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. 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 Grubb's only attempt in the Cup Series came in 2002 when he attempted the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond. He drove the No. 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 Grubb's stint in NASCAR's junior series began in 1997, with four starts with his father's team Grubb Motorsports. His first start came in the No. 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 sixteen Busch Series races for Grubb Motorsports. He ran well in many of those races with a top finish of second at Dover after getting his first pole. His teammate was his brother Wayne Grubb who also raced for his father's team. After a successful year, Grubb was offered a ride at Brewco Motorsports in 1999. Grubb raced for Brewco through 2001. He would amass eighteen top-tens in those three years, with his best points finish of 13th in the 2000 season. Early in the 2002 season, he was tabbed to race for Team Bristol Motorsports, replacing Kelly Denton. 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).

Following reinstatement in June 2006, Grubb appeared on an entry list for a Busch Series race at Nashville Speedway as the driver of the No. 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. He participated in five Busch events before being suspended indefinitely on September 11, 2006.

Camping World Truck Series Grubb began his career in the NASCAR Truck Series running for the family owned Grubb Motorsports. In 1996, he had two starts in the No. 55 Virginia is for Lovers Chevy finishing his first start on the lead lap in eighteenth after starting the race in the eighth 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 thirteenth in an unsponsored Grubb Motorsports Chevy at Nazareth.

In August 2006, Grubb took over the No. 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

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. Failure to take the test resulted in automatic suspension.

The next day, Grubb claimed that his failure to take the test was a result of confusion following a concussion suffered during the race, 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.

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

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

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

Winston Cup Series 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 Pts Ref 2002 Team Bristol Motorsports 54 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCHDNQ 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 -

Busch Series 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 Pts Ref 1997 Grubb Motorsports 82 Chevy DAY CAR RCHDNQ ATL LVS DAR HCYDNQ TEX BRI NSV TAL NHA38 NZH CLT DOV SBO32 GLN MLW MYB GTY IRP36 MCH BRI DAR RCHDNQ DOV21 CLT CAL CAR HOM 79th 171 1998 52 DAY CAR LVS NSV DAR BRI TEX HCY TAL NHA DOV RCH PPR GLN MLW MYB CAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CAR ATL HOM 35th 1660 Akins-Sutton Motorsports 8 Ford NZH CLT Curb Agajanian Performance Group 43 Chevy CLT GTY 1999 Brewco Motorsports 37 Chevy DAY8 CAR16 LVSDNQ ATLDNQ DARDNQ TEX25 NSV27 BRI7 TAL30 CAL40 NHA17 RCH27 NZH18 CLT42 DOV6 SBO14 GLN31 MLW29 MYBDNQ PPR17 GTY36 IRP28 MCH20 BRI37 DAR20 RCH5 DOV39 CLT39 CAR38 MEM8 PHO21 HOMDNQ 17th 2607 Grubb Motorsports 83 Chevy DAR18 2000 Brewco Motorsports 37 Chevy DAYDNQ CAR7 LVS12 ATL5 DAR12 BRI11 TEX14 NSV14 TAL15 CAL17 RCH37 NHA38 CLT28 DOV36 SBO37 MYB8 GLN24 MLW12 NZH9 PPR16 GTY31 IRP30 MCH34 BRI43 DAR25 RCH5 DOV7 CLT18 CAR41 MEM13 PHO17 HOM41 13th 3124 2001 Pontiac DAY39 TAL8 14th 3533 Chevy CAR12 LVS19 ATL25 DAR21 BRI35 TEX18 NSH34 CAL26 RCH15 NHA20 NZH18 CLT33 DOV33 KEN8 MLW3 GLN13 CHI9 GTY3 PPR8 IRP22 MCH13 BRI13 DAR32 RCH3 DOV20 KAN22 CLT20 MEM28 PHO23 CAR15 HOM29 2002 Team Bristol Motorsports 54 Chevy DAY CAR LVS41 DAR32 BRI12 TEX24 NSH16 TAL11 CAL19 RCH5 NHA10 NZH32 CLT8 DOV10 NSH39 KEN35 MLW30 DAY9 CHI16 GTY3 PPR11 IRP30 MCH31 BRI20 DAR14 RCH33 DOV35 KANQL† CLT MEM29 ATL25 CAR31 PHO13 HOM35 24th 2885 2003 Carroll Racing 26 Dodge DAY30 CAR7 LVS17 DAR11 BRI26 TEX13 TAL25 RCH33 GTY32 NZH31 CLT34 DOV35 NSH KEN MLW35 DAY15 CHI18 NHA29 PPR8 IRP15 MCH BRI13 DAR13 RCH DOV19 KAN CLT MEM ATL PHO15 CAR20 HOM 19th 2498 Curb Racing 43 Dodge NSH12 Carroll Racing 90 Dodge CAL22 2006 Mac Hill Motorsports 56 Chevy DAY CAL MXC LVS ATL BRI TEX NSH PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH25 KEN25 MLW DAY CHI NHA MAR33 GTY10 IRP GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH43 DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 73rd 413 † - Qualified but replaced by Tim Fedewa

Craftsman Truck Series 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 Pts Ref 1996 Grubb Motorsports 55 Chevy HOM PHO POR EVG TUS CNS HPT BRI NZH MLW LVL I70 IRP FLM GLN NSV RCH18 NHA MAR35 NWS SON MMR PHO LVS 81st 167 1997 Ford WDW TUS HOM PHO POR EVG I70 NHA11 TEX BRI 63rd 301 Chevy NZH13 MLW LVL CNS HPT IRP FLM NSV GLN RCHDNQ MARDNQ SON MMR CAL PHO LVS 2006 Billy Ballew Motorsports 15 Chevy DAY CAL ATL MAR GTY CLT MFD DOV TEX MCH MLW KAN KEN21 MEM14 IRP33 NSH24 BRI NHA LVS TAL MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 45th 376

See also List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences

References

AP Obituary in the Richmond Times-Dispatch

External links