RICHMOND, Virginia — Kevin Grubb, who raced in NASCAR from 1996 until he was indefinitely suspended in 2006, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday. He was 31.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that Grubb was found in his room by employees of the Alpine Hotel on Brook Road at about 11 a.m. Wednesday. The state medical examiner's office determined the cause of death on Thursday afternoon.
Grubb, from suburban Mechanicsville, was denied permission to compete after he refused to take a drug test after a race at Richmond International Raceway in September 2006.
He was competing on probation at the time due to a positive test in 2004 for banned substances. He was reinstated in June 2006, with the stipulation that he submit to periodic random testing.
Grubb raced in the two national divisions below the elite Sprint Cup Series, the Nationwide (formerly Busch) Series and Camping World (formerly Craftsman) Truck Series. He made one attempt to qualify for a Cup Series event, at Richmond in 2002, but did not make the grid.
Kevin and his brother, Wayne, both drove in NASCAR events in cars fielded by Grubb Motorsports. The team was owned by their father, W.O. Grubb.
Inside Line says: Tragically, Grubb failed to take advantage of a second chance extended to him by NASCAR. — David Green, Correspondent
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