Shane Hmiel

NASCAR officials confirmed Friday that former NASCAR Busch and Craftsman Truck Series driver Hmiel failed a third drug test and has been banned from NASCAR for life, Speed Channel reports. Hmiel failed two prior tests in 2003 and 2005, and NASCAR officials said Friday that he failed a third within the past week, prompting his banishment.

C&R Racing, Inc., announced Monday that Hmiel will drive the C&R house car for the 2006 USAC Silver Crown Series Presented by K&N Engineering, racingone.com reports. “I’m excited about it because it is something I’ve always wanted to do and a series I’ve never been in," Hmiel said.

Hmiel, whose aspiring NASCAR career screeched to a halt when a second failed drug test resulted in his suspension until at least 2007, filed suit in December to obtain the money he earned as driver for Braun Racing in 2005. The suit, filed in North Carolina District Court in Charlotte, asks for $135,513 in earnings for the season until his suspension June 2, NASCAR Scene reports.

Driver Shane Hmiel has been suspended from NASCAR competition until at least 2007, NASCAR officials said Wednesday nascar.com reports. At that time, NASCAR will evaluate whether or not he will be allowed to return to competition. Hmiel was suspended indefinitely June 3 after failing a substance abuse test. It was Hmiel's second offense.

NASCAR has suspended driver Shane Hmiel indefinitely, for violation of the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy. NASCAR officials said Thursday that Hmiel was tested for banned substances after NASCAR Busch Series qualifying at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. The results of the test were positive NASCAR PR reports.