Two-time Cup Champion to be Interviewed by Shane Hmiel

Charlotte, NC (March 23, 2009) – Winning a “B” main feature and missing the main event at the Chili Bowl by one spot just wasn’t enough for Shane Hmiel the first time he drove a midget on dirt. He sought out some advice from one of the all time greats. Hmiel caught up with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and asked him some questions about life as a team owner, missing the Chili Bowl and what advice he has for someone at the event for the first time. 3 Wide Life was there to capture the moment.

“I was a little nervous,” said Hmiel, “talking to a guy like Tony Stewart. I have known him and raced with him for a long time, but when it comes to other drivers, I am still a little concerned what these guys think of me. Tony and I go way back, and I can’t thank him enough for taking the time to do the interview. He is a class act.”

3 Wide Life’s fifth season starts the first week of April and is syndicated throughout the United States. The premier episode uses the famed Chili Bowl as it’s first back drop of the season for reasons that hit close to home. The 3 Wide Life team entered a car into the event as a tribute to one of the executive producer’s family members. Alex Pruett is the late son of Steve Pruett, co-creator of 3 Wide Life. Alex built the car specifically for the event, but after he passed away in 2007, the car was just sitting there acting as nothing but a memory of unfinished business.

“Alex would have hated seeing that car not being used,” explained 3 Wide Life executive producer Steve Pruett. “Shane (Hmiel) was the perfect driver to fill the empty seat. We are so proud of how he performed and having 3 Wide Life become Alex’s legacy. It is truly an honor to be part of such a wonderful event and wonderful racing community.”

More to the story…

• Episode 1 synopsis … The 3 Wide Life team heads to Tulsa, Oklahoma to give fans of open wheel racing a real behind the scenes look at the most famous midget race in the country. The team meets all the big names in the event, follows their own car from heat race to the main event, and takes some time to chat with Tony Stewart. The coverage will give viewers a chance to see a side of the race they have never seen before, or give them their first view of one racing’s most amazing events.
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• Hostess with the Mostess… 3 Wide Life host Brittney Cason is always available to the media. Please contact show producer Parker Williams at parker@levsports.com with any inquiries

• Web info… www.3widelife.com

• Where to watch… 3 Wide Life is syndicated locally, regionally and nationally. Locally it is broadcast on FOX, ABC, NBC and the CW networks. Regionally it airs on Fox SportsSouth, Florida Sun Sports, Altitude Sports, Fox Sports Midwest, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, Sports Time Ohio, and Cox Sports Television. Nationally you can catch the show on Untamed Sports. Check our website to find out what channel 3WL airs it in your area.

• Teching out with Tony… Tony Rizzuti host a segment in the show each week called the Tech Zone. The segment is in partnership with Circle Track Magazine and gives the viewer a chance to learn something that might be beneficial to his or her own race team. For the first episode, Rizzuti will visit with Chris Paulson, owner of C&R Racing to talk about radiators.

• On the Web with Meg… Each week our resident web expert Meghan Stanton will be providing updates on all of the web events that 3 Wide Life is hosting. Here is her first update – “Hey race fans! We are excited to kickoff our fifth season from Tulsa, OK where I had the opportunity to interview some of the biggest names at the Chili Bowl. We have a lot of new stuff coming up this season that we want you to be a part of. Be sure to follow us on Twitter where you can stay up to speed week to week with the 3 Wide Life crew. We have a Myspace page and Facebook as well Also, be on the look out for my new page coming soon to 3widelife.com, where I will have weekly videos, web discussions about racing, comment forums and some other exciting stuff to make sure that everyone is living the 3 Wide Life no matter where they are.”