Shane Hmiel, who brought Billy Ballew Motorsports its frst NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win in 2004, was involved in a violent single-car accident in qualifying for Saturday’s SUMAR Classic at the Terre Haute Action Track. BBM’s thoughts and prayers are with Hmiel and his family.   

Hmiel was qualifying his Silver Crown car when he lost control between turns three and four of the half-mile dirt oval. His car “bicycled” onto two wheels and impacted the retaining wall. The force of impact crushed the roll cage down to the top of the driver’s seat.

Hmiel was airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and immediately placed into a medically-induced coma to reduce cranial pressure and minimize swelling brought on by his head trauma.

In addition to his head injuries, Hmiel suffered two compression fractures in his neck and two in his back. The fractures were described as “severe.” However, a preliminary CAT scan showed no permanent brain damage.

Doctors performed surgery on the neck fractures Sunday and surgery on his back on Monday.

You can receive updates on Shane’s condition via facebook through Hmiel’s family at this link  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shane-Hmiel-Road-to-Recovery/156856564346848.

Las Vegas, Nev. (September 25, 2010) – Las Vegas, a city that can conjure up so many emotions, hosted the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Saturday night at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway.  Over 40 teams entered the Smith’s Food and Drug Stores 350 looking to be big winners, but only one team could take home the jackpot.  For Billy Ballew Motorsports and the No. 51 Graceway Toyota driven by Aric Almirola, the team was looking for their third win of season.  After a long, up-and-down day, the team didn’t come away with the win, but after leading laps and running up front all night finished sixth.  It’s their eighth consecutive top 10 finish.

It was a one-day show for teams out on the west coast.  Crews and drivers had a full day of practice and qualifying before the 146-lap main event at night.  Almirola and the No. 51 Graceway Toyota team didn’t unload as they hoped and struggled during practice. They made strides, however, and qualified 13^th, their best time of the day.  During the race, when the sun went down, the truck came alive for the team. 

The opening laps, Almirola was feeling out the handling of his truck.  He reported that it was “tight on exit” after the first 10 laps and the team went to work on it on a Lap 11 caution.  Coming down pit road, the team made a wedge adjustment.  Almirola lined up 16^th on the restart, but the adjustment helped as he moved to 11^th by Lap 20.  One lap later the second caution waved and the team elected to make another adjustment, this time for air pressure.  Again, the adjustment helped and Almirola was happy.  Another caution on Lap 38, the team came down pit road for gas only.  They restarted 11^th on Lap 45 and only a few laps later were running seventh.

The yellow waved again on Lap 60, and again, the team elected to hit pit road for fuel only.  This time Almirola lined up third on the restart.  It didn’t take long for Almirola to take the lead and led for five laps before falling back into third.  The only trucks that could pass Almirola were the eventual winner Austin Dillon and another top-three finisher.  Almirola was third when the team came down pit road after a caution on Lap 95.  Their final stop, the team made one last air pressure adjustment along with a final set of tires.  Almirola lined up fifth on the restart on Lap 100.

The final 46 laps, the team was still fast, but it eventually came down to restarts and track position.  Two more cautions flew, and each time Almirola got trapped to the inside on restarts.  He had to drive hard on the bottom groove to keep his momentum up.  He settled into sixth and that’s where he finished, right on the bumper of trucks finishing fourth and fifth.

 “We were a little bit off all night just a little bit,” said Almirola.  “It wasn’t much.  Man, these race tracks where you run wide open you can’t really afford to be off a little bit and we were.  I felt like we had maybe a third to fifth-place truck and we finished sixth so I’m a little disappointed in that.  Nonetheless, it was a good effort.  We were terrible in practice so I’m really proud of Richie Wauters (crew chief) and all the guys on our Graceway Pharmaceuticals team, they did a really good job making our truck a whole lot better.”

The team now has nearly three weeks off before their next race at the Martinsville Speedway on October 23. They sit second in championship points heading into the final five races of the season.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 26, 2010) – In Saturday night’s Smith’s Food and Drug Stores 350, Nelson Piquet Jr. laid the foundation for a successful future at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS). The Brazilia, Brazil-native aimed to accomplish two goals in his fourth event with Billy Ballew Motorsports – to grasp the ins and outs 1.5-mile race track and to continue learning the handling characteristics of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series vehicle. Piquet accomplished both goals with flying colors.  He piloted his No. 15 Qualcomm-ArcSight Tundra to a top-20 finish, paving the way for prosperous return.

