Kevin Grubb

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

Kevin Grubb
Grubb at an autograph signing in 2002
Born(1978-04-19)April 19, 1978
Mechanicsville, Virginia, U.S.
DiedMay 6, 2009(2009-05-06) (aged 31)
Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Cause of deathSuicide
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
174 races run over 8 years
Best finish13th (2000)
First race1997 United States Cellular 200 (Loudon)
Last race2006 Emerson Radio 250 (Richmond)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 32 1
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
8 races run over 3 years
Best finish45th (2006)
First race1996 Fas Mart Supertruck Shootout (Richmond)
Last race2006 Toyota Tundra 200 (Nashville)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0

Kevin Grubb (April 19, 1978 – May 6, 2009) was an American race car driver from Mechanicsville, Virginia. He was the younger brother of former race car driver Wayne Grubb.[1] He was under suspension from NASCAR competition due to two violations in NASCAR's substance abuse policy at the time of his death.

NASCAR Cup Series[edit]

Grubb's only attempt in the Cup Series came in 2002 when he attempted the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond. He drove the #54 Toys "R" Us Chevy for Team Bristol Motorsports, but was unable to get into the race. During his qualifying attempt he spun out on his second lap and without any owner points was the only car not to make the race. The team was supposed to attempt the 2003 season full-time, with Grubb running for rookie of the year, but the plans fell through.

Busch Series[edit]

Grubb's stint in NASCAR's junior series begin in 1997,[2] with four starts with his father's team Grubb Motorsports.[1] His first start came in the #82 Virginia is for Lovers Chevy where he finished 38th at New Hampshire. His first three starts ended in accidents. In his final start of the year, he finished his fourth start in the 21st position at Dover. In 1998, he ran 16 Busch series races for Grubb Motorsports.[1] He ran well in many of those races with a top finish of second at Dover after getting his first pole.[1] His teammate was his brother Wayne Grubb who also raced for his father's team.[1] After a very successful year, Grubb was offered a ride at Brewco Motorsports in 1999. Grubb raced for Brewco through 2001. He would amass 18 top tens in those three years, with his best points finish of 13th in the 2000 season.[1] Early in the 2002 season, he was tabbed to race for Team Bristol Motorsports, replacing Kelly Denton.[3] The team was plagued by failures, and Grubb was released by the end of the season. In 2003, he signed a partial season deal with Carroll Motorsports. He ran well, but had a series of engine problems and got caught in accidents not of his making. Carroll Motorsports folded at the conclusion of the 2003 season. While heading into the 2004 season, he was scheduled to compete in a handful of races for Team Rensi Motorsports, but failed a substance abuse test in March 2004 (below).[1]

Following reinstatement in June 2006, he appeared on an entry list for a Busch Series race at Nashville Speedway as the driver of the #56 Mac Hill Motorsports Chevy. There was some initial doubt as to whether or not he was officially reinstated; however, multiple reports stated that a NASCAR official confirmed that he was reinstated. He drove the car in non-companion events the team entered; however, Kevin Lepage was still the driver most race weekends.[1] He participated in five Busch events before being suspended indefinitely on September 11, 2006.

Camping World Truck Series[edit]

Grubb began his career in the NASCAR Truck Series running for the family owned Grubb Motorsports. In 1996, he had two starts in the #55 Virginia is for Lovers Chevy finishing his first start on the lead lap in 18th after starting the race in the 8th position. In his second start, an accident brought his race to an end after just 48 laps. He returned to the series in 1997 for one more start where he finished 13th in an unsponsored Grubb Motorsports Chevy at Nazareth.

In August 2006, he took over the 15 truck for Billy Ballew Motorsports after Kyle Krisiloff left due to a dispute with Kyle's dad over sponsorship. However, that effort ended with the drug suspension in September 2006.

Substance abuse test[edit]

NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy allows NASCAR to administer drug tests virtually any time, anywhere, based only on "reasonable suspicion."

