by Tina~in_ut
The last couple of NASCAR races, a lot of the drivers and crew members have been sending prayers and good wishes to Shane Hmiel (pronounced meal) and his family. His name was slightly familiar, but I couldn't quite place him. I googled him and that's when I remembered the 2005 Busch Series race at Bristol. He wrecked Dale Jarrett. It wasn't so much that he did that, but what happened afterwards. Dale was a veteran driver and such a gentleman! And I should know! He's been nice EVERY single time I've stalked him! Anyway, Shane flipped Dale off on national television. Such class! He was fined $10,000 and docked 25 points. Later, Shane would be suspended from NASCAR for the rest of the season for failing his second drug test. In 2006, he failed his third drug test and was banned from NASCAR for good. It was also revealed that he had bipolar disorder.
Shanes dad, Steve, is a respected member of the Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing team in the NASCAR series. He was at the race in Fontana, CA when he got word that Shane was in a racing accident. Shane was driving a USAC Silver Crown car in Indianapolis. The car rolled perpendicular to the racetrack and slammed into the concrete retaining wall flush on its roll cage. (There is video of the crash on the internet, but I just couldn't post it. It's a nasty crash!) Most thought there was no way Shane could have survived. When they were finally able to get to him in the car, he was unresponsive but alive. At the hospital, he was put into a drug induced coma to reduce the swelling in his brain. They couldn't even address his other injuries until they got that under control.
After the first 24 hours, by which time his family was able to get to Indy, he was in surgery for injuries to his neck and back. Since the crash on October 9th, he's had another surgery, but his third had to be postponed because he caught pneumonia. This kid is only 30 years old. I can't imagine going thru all that at such a young age. It makes me want to beat some sense into the kid. I guess though, that's just what happened.
Good Moaning~
ReplyDeleteI saw the video of this boy getting hurt...and that wasn't one of those ultra safe Nascar cars he was driving...I think it was called a sprint or Midget or something with totally inadequate protection....and on a dirt track....
ReplyDeleteI must say though that anyones interest in racing these cars or watching it is lost on me....
I would prefer being stabbed in the gums with an ice pick to sitting through one of those races....
And so what is the guy is bi-polar...I say live and let live...what could his sexual preference have to do with crashing a "half-car device" ...? And as for "flipping off Dale Garret...well...he was probably just giving him the same finger he gave him the night before as he explored his love flower.....Dales, I mean...
Dale had prolly just walked over to make sure his "boo" was alright....
Everyone knows that "sport" is just rife with homosexicals....
What did you think those colorful cars and outfits were about? ...duh
DeeDee~ I just read your post to Janice.......after i picked myself up off the floor from laughing so hard! She can't stop laughing either~
ReplyDeleteSeriously, there is one NASCAR driver who is gay but won't come out cuz he's afraid he'll lose all his redneck fans! sad~
Good moaning Tina.
ReplyDeleteI know nothing about NASCAR. It is the one sport I didn't watch with my Hubby. I got bored watching cars making a bunch of left turns and I don't like to watch car crashes.
It is sad that this young man abused drugs and made the decision to drive under the influence, whether it be on a track or road. Sounds to me like he has a death wish, and doesn't care who he takes with him.
Good morning to all the other Owls. I hope you all have a great day.
DeeDee, Thanks for dressing my Owl for Fall. I think I figured out how to get it to show here.
ReplyDeleteYup, it worked. Thanks again.♥
ReplyDeleteMorning Glories!
ReplyDeleteTina reading that it seems to me that this guy should not have been driving at all. Bi-polar disorder is very serious and people with it are volatile if not on medication. I know my brother has it. He is off and on his meds. He starts to feel better and then quits taking it. They can be suicidal and they fly into rages. Many bi-polar and other people that have mental disorders self medicate and have drug and alcohol problems.
Really I think all sports should screen for mental disorders.
It is tragic that things had to end this way.
