FONTANA, Calif. - Former NASCAR driver Shane Hmiel is in critical but stable condition in intensive care and was awaiting surgery, which was expected to take place by today, after a crash Saturday night in Terre Haute, Ind., during qualifying for a USAC Silver Crown race.
Hmiel, a 1998 Southeast Guilford graduate from Pleasant Garden, suffered neck and back fractures, according to a statement from the U.S. Auto Club. He 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's gained most of the feeling back,'' Pemberton said.
Shane Hmiel, competed in NASCAR from 2002-05 before he was banned for life after failing a third drug test. He diagnosed as being bipolar after he had been banned.
Hmiel was third in the USAC Silver Crown points standings before the accident.
FORTY 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. His car was better down the straightaway than he was.''
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 was back atop 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. ... If Daytona's repaving job can be finished by next month, Goodyear would look to have a tire test there in December and invite all teams.
Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com