Grubb failed a substance abuse test in March 2004, and was inactive until June 2006 when he was reinstated by NASCAR. One of the conditions of his reinstatement was random, unannounced drug tests, a condition to which he agreed. He participated in five Busch events before being suspended indefinitely on September 11, 2006, when he refused to take a drug test following a second-lap crash at Richmond.[1] Failure to take the test resulted in automatic suspension.[1]

The next day, Grubb claimed that his failure to take the test was a result of confusion following a concussion suffered during the race,[1] and offered to take a drug test at that time. He was cleared by the infield hospital following the crash, but was diagnosed with a concussion the next day at a local hospital. He claimed no memory of the refusal to submit to a drug test.[1]

In a comparable situation, NASCAR driver Shane Hmiel was offered a chance at reinstatement after a second such infraction, under condition that he submit to medical and psychological reviews, and frequent drug testing before reinstatement. In February, 2007, Hmiel failed a drug test, and was banned for life.

Death[edit]

Grubb was found dead at Alpine Motel on May 6, 2009, at 11:30 a.m. according to Henrico County authorities.[1] The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.[1]

The police reported no indications of any illegal substances inside the hotel room.[1]

Motorsports career results[edit]

NASCAR[edit]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series[edit]

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 NWCC Pts Ref
2002 Team Bristol Motorsports 54 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH
DNQ 		CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT MAR ATL CAR PHO HOM NA - [4]

Busch Series[edit]

NASCAR Busch Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 NBSC Pts Ref
1997 Grubb Motorsports 82 Chevy DAY CAR RCH
DNQ 		ATL LVS DAR HCY
DNQ 		TEX BRI NSV TAL NHA
38 		NZH CLT DOV SBO
32 		GLN MLW MYB GTY IRP
36 		MCH BRI DAR RCH
DNQ 		DOV
21 		CLT CAL CAR HOM 79th 171 [5]
1998 52 DAY CAR
22 		LVS NSV DAR
15 		BRI
24 		TEX HCY
26 		TAL NHA
8 		DOV
20 		RCH
9 		PPR
30 		GLN MLW MYB
32 		CAL SBO
27 		IRP MCH BRI
25 		DAR
32 		RCH
38 		DOV
2 		CAR
4 		ATL
6 		HOM 35th 1660 [6]
Akins-Sutton Motorsports 8 Ford NZH
43 		CLT
Curb Agajanian Performance Group 43 Chevy CLT
DNQ 		GTY
40
1999 Brewco Motorsports 37 Chevy DAY
8 		CAR
16 		LVS
DNQ 		ATL
DNQ 		DAR
DNQ 		TEX
25 		NSV
27 		BRI
7 		TAL
30 		CAL
40 		NHA
17 		RCH
27 		NZH
18 		CLT
42 		DOV
6 		SBO
14 		GLN
31 		MLW
29 		MYB
DNQ 		PPR
17 		GTY
36 		IRP
28 		MCH
20 		BRI
37 		DAR
20 		RCH
5 		DOV
39 		CLT
39 		CAR
38 		MEM
8 		PHO
21 		HOM
DNQ 		17th 2607 [7]
Grubb Motorsports 83 Chevy DAR
18
2000 Brewco Motorsports 37 Chevy DAY
DNQ 		CAR
7 		LVS
12 		ATL
5 		DAR
12 		BRI
11 		TEX
14 		NSV
14 		TAL
15 		CAL
17 		RCH
37 		NHA
38 		CLT
28 		DOV
36 		SBO
37 		MYB
8 		GLN
24 		MLW
12 		NZH
9 		PPR
16 		GTY
31 		IRP
30 		MCH
34 		BRI
43 		DAR
25 		RCH
5 		DOV
7 		CLT
18 		CAR
41 		MEM
13 		PHO
17 		HOM
41 		13th 3124 [8]
2001 Pontiac DAY
39 		TAL
8 		14th 3533 [9]
Chevy CAR
12 		LVS
19 		ATL
25 		DAR
21 		BRI
35 		TEX
18 		NSH
34 		CAL
26 		RCH
15 		NHA
20 		NZH
18 		CLT
33 		DOV
33 		KEN
8 		MLW
3 		GLN
13 		CHI
9 		GTY
3 		PPR
8 		IRP
22 		MCH
13 		BRI
13 		DAR
32 		RCH
3 		DOV
20 		KAN
22 		CLT
20 		MEM
28 		PHO
23 		CAR
15 		HOM
29
2002 Team Bristol Motorsports 54 Chevy DAY CAR LVS
41 		DAR
32 		BRI
12 		TEX
24 		NSH
16 		TAL
11 		CAL
19 		RCH
5 		NHA
10 		NZH
32 		CLT
8 		DOV
10 		NSH
39 		KEN
35 		MLW
30 		DAY
9 		CHI
16 		GTY
3 		PPR
11 		IRP
30 		MCH
31 		BRI
20 		DAR
14 		RCH
33 		DOV
35 		KAN
QL† 		CLT MEM
29 		ATL
25 		CAR
31 		PHO
13 		HOM
35 		24th 2885 [10]
2003 Carroll Racing 26 Dodge DAY
30 		CAR
7 		LVS
17 		DAR
11 		BRI
26 		TEX
13 		TAL
25 		RCH
33 		GTY
32 		NZH
31 		CLT
34 		DOV
35 		NSH KEN MLW
35 		DAY
15 		CHI
18 		NHA
29 		PPR
8 		IRP
15 		MCH BRI
13 		DAR
13 		RCH DOV
19 		KAN CLT MEM ATL PHO
15 		CAR
20 		HOM 19th 2498 [11]
Curb Racing 43 Dodge NSH
12
Carroll Racing 90 Dodge CAL
22
2006 Mac Hill Motorsports 56 Chevy DAY CAL MXC LVS ATL BRI TEX NSH PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH
25 		KEN
25 		MLW DAY CHI NHA MAR
33 		GTY
10 		IRP GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH
43 		DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 73rd 413 [12]
† - Qualified but replaced by Tim Fedewa

