04/18/24
June 02, 2005
Shane Hmiel has been suspended: from NASCAR's Busch series, again, for violating the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy. No word on whether Dale Jarrett was the one that turned him in.
posted by mr_crash_davis to auto racing at 07:11 PM - 7 comments
Homeboy needs to stay away from Delaware, apparently. Any word or speculation on what it is Hmiel is testing positive for? I would say that pegging him as being high while driving is, at least at this time, an unfounded accusation, though, dbt302.
posted by Ufez Jones at 08:37 PM on June 02, 2005
Yeah, my guess would be alcohol, but that's just Wild-Ass Speculation®.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 09:11 PM on June 02, 2005
Does it really make a difference was he tested positve for? He broke a rule and he has to pay for it. I would be curious to know what kind of "banned substances" that NASCAR tests for. Would like to see where is stands against other sports!
posted by daddisamm at 11:29 PM on June 02, 2005
No, it doesn't make a difference what it was, I was just curious. That said, I've yet to see any indication (from the linked articles) that he was intoxicated while driving his car. That would posit an interesting question in a David Wells type way that if a driver was found or fessed up to DUI during an event if they'd be arrested.
posted by Ufez Jones at 11:40 PM on June 02, 2005
It was reported that he was actually pulled out of the car(NOT yanked) , while practicing a Dover, and escorted from the facility. It did not mention who did the escorting however. It's ashame to see someone that age throw away a career most would kill to have.
posted by volfire at 07:46 AM on June 03, 2005
if its weed on the track, well, that could be a performance enhancing drug, and I could see why NASCAR would be upset. And to all those who says racing isn't about the driver, testing time for mr.substance was 2nd, and his replacement, 22nd. (yes, the cars are tweaked in between testing rounds, but this is too significant a drop in performance to ignore driver input.)
posted by garfield at 08:41 AM on June 03, 2005
Shane Hmiel was suspended indefinitely Thursday for violating NASCAR's substance abuse policy. It is the second time in less than two years that Hmiel has been suspended for substance abuse. NASCAR officials said that Hmiel tested positive for a banned substance after Busch Series qualifying at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Hmiel, who is 14th in the Busch Series points standing and was preparing for this week's race at Dover International Raceway, also was suspended in September 2003. Hmiel was cleared to return to competition by NASCAR in February 2004. His reinstatement carried several conditions, including random drug testing at NASCAR's discretion. No one needs a guy running 190mph who is high on drugs. It doesn't matter who turned him in if anyone. It is for their own protection that it was done.