Piquet started his inaugural race at LVMS in 24^th-place. He climbed to the 20^th position before the fist caution flag waved, Lap 12. The No. 15 Tundra was too tight for Piquet’s liking, so crew chief Doug George called his driver into the pits for fuel and a track bar adjustment.  Piquet returned to the track in 17^th-place.

Green flag action returned on Lap 18. A multi-car spin triggered another yellow flag on Lap 22 with Piquet in 18^th-place. Piquet and George opted to stay on the track during the caution period.  Several of the leaders made pit stops, which moved Piquet up to third-place for the restart.

On Lap 27, the green flag waved. Piquet was no match for the trucks with fresh tires. He fell back to 17^th-place while he waited for a chance to bring his truck to the attention of his crew.  His opportunity came on Lap 39, when the caution waved for debris on the track. Piquet brought his Tundra down pit lane, where the crew topped off the fuel cell and changed the tires. Piquet rejoined the field in 20^th-place.

The race went green on Lap 46. Another caution halted the action on Lap 60. Piquet’s truck was “lacking overall grip” throughout the run, so George called him into the pits for another round of service.  The team lowered the track bar, changed the tires and filled the fuel cell before sending Piquet back on the track. 

Piquet lined up in 19^th-place for the restart, Lap 65. Shortly after the green flag waved, Piquet reported that his truck was still experiencing handling woes. He was battling a “loose in, tight off” Tundra and lost one position before another caution flag slowed the action, Lap 96. Piquet entered the pits, where his Billy Ballew Motorsports crew changed his tires, filled the fuel cell and made a wedge adjustment.  Piquet rejoined the pack in 19^th-place.

The event restarted on Lap 101. Much like Piquet’s previous events, his lap times steadily picked up as the race progressed.  He began experimenting with his line around the track and finding the best groove to follow. As his confidence grew, the Qualcomm-ArcSight Tundra became faster and faster. On Lap 113, Piquet turned his quickest lap of the race.

The final caution flag of the event waved on Lap 115. Piquet remained on the track for the final 32 laps.  Green flag action commenced on Lap 119 with Piquet in 20^th-place.  Piquet fought off all challengers and held onto the 20^th position.  The finish marked his fifth top-20 in NCWTS competition.

“This was a tricky track to learn,” stated Piquet after the race. “It can be very tough to keep up your momentum. I felt like I was getting the hang of it as the race went on.  Seat time is invaluable.  It took a few laps, but I feel like I learned a lot.  We’re poised for a good finish next time we go to Las Vegas.  That was our goal for this weekend. We’re gaining lots of experience and that’s the key for a successful return.”

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 21, 2010) – For the past six years, Billy Ballew Motorsports (BBM) and the Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower have partnered together for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. At the Smith’s Food and Drug Stores 350, BBM will be running the Casino Hotel and Tower’s logo on the No. 15 and 51 Toyota Tundras to encourage everyone to experience the Stratosphere.

“We always enjoy staying at the Stratosphere,” said Billy Ballew, team owner BBM. “It’s a first class establishment.  Everything from the hotel rooms, to the gaming, to the thrill rides is truly a top notch experience.  We’re proud to have the Stratosphere’s decals on our trucks this week at Las Vegas. They’ve been a good friend to our team and the Truck Series.  Several other race teams will be staying here this week and hopefully the race fans will join us.”

BBM will also host guests of the Stratosphere as honorary crew members for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on September 25. Joining the No. 51 team, with driver Aric Almirola, will be Randy & Diana Hart. Londa McClung will be an honorary crew member of the No. 15 team, with driver Nelson Piquet Jr.

“We’re really excited to have guests of the Stratosphere join us for the race,” continued Ballew. “I’m sure they’ll enjoy all of the thrills that NASCAR racing has to offer. It would be great to end the race in victory lane and really make it a special weekend for them. We had some guests of the Stratosphere at the race in 2004 when we got our first win.  Maybe they’re our good luck charm.”

Several drivers from the Truck Series will be signing autographs at the Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower on Friday, Sept. 24, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The free session will be located in the casino at 2000 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and will kick off the pre-event festivities for the race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.