Craftsman Truck Series[edit]

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 NCTC Pts Ref
1996 Grubb Motorsports 55 Chevy HOM PHO POR EVG TUS CNS HPT BRI NZH MLW LVL I70 IRP FLM GLN NSV RCH
18 		NHA MAR
35 		NWS SON MMR PHO LVS 81st 167 [13]
1997 Ford WDW TUS HOM PHO POR EVG I70 NHA
11 		TEX BRI 63rd 301 [14]
Chevy NZH
13 		MLW LVL CNS HPT IRP FLM NSV GLN RCH
DNQ 		MAR
DNQ 		SON MMR CAL PHO LVS
2006 Billy Ballew Motorsports 15 Chevy DAY CAL ATL MAR GTY CLT MFD DOV TEX MCH MLW KAN KEN
21 		MEM
14 		IRP
33 		NSH
24 		BRI NHA LVS TAL MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 45th 376 [15]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Newton, David (2009-05-07). "Grubb, 31, found dead at hotel". ESPN. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  2. ^ "Ex-NASCAR driver Kevin Grubb found dead in Va". Yahoo!. 2009-05-07. Archived from the original on 2009-05-11. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  3. ^ "Grubb To Stay In 54 Car". Motor Racing Network. March 13, 2002. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  4. ^ "Kevin Grubb – 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  5. ^ "Kevin Grubb – 1997 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  6. ^ "Kevin Grubb – 1998 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  7. ^ "Kevin Grubb – 1999 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  8. ^ "Kevin Grubb – 2000 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  9. ^ "Kevin Grubb – 2001 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  10. ^ "Kevin Grubb – 2002 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  11. ^ "Kevin Grubb – 2003 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  12. ^ "Kevin Grubb – 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  13. ^ "Kevin Grubb – 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  14. ^ "Kevin Grubb – 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  15. ^ "Kevin Grubb – 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2023.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kevin_Grubb&oldid=1179393380"