt in the Craftsman Truck Series and then dropping him after the Daytona race is inaccurate. The true sponsorship agreement was between Kraft/Nabisco, DEI, and Ballew Motorsports for two races, Daytona and California Speedway. Nabisco placed Albertsons decals on the truck in Florida and those of Stater Brothers on the truck for the California Craftsman race, but neither grocer had any input regarding who was to drive, or not drive, the truck.”(Albertsons)(3-10-2005)
