NASCAR announced today that Series driver Kevin Grubb has been suspended indefinitely, after failing to comply with the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. Grubb, 28, driver of the #56 Chevy, was suspended after violating Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-E (failure to comply with substance abuse policy: refusal to submit to required testing) of the NASCAR Busch Series rule book. This is the second time Grubb has been suspended indefinitely. The first suspension was in March 2004, after Grubb tested positive for banned substances. Grubb was reinstated on June 7 of this year. He has since participated in five NASCAR Busch Series events. The reinstatement required Grubb to comply with the stipulations of NASCAR’s substance abuse policy, which include periodic testing.(NASCAR PR)(9-12-2006)
UPDATE: Grubb was punished for refusing to take a drug test after an accident ended his run in the Emerson Radio 250 on Friday night at Richmond International Raceway. Grubb was suspended indefinitely in March 2004 for violating NASCAR’s substance-abuse policy. He was reinstated June 7 with the understanding he would submit to periodic drug testing. Jim Hunter, NASCAR’s vice president of corporate communications, said several attempts were made to persuade Grubb to submit to a test Friday night. “He was on a program where he agreed to be tested at any time,” Hunter said. “He, for whatever reason, refused to be tested.” Hunter said doctors and “medical liaisons” were involved. Grubb said the force of the accident, which came on Lap 2 in the Busch Series race, made things “foggy” shortly thereafter. He was treated and released from the infield care center after the crash. “I don’t remember most of being at the track,” Grubb said. “I had people pulling me in 20 different directions. I ended up leaving, from what I understand.” Grubb said he woke up Sunday morning, still feeling “terrible” and unable to remember what day it was. He went to the hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion. “I’m guessing that explains me acting crazy at the track,” Grubb said. “I didn’t know what was going on.” Grubb said he called NASCAR officials Monday morning when he heard of the suspension. He was directed to talk to Dr. David L. Black, who is in charge of NASCAR’s substance-abuse program. He set up the program for reinstatement that Grubb was on, and will be the person to set up a program if he were to try to be reinstated again. “Kevin was reinstated based on the recommendation of Dr. Black,” Hunter said. “The reason he needs to talk to Dr. Black is that if he hopes to be reinstated again, then he needs to talk to him.” Grubb said he has called Black several times but has yet to receive a return call. A call to Dr. Black’s office late yesterday afternoon was not returned by press time. Grubb said he still is feeling the aftereffects, sleeping a lot and feeling “pretty foggy.” He says he’s confident he and NASCAR will come to an agreement, and reiterates he didn’t suffer a relapse. He says he’s fine with officials observing him or testing him as often as necessary. “I’ve been clean the whole time,” Grubb said. “The next day, once I found out all the things that happened, I offered to take it. I’m ready to put the ball in action. I’m sure we’ll get something situated out of that. I worked very hard to get my life back to where it was. I don’t see it being thrown away in one night.”(Richmond Times Dispatch)(9-13-2006)
