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Kevin Grubb

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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NASCAR

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

Winston Cup Series

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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

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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

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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

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References

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  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.
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