Shane Hmiel had one Craftsman Truck victory and 23 Busch Series top-10s. Credit: Autostock

Failed drug test earns Hmiel 'lifetime ban

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FONTANA, Calif. -- NASCAR officials said Friday that Shane Hmiel has failed his third drug test and was permanently banned from NASCAR competition.

NASCAR termed it a "lifetime ban."

Hmiel was parked by NASCAR last June after failing his second drug test. At the time, Hmiel was driving for Braun Racing in the Busch Series. Hmiel was removed by NASCAR following a practice session at Dover, and he hasn't returned since.

Hmiel, 25, has been trying to rebuild his racing career via the USAC circuit.

Hmiel made seven Nextel Cup starts, 83 Busch Series starts and 29 Craftsman Truck Series starts and was once considered one of NASCAR's top prospects. He won two Busch Pole awards in 2002 at age 22, and he won the Craftsman Truck Series event at Las Vegas in 2004.

NASCAR has long conducted random drug tests to police the sport, but the sanctioning body has tightened its grip on the practice in recent years. Other drivers to be parked for abusing the policy are Brian Rose, Sammy Potashnick and Kevin Grubb, none of whom have returned to competition.

I'd do anything to help him, whatever it takes," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. Hmiel is the son of Steve Hmiel, who was Junior's crew chief for much of 2005. "He's got to work for it. He's got to want to get right. He's just got to understand the situation he's in and the life he's got.

"The thing about it is he's got to understand it wasn't the end of the world the first time, that even though it's happened over and over it's still not the end of the world. He's got a lot of people that care a lot about him."

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