Latest news on Shane Hmiel: Former NASCAR driver Shane Hmiel is expected to be released from an Atlanta rehabilitation center in the next two weeks to continue his recovery from serious race-accident injuries at home. Steve Hmiel, Shane’s father and the competition director at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, said Shane has shown significant improvement from the head injury he suffered in a brutal crash during a USAC Silver Crown race last October in Indiana. Hmiel suffered head and spinal cord injuries in the wreck. Swelling in his brain was brought under control, his father said, and the family hopes that his rehabilitation can continue to progress when he returns home. “The doctors say most rehabilitation gets better when you get back at home, and we’re counting on that,” Hmiel said Thursday. “He’s going to have to learn how to walk again, first with a cane and then hopefully without it.” Shane Hmiel was trying to build a new career in USAC after being banned for life from NASCAR because of repeatedly failing drug tests.(SPEED)(1-21-2011)
Hmiel admits to positive tests for marijuana, cocaine: In trying to collect his salary from last season, banned driver Shane Hmiel has had to admit that he violated NASCAR’s substance abuse policy with a positive test for marijuana in 2003 and a positive test for marijuana and cocaine in 2005, this week’s NASCAR Scene reports. Hmiel was suspended by NASCAR from September 2003 to January 2004 for the first failed test and then indefinitely after the second failed test in late May 2005. He was “suspended for life” after a third failed test, which was announced in February 2006. The admissions came in a filing in Hmiel’s lawsuit against Busch Series team owner Todd Braun. Hmiel wants his paycheck for the time he drove for Braun in 2005 up until the time he was suspended in June 2005. According to the complaint, Hmiel says he is owed $135,513 for the races he drove and another $135,513 for bad faith dealings by Braun. As part of the lawsuit process, Hmiel had to answer questions from Braun, and those answers were filed last month in North Carolina court. Braun alleges that Hmiel knowingly and fraudulently signed a contract without revealing his physical condition. To prove that, Braun’s attorneys asked for Hmiel to submit answers to pointed questions. In those answers, Hmiel admitted to using illegal drugs. He admitted that he “may have used marijuana on a regular basis” prior to September 2003, when he failed the first NASCAR test. He denied he was using drugs on a regular basis (at least once a week) in 2005. Braun asked if Hmiel had tested positive for heroin at any time from 2003-2005, and Hmiel denied that he had. In the filing, Hmiel attests that he was not under the influence of any drug at any time while he was racing, although admits the drugs were in his system.(SceneDaily.com)(8-16-2006)
Strike Three for Hmiel – Banned for Life: NASCAR officials confirmed Friday that former NASCAR Busch and Craftsman Truck Series driver Shane Hmiel failed a third drug test and has been banned from NASCAR for life. Hmiel failed two prior tests in 2003 and ’05, and NASCAR officials said Friday that he failed a third within the past week, prompting his banishment.(Speed Channel) AND Driver Shane Hmiel has been suspended from competition for life by NASCAR after failing a third substance abuse test. “Shane failed to fulfill the prescribed rehabilitation program scheduled by NASCAR,” NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Friday. “As a result, Shane has forfeited his opportunity to compete in any NASCAR-sanctioned events.” Asked if there is any possibility of Hmiel racing in NASCAR sometime in the future, he said, “No, it is a lifetime ban.” Hmiel, the 26-year-old son of longtime crew chief and team official Steve Hmiel, was first suspended in September 2003 after failing a test. He completed a required rehabilitation program and was reinstated for NASCAR competition in February 2004. But he was suspended again last June after failing a second substance abuse test. NASCAR had laid out a road map for Hmiel’s possible reinstatement in 2007 that included medical and psychological reviews and frequent testing. NASCAR said Hmiel failed one of those tests. NASCAR’s Substance Abuse Policy, based on “reasonable suspicion,” allows the sanctioning organization to broadly administer tests virtually anytime, anywhere.(ESPN.com/AP)(2-24-2006)
Shane Hmiel to Run USAC: Chris Paulsen, President & Owner C&R Racing, Inc., announced today that Shane Hmiel will drive the C&R house car for the 2006 USAC Silver Crown Series Presented by K&N Engineering.(RacingOne.com)(2-6-2006)
Hmiel Sues Braun: Shane Hmiel filed suit in December to obtain the money he earned as a driver for Braun Racing in 2005. The suit…asks for $135,513 in earnings for the season until his suspension June 2. It seeks another $135,513 in compensation for bad faith dealings by Braun. (NASCAR Scene)(1-12-2006)
Hmiel racing: Shane Hmiel, the 2001 ISCARS Rookie of the Year, reunited with Moss Motorsports for the Fall Brawl 150 last Sunday at Hickory Motor Speedway. Hmiel, on suspension from NASCAR, is making consistent strides to rekindle his career by racing with ISCARS and the Silver Crown Series.(Catchfence.com)(10-20-2005)