Lynn D~ One of my favorite aunts is bipolar~ It is so scary when she goes off her meds! And she always does. I wasn't there when she had her breakdown, but my sister was. She stays completely away from her and won't have anything to do with her now. I've been around for other breakdowns and I just talk nonsense to my aunt and it doesn't phase her. It's so sad and makes my hubby worry! I tell him not to worry cuz me being bipolar would be way better than him being like his mother any day!!!!!~
ReplyDeleteBarb~ love ur new look~
ReplyDeleteTINA: Have they determined whether drugs or alcohol were a factor in Shane's crash? This sport is dangerous enough..it's unbelievable anyone would take a chance drinking or taking drugs while driving at such high speeds. I'm glad no one else was hurt..and hope Shane is able to make a full recovery. Scary though.
ReplyDeleteTINA: It's not just Good Moaning..it's Great Moaning! ;)
DEEDEE: I could totally see you racing one of those cars! :D
SACBARB: Love your Autumn Owl ala DEEDEE!
LYNN: There is a radical difference in my BIL when he is off his meds..I can't even imagine him trying to drive!
From 51:
MARY: I hope you're neck and shoulder are feeling better today!
EBJ: Maybe Poe wanted to take a shower too! ;)
CAROL: I think you're exactly right..Mr Z knows just what he's doing!
SACBARB: Did your son appreciate how clean you got his tadpoles? ;)
Waiting for the insurance adjuster..geez I hope this goes well! Have a good day everyone!
Tina, as you know I am not much on racing. I say to each his own :) I am trying really hard not to be "smarky"
ReplyDeleteI feel bad that Shane has not been able to get control of his problems.
He is a time bomb ready to go off. Let's hope he survives and learns from this.
Zona, I am fine, just feeling bruised all over. I need to watch where I am going!
Have a great day all. Heading to FB and finishing house work, errands, blah blah blah.......
Is car racing really a sport? They don't have it at the Olympics. ijs
ReplyDeleteMoaning Tina! Wow, this guy is only 30 years old?! Seriously though, and forgive my ignorance on this topic but, why would someone who has bipolar disorder (I don't know a lot about it)not be watched closely by his team to make sure he is taking his meds? Or maybe this was done and he still acted this way? So young to have gone threw so much.
Afternoon DeeDee, SacBarb, Lynn D, Zona and Mary!
ReplyDeleteHey Mary I got my other postcard today! Lol!! Thanks! Did hubby kiss you boo boos last night and make you feel better?
DeeDee thanks for explaining about the cars and outfits. Somethings are just sooo obvious and you still miss them!
Zona good luck with insurance adjuster. Make sure you wear a low cut top so you can show lots of cleavage and talk in a sexy voice. It may help your claim. ijs :)
SacBarb I like the new look!
This coming Sunday I will shed my hasmat suit and trade it in for a different halloween outfit each day.
Now Lynn....
ReplyDeleteIf they screen for mental problems my "PRO-WRASLIN" will be the first thing to go....and then its open season!
then who knows whats next!! Good thing BGT didn't screen! Susan Boyle wouldn't have made it to first base!
Pebbles..Pebbles..I want my Pebbles
TINA - I watched the crash and let me tell you, I have seen my fair share of horrendous crashes in open wheel cars. Shane is lucky I've witnessed much worse.
ReplyDeleteDEE DEE - Midget racing is my first love especially on a dirt track!! Angell Park Speedway is where I watched and met "Stinkin'" when he was a wee teen.....but don't tell TINA!!
BARB - Luv your fall colors!!
LYNN - How are you feeling?
ZONA - How did it go with the adjuster?
MARY - Take it easy lady!! And quit trying to jump the fence ;)
SHIRLEY - lol @ they don't have it at the Olympics!! Can't wait to see the costumes you have planned!!
I see a lot of tsk-tsk-ing. NASCAR gives each driver evaluations prior to racing. It's a blithering idiot who thinks anyone would be allowed to race when they're high. I also don't think the crash was caused by bi-polar disorder, but instead, easily explained by physics.
ReplyDeleteRace cars crash. At high speeds, small anomalies can cause huge problems. Part of racing is to see strategy, teamwork, stamina and expertise from all parties involved, from the drivers to the spotters to the pit crew.
I find condescension to be a means by which people make other people feel small in order to feel good about themselves. I don't think anyone here means it in that vein, but in general, it's unattractive.
I hope young Shane recovers. I don't give a flying fig about his drug tests, nor am I interested in whatever mental diagnosis he's been labeled with. He's a human being and he deserves to live.
