Shane Hmiel 's suspension from NASCAR competition was his second for violating the sport's substance abuse policy. Credit: Autostock

Hmiel suspended again for substance abuse

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR on Thursday suspended driver Shane Hmiel indefinitely for violation of the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy. It is the second time in less than two years that Hmiel has been suspended for substance abuse.

Hmiel, 24, was in Dover, Del., preparing for Saturday's MBNA RacePoints 200. He practiced his car Thursday, posting the second-fastest speed in the first practice, but was escorted out of the garage by several NASCAR officials before the second session.

Inside the Numbers Shane Hmiel's career stats Series Races W T5 T10 Cup 7 0 0 0 Busch 83 0 10 23 Truck 29 1 5 12 SHANE HMIEL •   Driver Page •   2005 Statistics ALSO •   2003: Hmiel suspended •   2004: Hmiel reinstated Leilani ReportsShane Hmiel discusses his career with Leilani Munter Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

Hmiel was replaced by Ron Hornaday in the No. 32 Chevrolet fielded by Braun Racing. Hornaday was 22nd on the speed charts in the second practice period.

NASCAR officials said that Hmiel tested positive for banned substances after Busch Series qualifying at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. The positive test violates Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and Section 12-4-E (violation of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy) of the 2005 NASCAR rule book.

Hmiel, who is 14th in the Busch Series point standings, was suspended indefinitely in September 2003 for the same offenses.

Hmiel is the son of Steve Hmiel, the longtime technical director at Dale Earnhardt Inc., who recently became Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s interim crew chief.

To emphasize the importance of a substance-free sport, NASCAR, in 1988, created its Substance Abuse Policy. The policy provides for testing under reasonable suspicion.

As a result of his positive test in 2003, Shane Hmiel was released by his Busch Series team, Innovative Motorsports. Ironically, it also was at Dover where Hmiel was unseated.

Hmiel was cleared to return to competition by NASCAR in February 2004. His reinstatement carried several conditions, among them random drug testing at NASCAR's discretion.