Banned for life from NASCAR, Hmiel back in a race car
Quote selected text Published April 19th, 2008 in NASCAR News
Former NASCAR driver Shane Hmiel, who was banned for life from NASCAR in 2006 after failing a third drug test, has taken hard, careful and serious steps to revive his career.
They’ve landed him back in a race car. Last Saturday night, Hmiel won a USAC Western Sprint Car Series race on a quarter-mile paved track in Roseville, Calif. It was the first time he had driven a Sprint Car. But there’s never been any doubt that Hmiel has talent. His trouble has stemmed from illegal use of drugs.
Hmiel fully believes those days are behind him, as do others who are providing him support. Their efforts put him into that race in Roseville, but Hmiel made the most important step himself.
“I went into a drug treatment facility in July [2007] for three and a half months,” Hmiel said. “I needed to get my life back on track before I worried about getting my career back on track.”
The Talbott Recovery Campus in Atlanta monitors its patients with outpatient treatment.
“When I went to graduate from there, you have three choices to do after you leave,” Hmiel explained. “I decided to do drug testing every week just to keep me honest, to prove to people that I am sober.”
Drug use had shattered Hmiel’s promising future in NASCAR. He tested positive in September 200, for marijuana, in June 2005 for marijuana and cocaine, and early in 2006 for marijuana. NASCAR suspended and reinstated him twice, then threw the book at him for the third failed test, ending his career at age 25. He had notched one victory in 29 Craftsman Truck Series races, started 83 Nationwide races and seven Sprint Cup races.
He could still find places to race, local tracks in his home state of North Carolina that don’t have substance abuse policies and would welcome a NASCAR race winner to sell tickets. Hmiel says he drove in 15 late model races on dirt tracks over the next year and a half.
“I wasn’t trying to race,” Hmiel said. “I wasn’t in the best place at that time. I was kind of embarrassed and didn’t feel like racing.”
Hmiel had been seeing psychiatrists since he was five. “My parents spent tons of money,” he said. “I’ve seen 10, maybe more. I saw three or four [after the lifetime suspension]. I’m not an idiot. I knew something was wrong.
“In June ‘06, I was diagnosed as bipolar. My whole life, I was misdiagnosed and was always taking the wrong medications. I couldn’t ever get right. I was out of control.”
More at SI.com/Tim Tuttle
- Shane Hmiel Admits to Drug Use
- Steve Hmiel leaves DEI-UPDATE
- Hmiel joins Ganassi
- Franchitti’s return to Cup unknown
- Lowe’s also bans the 14 banned Talladega fans
Come on, NASCAR, let him back in.
guest wrote:
It’s still too early to say that it hasnt even been a year since he got clean
They said he was racing latemodels and stuff at local tracks, I wonder if the ban from NASCAR includes NASCAR Local tracks/divisions, or just the big 7 (9 if you include the Canadian and Mexican) touring series.
Also I’m not accusing him of anything, but that sentence where he talks about being bipolar and being misdiagnosed, almost sounds like he is trying to make some excuse as to why he was doing Coke and Pot.
I like Shane, his bad boy personality and driving skilles, but banned for life means banned for life, or do we want a Stick and Ball sport revolving door,I think Not!
I pray this young man can stay clean and sober. Its not easy, but it can be done. My son has been clean for over 15 years, so I know it can be done.
As hard as it is, we have to pay for the choices we make, its sad he threw away his dream to be in Nascar but rules are rules.
Thank God he didnt hurt someone on the track while he was using drugs…
I pray this young man can stay sober, its not easy but can be done. My son has been sober for 15 years.
Its a shame his dream has slipped threw his fingers, due to drugs.
We all pay for the choices we make in life, he was given more than one chance by Nascar, rules are rules.
Thank God he didn’t hurt someone on the track while he was using drugs.
Fisha695 wrote:
Hmiel says he drove in 15 late model races on dirt tracks over the next year and a half.
I had to give it another look and as far as i know nascar isnt sanctioning dirt races at this time
They santcion Dirt tracks as part of the Whelen All-American series, because Big Diamond and Grandview here in PA are dirt tracks. I’m not sure how many they sanction, I know its not near the amount of Asphalt tracks though.
Donnie wrote:
actually, Nascar can pull a lifetime ban…and they have before
I hope nascar will decide, maybe 5 years down the road to allow him back. Marijuana is barely a drug, caffeine is more addictive and worse for your health over all. The coke on the other hand thats some bad bad stuff.
I really hope he appeals after a few years, he better not rush it though
The last time I checked marijuana was illegal,he’s had 3 chances,he can make a living somewhere else,NASCAR fans deserve better.We don’t need drug addicted drivers comming and going in the top racing series in the country.3 times is enough.
Donnie wrote:
Unless you have a prescription.
But in all actuality Pot does nothing worse to you then Alcohol does.
May not be as bad as alcohol,doesn’t matter, it’s ILLEGAL!
It’s only illegal because the Government hasn’t found a way to make everybody who smokes it buy theirs instead of the dealers…… As soon as the Government finds a good way to do that you’ll be able to buy joints at ever gas station in the country.
And just think how much that’d help our economy… Pot is legal that means the Government gets the taxes off of that, plus the sales of Doritios goes up at least ten-fold…. l0l
How many people die from alcohol every year? thousands?
How many people have EVER died from marijuana? O
If NASCAR bans someone for smoking pot, then they should also ban drivers from drinking alcohol.