Great blog, Tina.
i think i just had an orgasm!!!!! Bonachichi....ur the one that gave it to me!!!!~ I love it when you talk racing!!!! oh baby~
ReplyDeleteGood evening feathered friends!
ReplyDeleteTINA...I can't watch NASCAR or any of the other races. I was actually watching the race on tv when Dale Earnhardt crashed. I could never watch again after that.
It is truly a tragedy this young man has endured. I hope he can make a full recovery one day.
Such a shame! So tragic. I hope he recovers.
ReplyDeleteDon't watch any car racing so I had never heard of him.
Di, we got a "Stamina Fusion" brand exercise bike.
I helped put it together last night, took us less than an hour. Tried it out today and it measures distance, calories burned, speed, heart rate.
There is something called "load adjustment" (I thought this meant my ass load L O L!!) but it is the difficulty or stiffness pedaling.
It was less than $200, it seems sturdy and no climbing onto it.
I think Bristol may be going home tonight on DWTS.
Have a nice evening!
Zona, At three years old my son didn't know from clean, only dead!
ReplyDeleteTina, glad I could help with your gasm.
ReplyDeleteHey, did anyone happen to take note of the box office returns for the weekend? It seems there was a Bruce Willis movie released.... It wasn't #1, though. Hmmmmm. I wonder. What blockbuster could beat out a Bruce Willis film? God, it would have to be something really good. Maybe we should check it out. Whatever it is.
I'm with most of those who expressed an opinion about car racing here... just not into it. To each his own in the sporting realm!
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, I'm just thankful that I'm not a bi polar bear.
I know! I know!!
ReplyDeleteJohnny Knoxville's “Jackass 3D” blew away the competition at the box office for the weekend of Oct. 15-17, 2010, taking the top spot with about $50.4 million.
The weekend's other newcomer “RED,” an action flick starring Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich and Morgan Freeman. took in about $21.8 million in second-place.
which takes us back to the blog with the guy playing pranks on people.....
America loves the stuff...and that $50 mil was just the opening weekend....
"Hello Dali!! ...thats a lot of Monet!!"
Howdeeee.....I am always the late night blogger. What happened to all those late night "night" owls?
ReplyDeleteAnother fun day of PT and a nice dinner with a friend. I do always feel better after PT even though they work you so hard.
TINA: This blog today is very sad for the boy and his family. I don't know about racing but hope he recovers and gets his life back in a positive way.
MARY: Are you feeling okay today or sore from your mishap?
EBJ: Took my husband longer than the two of you to put our bike together. I am hoping it will be "our" bike and that he will use it too. I rode another mile today on the bike at PT so that makes me feel good and it only takes 10 min.
ZONA: How did the insurance agent deal work out for you? I hope for the plus!
Well, I am going to watch DWTS that I recorded before I hear it on TV about who was voted off.
Night all.
Hi Diane! I am still up, well, for a few minutes. I am heading to bed too.
ReplyDeleteI am just fine though still feeling the effects. I have had worse!!
LOL@ Wabby "bi-polar-bear"
Nite all. Don't forget to wear purple tomorrow (Wed.)
Hello all you late-nighters!
ReplyDeleteDeeDee, you mentioned John Malkovich in Red. Hmmmm... wasn't there a movie called "Being John Malkovich"? Who directed that movie, I wonder? Could it have been Spike Jonze? No! Really? Not the same Spike Jonze who is part of.... What is that franchise? It's despicable, hideous... mindless. Oh yeah, it's JACKASS. Gee. Full circle.
Gee I thought we were talking about car racing. How did it get turned around to a jackasses? Hmmm?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteStill don't like the Jackass franchise...never did, never will.
ReplyDeleteCall me a stick in the mud if you want. But I'm sure you will come up with something way more colorful to call me.
Good night and sweet dreams Owls. Don't forget to wear your purple tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI got one for ya Maureen...BITCH!!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, Mo. There are a lot of more colorful things I could call you. Let's see... Sweet, funny, intelligent, loyal, well-rounded, energetic. That's just off the top of my head. I'm sure I could come up with more.
ReplyDeleteIt's okay not to like stupid humor; many people don't. I don't like chocolate, but I don't label people who do. Live and let live.