Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Shane Hmiel gets second chance in Busch Series

Tuesday, April 27, 2004 | 9:18 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Shane Hmiel will make his first NASCAR Busch Series start in more than seven months in Saturday's 1-800-Pit-Shop.com 300 at California Speedway.

Hmiel, who was suspended by NASCAR last September for violating its substance-abuse policy, will replace Mike Harmon in the No. 24 Quality Plus Services Chevrolet for GIC Motorsports.

Hmiel, 23, was reinstated by NASCAR in February after completing a substance-abuse rehabilitation program and has competed in all three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races for Billy Ballew Motorsports.

Team owner James Whitener said he believes Hmiel, who is subject to random drug testing by NASCAR, has earned a second chance in the series.

"It would be pretty bleak if young people didn't get a second chance," Whitener said. "Shane made some mistakes, but to his credit he has been a stand-up guy and has taken responsibility. He's done a lot of good work in the DARE program to help teach school kids to stay away from drugs.

"We'll take this one race at a time and hope that it works out for us and for Shane."

Hmiel was eighth in Busch Series points after 26 races last season when NASCAR suspended him. Hmiel had four top-five finishes, including back-to-back thirds at Texas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, and one pole in 26 starts last year.

In three Truck Series races this season, Hmiel's best outing was a sixth-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March.

Harmon is 38th in Busch Series points after qualifying for five of the eight races this season.

According to a Home Depot Racing team release, Stewart took the action to avoid the beer cans and other debris that fans were throwing on the track following NASCAR's decision to run the final five laps under caution. Stewart apparently was unaware that Labonte was running below him on the apron of the track when he decided to head for pit road.

After showing a replay of the incident, Fox broadcaster Mike Joy promised viewers an explanation from Stewart but the driver was not asked about it during a televised post-race interview.

"If you noticed, there wasn't anyone throwing their Budweiser away. All I saw was Coors. What's that tell ya? I guess those last few swallows of a Coors really ain't that good."

If he qualifies for the 33-car field, it would be the first IndyCar race for Foyt, 27, who has made 23 career starts in the Nextel Cup series. Foyt took part in the IRL's Rookie Orientation Program Monday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway but was not required to pass the various speed phases because of his experience in stock cars.

Other winners Saturday night: Don Williams (IMCA Modifieds); Jim Petrie (Chargers); Taylor Barton (Pro/Master Legends Cars); Josh Gross (Semi-Pro Legends Cars); Steve Ray (Thunder Roadsters); and Austin Murphy (Bandolero Cars)