The Infineon 200 at Lowe's Motor Speedway was an action packed race for the #15 Earl Small's Harley-Davidson Chevrolet Silverado. The lap 4 caution had the Billy Ballew Motorsports team holding their breath as the #12 Truck of Robert Huffman spun, what seemed like only inches in front of Hmiel's Truck. Hmiel was able to avoid a collision and was quickly advancing from his start of 18th, gaining spots. By lap 10, he had jumped to 13th place.
"I need a draft," Hmiel chimed over the radio needing a partner to help catch up to the front, when a lucky break came when a yellow came out on lap 17. Mansfield's winner #16 Jack Sprague cut a tire and hit the fence in turn 3.
After the restart, Hmiel got past David Starr and Travis Kvapil and was setting his sites for Kevin Harvick. By lap 29, Hmiel cleared Harvick and took the 8th place position. The third caution of the night came out when the #08 Ken Weaver spun. The Billy Ballew Motorsports team was right on it
during the pit stop putting 4 fresh tires on the truck. A few of the teams took two and pushed Hmiel back to 15th on the lap 37 restart. Hmiel with fresh rubber quickly passed Ted Musgrave, Jack Sprague, Frank Kimmel and Rick Crawford bringing him to the 11th spot. Hmiel on a roll, had the
fastest lap on the track a 31.8 and was up to the 9th position.
Tracy Hines in the #88 truck hit the wall and put out another caution on lap 53. On the restart, Hmiel set his sites on Dennis Setzer and went by he and Matt Crafton grabbing the 7th position before the yellow went out on lap 70 when #17 David Reutimann lost his engine advancing Hmiel one more position. "The longer we go the better we get," Hmiel told the team.
The Chevy teams were running well and out of the top 7 trucks, 5 were Chevrolets. "This Chevy program they have out there is great. It was shown tonight with all the Silverado's out front that Chevy is the right Truck," Hmiel commented.
In 5th position on lap 91, Hmiel posted his fastest lap of the night with a 31.3. With 40 laps to go, Hmiel was drafting with the front pack pulling away from the second group. Pole sitter David Starr was advancing on Hmiel and by lap 99 was able to get by. "David was just a little faster than us right then," Hmiel commented. As the battle of the leaders ensued, 6 of the top seven trucks were Chevy's. Carl Edwards was the only non Chevy in that group.
An incident between Carl Edwards and Michael Waltrip occurred dropping Waltrip out of the lead and opened the door for Dennis Setzer to jump past some trucks and battle for the lead with Edwards. Setzer took the lead and was able to hold on for the win. Hmiel and the #15 Billy Ballew Motorsports
team crossed the finish line in 6th place.
"Man, Richie Wauters and the boys put one great Chevy together for us this race. It feels great to come back and finish 6th this weekend after two bad races. I'm really proud of this team for all it's hard work and coming back and doing what we needed to
do."
Hmiel had a punctured radiator after an incident during a caution at Mansfield and posted his second DNF of the season.
"It was a tough battle between the Chevy's out there. My congratulations go out to Dennis. He ran
a good race out there. I had a group of 5th grade D.A.R.E. graduates here today and I'm glad I was able to give them a good finish and an exciting race."
Hmiel is ready to roll into Dover and keep the momentum going. "This is our last race with our Sponsor Earl Small's Harley-Davidson and I hope that our 6th place finish will show we can run up front. Our DEI power just never stopped. The team has really developed a great relationship here and we are
looking forward to Dover. We'll have the Silverado in Victory Circle before long."
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will be back in action June 4th at Dover International Speedway.
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