GIVE THE GUY ONE MORE CHANCE. MAYBE THIS IS WHAT HE NEEDS TO KEEP HIM OFF THE STUFF, SOME INCENTIVE.
CHECK HIM BEFORE EACH RACE ,LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER GUYS SHOULD BE RANDOMIZE . MAYBE NASCAR HASN’T FOUND A WAY TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF THIS YET.
Yea Fisha maybe your right,let him race again in NASCAR and let a bunch of stoners prep his car and maybe let illegal aleins pit his car,because they don’t hurt anyone,and maybe some drug dealers can be his car owners ,and a prostitute can be his spotter,yea great idea.
At least he is trying to get his life back on track and is up front talking. He is too young to not try.
I wish the best for him.
He is banned for life.What is done is done.Nascar wont change this for him.Why should they?That would not send the correct message and it would create a huge problem.He is a dope addict and needs to stay out.He shouldn’t even be allowed to do what he is doing right now in my opinion.I sure wouldn’t want to be on the same track as that guy.
Um…last I checked,alcohol was legal and pot wasn’t.There is the difference.
NASCAR should tell him that they’ll review his suspension in 5 years, with evidence of regular drug tests. After the 5 years, if he was clean all the way through, let him race providing he keeps up with weekly drug tests for the next two years, then monthly for a period after that… then randomly for the rest of his career.
If he’s proved that he is clean and staying clean, then he should race. But any infractions beyond that his life-ban should be reinstated and reinforced.
Todd wrote:
The Majority Alcohol that is legal is like Hemp, its a weaker version of the actual product.
NO Malcolm,Banned for life means Banned for LIFE not 5 years then test him.3 chances is plenty for anyone.There are ways to get past drug tests .He’s had his chances.NASCAR should test every driver each week before the race,these guys are driving over100 & up to 198 MPH each week and don’t need some guy on drugs to ruin the day if not a career for some other driver and/or drivers.
yeah. you’re right. 3 chances is enough… especially when you’re dealing with coke. a LOT of people relapse into cocaine addictions, long after “going clean”.
A little bit of a history question here, but does anybody know where the whole 3 chances and thats it rule came from? And don’t say baseball because I’m even talking about their strike rule in a way too. Like how was the number
settled upon, why not 2 or 4 or some other number?
Don’t know Fisha695. Do you?
nope.
From what i understand after the second time where drugs are involved it’s not appealable
I don’t want him back in Nascar until he proves himself and just since June 2006…that isn’t enough proof.
It is very easy to “fall off the wagon” of the bipolar disease. All it takes is for the person to say…”hey I am better…I don’t need the meds…I can handle this myself.” They think they can because they feel they have everything under control…but it takes no time to be right back where they started.
Fisha, “Also I’m not accusing him of anything, but that sentence where he talks about being bipolar and being misdiagnosed, almost sounds like he is trying to make some excuse as to why he was doing Coke and Pot.”
This is typical of bipolar disease. They are constantly misdiagnosed because they can’t describe what they are going thru. They think they are crazy and try to hide it. They are so messed up in their minds that they try to medicate themselves with any drug that works. The problem is…most of the drugs they try make matters alot worse. I have a brother who is bipolar and until I suggested it to our mother and they started seeing Dr.s who could deal with this situation. my brother was just a punk who did drugs and terrorized my familyfor more than 10 yrs. On the meds…my brother is normal and will do anything for you…off of them…he is a monster and very scary to us all. Which is why…I want more proof Shane. I’m not happy with him being in any race car. I have a son and son-in-law who races and the last thing I want is for them to come across this kind of situation. Maybe if he was drug tested before EVERY race I would be happy. Sorry Shane, but time will heal everything.
Cybil,I agree with most of what you say.My ex was bipolar and it was a very difficult time,but Shane has had 3 chances ,that’s enough.
That’s pretty much how I feel too. But no matter what if Nascar thinks he deserves a second chance…it needs to be regulated and we need alot more proof that he is able to be trusted. Obviously being trusted wasn’t one of his strong points so far.
Something I just thought of, Shane was (and still might be) real good friends with Dale Jr, Well if Shane gets back into NASCAR I don’t think many teams will take the risk on him, but the question is, Will Jr give him the chance, or would Jr Shy away from him even though he is is friend, just because Jr wouldn’t want to be associated with somebody who seriously hurt somebody because he relapsed because of the pressure put on him.
Fisha695 wrote:
Excuse me Fisha? Where did that come from? 1st off Nascar will never let him back in. They will stand strong with their decision I am convinced, so this will not be an issue. 2ndly friendships are friendships. Just because Jr is a friend doesn’t mean Jr would give him a chance at driving. He doesn’t have to shy away from him just because he might or might not give him a chance. I have a friend or two who might not make the best decisions with their lives but I haven’t and MOST people don’t dump their friends because they have made wrong decisions. Do you? Friends are there to help you see the wrong decisions and help you thru them. Yeah sometimes friendships become strained and fall away but usually that happens when the friend either doesn’t want to help (which means he or she probably wasn’t a true friend anyway) or the other person just doesn’t want to see his/her mistake and doesn’t want the help! 3rdly….Jr isn’t that shallow! If he felt he could help Shane…he would! I guess I took offense to the way you said that Fisha whether you meant it that way or not..it didn’t come out good.
Cybil wrote:
I saw that JRM is going to enter a 3rd car in a few races this year, and that got me thinking… l0l