ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 19, 1993                   TAG: 9311190040
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


HMIEL RETURNS TO MARTIN'S RACING TEAM

Veteran Winston Cup crew chief Steve Hmiel returned to car owner Jack Roush and driver Mark Martin on Thursday after less than three days at Hendrick Motorsports.

Roush team spokeswoman Diane Hollingsworth said Thursday was "a happy day" at the shop in Liberty, N.C., and said Roush and Martin were thrilled to have Hmiel back.

"He never really started here," said Jimmy Johnson, general manager of Hendrick Motorsports, which is located in Harrisburg, N.C. "He came in and looked around, then came in [Wednesday] and told me he felt burnt out and wasn't going to accept the job."

Johnson said he had only a verbal commitment from Hmiel to become director of racing operations for the three-team operation with drivers Ken Schrader, Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte.

Johnson said Hmiel arrived at the Harrisburg shops on Monday and spent two days getting acquainted and meeting the 110 people Hendrick employs.

But what he saw obviously wasn't for him, for Hmiel reportedly called Roush on Monday, only a day after his "final" day with the team - the Hooters 500 race day Sunday at Atlanta. Hmiel could not be reached for comment.

Hmiel had received Roush's release on the final year of his contract, which included the 1994 season.

But Johnson said he did not have a contract with Hmiel. "We never even got to that point," he said.

Hmiel's return may help plug the leaks at the Roush shops. Hollingsworth confirmed that four other team members had left for other shops since Sunday, including Chris Hussey, who reportedly will become the new crew chief for car owner Bill Davis and driver Bobby Labonte.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING



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