FONTANA, Calif. | Former NASCAR driver Shane Hmiel was critically injured in a USAC Silver Crown crash on Saturday night in Terre Haute, Ind.
Hmiel, who is from Pleasant Garden, N.C. and graduated from Southeast Guilford, suffered neck and back fractures, according to a statement from the U.S. Auto Club. He was listed in critical but stable condition in intensive care and was awaiting surgery, which was expected to take place by today .
The 30-year-old was injured when his car crashed during qualifying at the half-mile dirt track and hit the wall roll cage first. The Tribune Star of Terre Haute, Ind., reported the roll cage was damaged. Hmiel was taken to a Terre Haute hospital before being airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
In USAC's statement on Sunday, it quoted Hmiel's father, Steve, as saying his son has a "long road to recovery.'' Steve Hmiel was Mark Martin's former crew chief and is the competition director at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Steve Hmiel was at Auto Club Speedway when his son crashed. Juan Pablo Montoya had his plane fly Hmiel to Indianapolis.
During the drivers' meeting before the race, Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition told competitors that he had talked to Steve Hmiel and gave an update on Shane's condition.
"He had a bad wreck last night,'' Pemberton said. "But anyway, he's doing good and with some surgery they'll repair some stuff. He's gained most of the feeling back.''
Shane Hmiel competed in NASCAR from 2002-05 before he was banned for life after failing a third drug test. It wasn't until after he had been banned was he diagnosed as being bipolar and received treatment for it.
In a Nov. 2008 Virginian-Pilot story, Hmiel discussed his recovery.
"I'm trying to do whatever it takes to be some kind of race car driver whatever division it is,'' he said. "I want to make a good living driving race cars."
Hmiel was third in the USAC Silver Crown points standings before the accident.
40 PERCENT
Non-Chase drivers took four of the top 10 spots Sunday with Kasey Kahne fourth, Ryan Newman fifth, Mark Martin sixth and David Reutimann 10th.
Said Newman, teammate to winner Tony Stewart: "A great day for Stewart-Haas Racing. Can't really complain a whole lot. Had a little beating and banging there with (Kevin Harvick), not sure what his deal was. He caused us a little bit of damage and we had to fix that."
MISSED THE START
Todd Berrier, crew chief for Jeff Burton, missed part of Sunday's race when he was taken to a local hospital after feeling woozy, according to car owner Richard Childress.
Childress was atop the pit box for Burton. Berrier returned to the track midway through the race and took his place back on the pit box.
PIT STOPS
Stewart's win gave Chevrolet the manufacturer's championship. It's the 34th time Chevrolet has won it since the award's inception in 1950. ... Dale Earnhardt Jr., who turned 36 on Sunday, finished 16th, his second top-20 finish in the last six races.
- Dustin Long
