Hmiel fined, docked points for obscene gesture

[racerx]

Associated Press

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Shane Hmiel was fined $10,000 and docked 25 points in the standings by NASCAR on Wednesday for making an obscene gesture at Dale Jarrett during the Busch Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway earlier this week.

 

Hmiel was caught on his in-car camera flipping his middle finger at Jarrett after Jarrett leaned inside the window to complain about an accident Hmiel had caused during Monday's race.

The image was shown on live television.

 

"We are hopeful that Shane Hmiel will realize he is a professional race car driver and he needs to conduct himself as such," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said.

 

Hmiel caused the last of 14 cautions during Monday's race when Jarrett slowed to avoid an accident, then was hit from behind by Hmiel.

 

Jarrett exited his car and walked half the front stretch to Hmiel's car to confront him. Jarrett's day was over, and Hmiel went on to a 12th-place finish.

 

Hmiel was ninth in the points standings before the deduction, and did not drop after the penalty. Car owner Todd Braun was also docked 25 points as part of the penalty.

 

NASCAR has drawn criticism from its competitors over the past week for docking drivers points for infractions that are not race-related. Hunter said the complaints prove the method of punishment is working.

 

He also defended NASCAR for continuing its practice of penalizing drivers for their behavior. Last year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was fined and docked points for cursing in a Victory Lane interview.

 

"We don't want to be a plastic sport and we certainly want our competitors to be able to express themselves," Hunter said. "But there is a fine line between acting professionally and this went over the line."

[direct-flo]

Bill Eversol did the same thing a couple of races back in ARCA.....1 finger salute -- they should have taken more away.....from that little spoiled punk(shane)

[REBELRACER]

no joke........he was kicked out of nascar a couple of years back for drugs, gets a second chance, and now not only gives the one finger salute on tv, but also goes and bad mouths dale jarret..........it had to be hard to line up a sponsor already given his past with drugs, im sure they'll be beating down his door now...............

[Crazyhorse]

actually he's the reason the truck and the car have sponsors-the way i see it dj is invoking a confrontation by going over there.... why was'nt he fined?

[Jason]

Sean,

I'm glad you painted your truck one color.

[racerx]

Crazyhorse, your just saying that because you don't want to be fined when you give us hand signals!

 

You make a good point. What did DJ say to him? What if he said "hey you sorry no driving little pot smoking &^%$#$ #@(*&%"!!!