NASCAR reinstates suspended Busch driver
By Lee Montgomery
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Kevin Grubb, suspended for more than two years for violating NASCAR's substance-abuse policy, has been reinstated as of today and will attempt to qualify for this weekend's Busch Series race at Nashville Superspeedway.
"Kevin Grubb has been reinstated, and his eligibility has been restored," NASCAR spokesperson Tracey Judd said Wednesday.
Grubb, who was suspended in March 2004, has 10 top-five and 31 top-10 finishes in 169 series starts.
Grubb is entered in the No. 56 Mac Hill Motorsports Chevrolet for this weekend's Federated Auto Parts 300.
Team owner Jack McNelly said Grubb would drive the car at non-companion events the team enters. Kevin Lepage will continue to drive the car at Busch races run in conjunction with Nextel Cup events.
"[Crew chief] Tony [Lambert] and I sat down and looked at who was out there and who was available, and he asked me if I would consider [Grubb] if he could get reinstated," McNelly said. "I said, 'Why not?' We all make mistakes."
Lambert worked with Grubb at now defunct Team Bristol Motorsports in 2002. Grubb finished the paperwork for reinstatement this week, Judd said, but she wouldn't say exactly what steps Grubb had to perform to have the suspension lifted.
"He's met all the requirements and obligations that NASCAR outlined for him upon his suspension," Judd said. "He's met what was laid out for him in order to apply for and be reinstated."
