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April 8, 2008
Results: NASCAR Veteran Shane Hmiel Makes it Two-for-Two
By Robert Haugh: North Carolina’s Sane Hmiel topped another stellar Bay Cities Racing Association Midget field on Saturday evening, April 5 at the speedy 1/3-mile Madera Speedway in Madera, Ca, wheeling the #21 DMS Race Products Beast/Esslinger, earning his second consecutive BCRA feature triumph in as many open-wheel starts.
Hmiel and Dallen McKenney delighted the crowd, with Hmiel chasing down hometown favorite McKenney of Clovis --- running all over all over McKenney’s rear bumper until finally overtaking the top spot on lap 23 when McKenney slowed to a stop on the backstretch, retiring his #88 Beast/Gowens Mopar with just eight laps remaining.
Hmiel, a former NASCAR Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series driver and son of former NASCAR crew chief Steve Hmiel, checked out from the field on the ensuing restart, dominating the final three laps, triumphing over teammate Bobby Grewohl aboard the DMS Race Products #11d Beast/Esslinger, 2007 BCRA Johnny Boyd Rookie-of-the-Year Kevin Morris aboard father Del’s #17k Beast/Esslinger, Chad Nichols aboard his #17n Beast/Esslinger and Scott Nail aboard Stu Donaldson’s #8x Stealth/Pontiac rounding out the Top Five.
Following the lead five in sixth, the last car running at the checkers, one lap down, was eight-time BCRA champion Floyd Alvis aboard his #18 Champion Automotive Stealth/Van Dyne. McKenney was scored in seventh.
Hmiel caressed his way from his ninth starting spot to third by Lap three, dicing with Fast-timer 17-year-old Michael Faccinto of Hanford for the second spot, overtaking Faccinto for second on Lap ten, now gunning down McKenney. Faccinto retired on lap 12 due to brake failure in the Gary Scelzi Racing #41 Beast/Mopar, after moving up from his tenth starting position. Hmiel and Faccinto swapped the second and third positions several times through lap ten.
2007 BCRA Midget Most Improved driver, Ralphie “The Racer” Cortez dropped out after four laps with a flat right tire aboard the #31 Shores-Cortez Special Beast/Sesco-Mopar.
McKenney claimed the winner’s laurels in the Trophy Dash aboard over Hmiel, Faccinto and Nichols.
Faccinto outpaced the stellar field of BCRA Midgets in qualifying setting fast time at 14.094.
Scott Nail claimed Heat over Morris, 15-year-old BCRA rookie Kyle Dickerson aboard Grandfather Harold Dickerson’s #11k Beast/Ed Pink Ford, 2007 BCRA Midget mechanic-of-the-Year Nick Foster, Jr., aboard Jim Fowler’s #24 Beast/Esslinger and Alvis.
Hmiel claimed Heat 2 over Grewohl, Nichols, McKenney and Midget Lite grad “Nitro” Nick Chivello aboard father Daniel Chivello’s #27b Beast/Esslinger
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