The 3 Wide Life driver is proving that there is more to him than being “banned for life.” And… the guy can still drive the wheels off.

Charlotte, NC (June 23, 2009) – Anyone that follows racing remembers the name of Shane Hmiel. Not everyone remembers it in a positive light; many think of a young hot shot driver that lacked respect for his elders (see Dale Jarrett.) Others think of a kid who had everything and gave it all away because he couldn’t stay clean. However, there are those out there that remember a racer’s racer, with so much potential that he had his pick to drive for some of NASCAR’s top teams.

“I blew it,” said Hmiel, “but it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I know it sounds crazy, but being banned from NASCAR has made me a better person and no doubt made me a better racer. Spending time in Indy, racing open wheel, on dirt and asphalt, 3 or 4 times a week, right now I understand the passion. I know it’s a privilege. I see it in the guys I race against. Right now I am a better driver than I have ever been – having fun and starting to figure it out. Life is good.”

Starting to figure it out may be a little modest. Hmiel is racing against the best open wheel dirt drivers in the country and quickly adapting to open wheel driving. At the Chili Bowl this year he won his heat race and out of 300 cars missed the feature by one spot…in his first time ever driving a dirt midget. Recently at the historic Hoosier 100, during the Indy 500 weekend, Hmiel finished 3rd in the main event. His peers have started to take notice.

“We have all been impressed,” said Tony Stewart Racing’s Levi Jones. “Shane has picked this up so fast. I think people were a little skeptical at first, but he has proven himself out here. Most of us have been doing this kind of racing all of our lives, and he comes out here and is competitive his first time running. He keeps getting closer to winning each week. When that happens, I know that winning for him will be a regular thing.”

Hmiel is a regular contributor to 3 Wide Life. On the show, he answers email questions from fans, interviews young drivers on the brink of making it big time, takes us inside the biggest events that he competes in, and occasionally has a little fun. His third place finish at the Hoosier 100 will be featured in this week’s show.

“3 Wide Life has given me a chance to show the real racers out there that I am one of them,” explains Hmiel. “There was a time when I never thought I would be able to race again, much less have it on TV. Right now I really am living a dream. Hardly making any money, driving everywhere I go, sleeping on couches and loving every minute of it.”

More to the story…

• Episode 7 synopsis … In addition to highlights from the Hoosier 100, 3 Wide Life talks to Bobby Labonte about a program he is doing in conjunction with Ask.com to help gain awareness for internet safety. Meghan Stanton checks out Charlotte NC’s Speed Street and Tony Rizzuti gets a lesson in camber from champion crew chief Rick Ren. Up and coming star, Cole Whitt, discusses driving for Red Bull, being on the fast track, and becoming the youngest USAC midget champion ever.


Be sure to check out www.3widelife.com to see this seasons episodes!

I was impressed with Shane's driving during Midget Week in both the Midget and Sprint car. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can start to get it back together. I wish nothing but success for him in his sobriety and racing!

I guess maybe it's just me but if he's banned from NASCAR then should he even be allowed to race USAC or anywhere else? I know it's different groups but the facts are PLAIN, he was busted for drugs, not once, but twice and evidence is he used while racing. I would hope USAC tests him weekly, I'm all for giving someone a fair chance but he's had far more chances (and 2nd chances) than most in racing and pissed all over them while making ALL of racing look bad. Right now there's 2 spoiled rich kids running USAC while suspended from NASCAR for drugs, what kind of message are we sending the little kids who come watch? He may be "getting the job done" on track but he has failed totally off track. Most of us would either be in jail or would have lost everything and not been given a second chance, this guy is on his THIRD chance. I'm sorry, but he should be serving his punishment on the sidelines, JMHO.....

Spoiled rich kids? You are right there are some of those in USAC... But you are way out of line posting what you just did... Shane is a good guy and helluva racer, and he has been the first to admit he screwed up, but he is just like you and me and deserve a chance to work hard and get on the right track. He is happy as hell to bust ass all night around a ****** indiana dirt track to make $100. You should maybe know a little more about a person and their situation before spouting off like you did...

Hey 45.Awhile back i might have agreed with you to a point.Drug abuse is not like leaving the toilet seat up.Its a sickness.After seeing him on the jackslash show,one on one,I cant help but like the guy.He knows he hurt himself and his family and friends ect..He may fall again someday,who knows,but for now hes on the right road and is a gaser.just my 2 cents,Dean Buckley

One track in particular? Or is that your opinion of all of them?

Ha, just a statement... dont read too much into it..

I don't think any disrespect was inteded toward any of our tracks. Just a simple comparison of where Shane has been to where he is now. Comparing Charlotte, Daytona or any other Nascar facility to Bloomington, Kokomo or Gas City is like comparing Fred Astaire to Steven Hawking.

I appreciate Shane's drive and determination to be successful in spite of his previous errors in judgement.

All someone has to do is go back and read the newspaper reports on him to know what he did, and yes he's a spoiled rich kid, we all know who his daddy is and his daddy makes a good deal of money. And his daddy's connections set him up for a chance he blew, not once but twice. HE TESTED POSITIVE TWICE DURING RACING SEASON BOTH TIMES AT THE TRACK. If YOU had gotten the same FIRST chance he had YOU would have taken advantage of it and not blown it, he failed, TWICE and as far as you saying he has gotten it together, do you really know? Is he being tested now? Is he still getting help? I think he deserved a chance, he had it, he got a second chance, he failed that also, should he be getting a third chance while drivers who truly deserve a chance never get it? Sorry but I think most people agree with me and just are afraid to get flamed for speaking out... we know his situation, he put himself there by doing HARD drugs, ILLEGAL drugs, don't make him into a hero because he's not, he has hurt ALL of racing by his actions, it's not been that long ago either to just write off what he did because right now at this moment he is "better". If he is struggling then it is ONLY because he killed off a golden chance, and again he had TWO chances at it.

I think that is the problem wrong with the world is everyone believes what the newspapers say and don't know what is going on in that person's life at that time or even now for that matter. I'm a person who believes the past is the past and you shouldn't worry about what other ppls problems are. I'm sure that Shane is not the only person in the world today that has had this problem and won't be the last. If he is getting tested or not it shouldn't be any of our business. It's his life and from talking with him personally. He's a great guy and racer. I'm sure he is tired of having to keep defending himself to ppl like us.
Its also hard to believe that one person could hurt ALL of racing. So what if Daddy helped him. There are alot of dad's out there that would do the same thing. Obviously his daddy didn't drive the cars though so he most have had the talent to make it. Life is about mistakes and learning from them. There are people out there that take more then twice to learn there lessons. Just give the guy a chance because more anything I think he needs the support of our racing community not the down talks of the past. Keep gassin on it Shane!!!!!