Gladeville, Tenn. ? Shane Hmiel is proof that a family name goes only so far.

Being the son of Steve Hmiel, former NASCAR crew chief and currently technical director of DEI Incorporated, meant that Shane grew up around tracks, garages, car owners and other mechanics.

But when his father’s buddy Gere Kennon called him in October 2001 to replace Kenny Wallace in practice, Shane needed only a couple of turns around the track to show he had plenty of talent in his own right.

Hmiel ranks 10th in the Busch Series points race in the middle of his second season on the circuit. He has four top-10 finishes this season, including finishing third in consecutive weeks at Texas and Talladega.

“Growing up with my dad, racing’s all I’ve ever known, and that’s all I care about,” said Hmiel, who ignored his parents’ wishes when he decided against college in favor of racing.

His boss, George diBidart, owner of the Innovative Motorsports, said everyone knew about Hmiel’s family ties. What impressed him most was how Hmiel raced.

“This kid just has a natural seat-of-the-pants ability to drive a race car. I don’t think anybody really knew it other than at the local level,” diBidart said.

DiBidart learned about Shane’s skill as a driver in 2001 when he found himself without someone to practice before a race at Memphis. Wallace had to be in Martinsville, so Kennon, the crew chief, talked diBidart into letting Hmiel take the wheel.

Kennon has known Hmiel since he was a toddler and watched him grow up from riding his motorcycle to competing on the Goody’s Dash Series as a co-worker and friend with Steve Hmiel first at Rouch Racing, then DEI. Kennon quickly called his buddy to track down Shane.

“Maybe I’ve got an eye for seeing them, but I thought he could do it,” Kennon said.

Shane never had driven a Busch car before Memphis and had never raced on radial tires, and the crew didn’t adjust the seat to better suit him. He still turned the fastest laps that day.

DiBidart immediately put Shane on the payroll, keeping him with the team through the end of the year and putting him into a car in 2002.

Hmiel responded by finishing fifth in his first career start at Daytona in February 2001. He posted eight top-10 finishes and earned two poles, his first in just his seventh start.