Former NASCAR Driver Makes Emotional Admission to Dale Earnhardt Jr.

In a recent episode of Dale Jr. Download, former NASCAR driver Shane Hmiel revealed an emotional admission to NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hmiel, 46, was the first driver to ever be banned from the sport after testing positive for drugs multiple times over a period of nearly three years. In 2010, Hmiel suffered a paralyzing crash while qualifying for the USAC Silver Crown race.

On the podcast, Hmiel shared the lows and highs of his career and life post-paralysis. When asked why he was sad, Hmiel admitted to crying to his mother at 5 o'clock because he didn't want to look like an idiot on Earnhardt Jr.'s show. Earnhardt Jr. had known Hmiel since their time together in NASCAR, and Hmiel praised his friend for never bad-mouthing him throughout their ups and downs.

Hmiel's friendship with Earnhardt Jr. goes back to 1998, when they were both rising stars in the racing world. Despite Hmiel's struggles with drug addiction, which led to a lifetime ban from NASCAR in 2006, Earnhardt Jr. remained supportive. This friendship is the reason Hmiel called his mom and sister-law in the hours leading up to the podcast, anxious about his performance.