Hmiel captures USAC crown

By Ken de la Bastide
CNHI News Service

WINCHESTER, Ind. — North Carolina driver Shane Hmiel found the perfect way to capture the USAC Amsoil Sprint Car pavement championship by winning the Rich Vogler classic at Winchester Speedway on Sunday.

Hmiel came into the final race of the pavement season in the points lead and needing only to finish in the top five to secure the title. He capped off a great season with his first win at Winchester.

Levi Jones took the early lead from the pole position chased by Hmiel, Bobby East, Henry Clarke and fast qualifier Tracy Hines.

For 10 laps Hmiel kept the pressure on Jones, and finally on the next circuit, Hmiel was able to get underneath Jones entering Turn 1 to take the point.

Clarke brought out the first caution on Lap 20 when his car got loose entering Turn 1 and made contact with the outside retaining wall.

On the restart Jones got alongside of Hmiel, but was unable to take the lead entering the first corner. East, Hines and Damion Gardner chased them. Gardner passed Hines on the back straight and then East two laps later to claim the third spot.

The second caution waved on Lap 31 for debris, but Hmiel was able to hold off Jones, who surrendered the second spot to Gardner on Lap 32 on the back straight. The final caution flag waved on Lap 33 when Chris Windom made contact with the Turn 2 wall.

Hmiel pulled away from the remainder of the field on the restart as Gardner, Hines, Jones, East and Jerry Coons Jr. battled for position.

At the finish it was Hmiel, Gardner, Hines, Jones and East.

“Our car is good,” Hmiel said in victory lane. “We won the Rich Vogler, and the Hoosier Hundred. I’m not a very good driver, but this car is amazing.”

Hmiel said he drove the last 10 laps as hard as he could.

In addition to the sprint car event at Winchester, Hmiel won at Salem Speedway a week ago and recorded two victories at O’Reilly Raceway Park in July.

Gardner credited his crew with doing a great job in preparing the car and thanked Bobby East for some assistance.

“Bobby (East) pointed us in the right direction,” he said. “We have been able to race from the back to the front all year.”

Hines said the team had a decent car and was placed with the podium finish.

Hmiel also won the first of two heat races leading the entire distance followed by Hines and Windom.

The second heat win went to Clarke with Coons and Jones rounding out the top three.

In the SuperPro late model feature, Eric Barcus took the early lead but it only lasted until the fifth circuit when Al Cook Jr. got inside coming off the fourth corner.

The driver on the move was fast qualifier Derrick Griffin, who worked his way through the field and into the second position after 10 laps. For the next 40 circuits Griffin stayed glued to the rear deck lid of Cook’s late model but was never able to grab the position.

Wes Griffith finished third followed by Justin Matson and Tommy Cook.