What is Hmiel up to? as Steve Hmiel heads to the track each weekend, [his son] Shane remains at the family’s Pleasant Garden [NC] home. He’s been there since shortly after series officials escorted him out of the garage at Dover five weeks ago. “What Shane is doing is he’s sitting at home on the couch and he has good days and bad,” Steve Hmiel says. “A good day is not sitting there with your heart broken. A bad day is thinking the world is coming to an end. There are no real good days.” Now, Shane Hmiel has nothing to do with NASCAR. He awaits word from officials on what course of treatment he’ll have to take to return. That could come within a few weeks.(News and Record)(7-9-2005)
Hmiel’s suspension timetable and possible return set: Driver Shane Hmiel has been suspended from NASCAR competition until at least 2007, NASCAR officials said Wednesday. At that time, NASCAR will evaluate whether or not he will be allowed to return to competition. Hmiel was suspended indefinitely June 3 after failing a substance abuse test. It was Hmiel’s second offense. He was suspended in September, 2003, after failing a substance abuse test. He completed a prescribed rehabilitation program and was reinstated for NASCAR competition in February, 2004. NASCAR will lay out a road map for Hmiel’s possible reinstatement in 2007, including a rehabilitation program that will include medical and psychological reviews, as well as frequent testing. NASCAR will continue to be vigilant in enforcing its Substance Abuse Policy. The policy, based on reasonable suspicion, allows NASCAR to broadly administer tests virtually anytime, anywhere.(NASCAR PR), see below for the original news.(6-22-2005)
Hmiel fighting NASCAR? the ANR-AtT site is reporting that Shane Hmiel has hired a lawyer to fight NASCAR about his latest drug suspension. According to sources Hmiel admitted that in 2003 he was on drugs when he was tested and failed, but he went on to say that he was not on drugs this time and had nothing in his system (he would not say what NASCAR suspended him for). The lawyer is going to have drug test run by Hmiel giving hair, urine and blood samples to prove the NASCAR test was wrong and try to get Hmiel reinstated as soon as possible.(ANR-AtT )(6-8-2005) UPDATE: on Speed Channel’s NASCAR Nation, NASCAR.com’s Maty Smith said that Hmiel planned to fight the suspension and has a team of lawyers.(6-9-2005)
BRAUN RACING STATEMENT: Braun Racing was saddened to learn that driver Shane Hmiel has been suspended indefinitely by NASCAR. We support NASCAR’s ongoing efforts to provide a safe environment for all competitors by their strong enforcement of rules and regulations. We wish Shane the best as he goes forward from this point. Additionally, we would like to thank two-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday for driving the #32 WINFUEL Chevrolet at Dover on short notice. Braun Racing is grateful for the support from its marketing partners and looks forward to success the remainder of the 2005 season and beyond.(Braun Racing site)(6-8-2005)
Dale Jr. discusses Hmiel: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he won’t turn his back on his friend Shane Hmiel in lieu of NASCAR suspending Hmiel for testing positive for a banned substance. The Bud Chevy driver said “It’s disappointing, but I won’t turn my back on my friend. I’ll help him however he needs to be helped. Just thinking about him this weekend, I know he’s probably down but that’s a tough one…that’s tough you know. It’s a mistake that you hate to see somebody make twice but he could still turn his life around so whatever I can do to help.”(PRN’s Garage Pass)(6-5-2005)
Hmiel kicked out of Dover? UPDATE – OFFICIAL, fails drug test: Been told from folks at the track that #32-Shane Hmiel was was escorted out Dover International Speedway after a privite meeting in the NASCAR trailer. Supposedly all reports have Hmeil failing a randon dug test. Hmeil was 2nd fastest in practice today. Being told Ron Hornaday will drive the #32 car at Dover. NASCAR STATEMENT: NASCAR has suspended driver Shane Hmiel indefinitely, for violation of the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. NASCAR officials said Thursday that Hmiel was tested for banned substances after NASCAR Busch Series qualifying at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. The results of the test were positive, violating Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and Section 12-4-E (violation of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy) of the 2005 NASCAR rule book. Hmiel is 14th in the current NASCAR Busch Series driver championship standings.(NASCAR PR)(6-2-2005) Permanent Ban for Hmiel? [Hmiel] who has served as a lightning rod for criticism and controversy has been suspended indefinitely, and it’s uncertain whether he will be allowed back again. Hmiel followed a NASCAR-mandated recovery program and was reinstated five months after a positive test following a Busch Series race on Sept. 5, 2003 at Richmond International Raceway. That might not be an option after Hmiel entered uncertain ground by testing positive twice. NASCAR hasn’t decided yet how another appeal would be handled. A decision could come Monday, and a NASCAR source said a permanent ban was being considered.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(6-4-2005)
