Grubb Set for 100th Career Busch Start

Central City, KY (July 10, 2001) … Kevin Grubb will make his 100th career NASCAR Busch Series start this weekend when he takes the green flag for the Hills Brothers Coffee 300 at the Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday, July 14th. Not only will Saturday’s event be Grubb’s 100th start, but this race will be the inaugural Busch Series race at the 1.5-mile Joliet, Illinois track.

In his Busch Series career, the 23-year old Mechanicsville, Virginia driver has driven three different cars - #52 Grubb Motorsports, #43 Curb-Agajanian Motorsports, and the #37 Brewco Motorsports entrees. Let’s look at other interesting facts in Grubb’s career:

First Busch Series race: May 10, 1997 – New Hampshire Int’l Speedway (Started 36th; Finished 38th)

Career Busch races: 99 – Including 49 consecutive starts since February 26, 2000 at Rockingham (68 Speedway starts; 28 Short Track starts; 3 Road Course starts)

Career Busch Poles: 1 – Dover – September 19, 1998

Career Best Finish: 2nd – Dover – September 19, 1998

Speedway – 2nd Dover – September 19, 1998

Short Track – 5th Richmond – September 8, 2000

Road Course – 13th Watkins Glen – July 8, 2001

Career Top 5s: 6 (4 - Speedways; 2 - Short Tracks)

First Top 5: Dover – September 19, 1998 (2nd)

Last Top 5: Milwaukee – July 1, 2001 (3rd)

Career Top 10s: 19 (13 – Speedways; 6 – Short Tracks)

First Top 10: New Hampshire – May 8, 1998 (8th)

Last Top 10: Milwaukee – July 1, 2001 (3rd)

Career Races Led: 13 (11 Speedways; 1 Short Track, 1 Road Course)

Career Laps Led: 100 (73 Speedways; 15 Short Tracks; 12 Road Course)

Career DNFs: 21 (11 Speedways; 10 Short Tracks)

Average Start: 19.7 – All races ( 21.7 Speedway; 14.9 Short Track; 20.0 Road Course)

Average Finish: 22.5 – All races (22.2 Speedway; 23.2 Short Track; 22.7 Road Course)

Career Laps: Completed 17,026 of 20,005 (85.1%)

Career Money Won: $1,470,977

As Kevin Grubb prepares for his 100th Busch Series start on Saturday, he had several thoughts about his first ninety-nine races.

"It really doesn’t seem like it’s been one hundred races already in my Busch career," Grubb commented. "The races just go by so fast each year now that you really don’t realize just how many races you driven. But, I’ve had some great times to remember in the first ninety-nine (races). My hardest hit came at Gateway International Speedway in ’98. I got spun around and hit drivers side against the turn three wall. I remember waking up in the hospital and didn’t know where I was. That one stayed with me for a while. My favorite tracks have always been Bristol and Dover. I love those high-banked concrete tracks. Those two tracks are my idea of what racing is all about. I really don’t dislike going to any of the tracks, but the flat, mile tracks bother me. I just never have had a great deal of success on tracks like Milwaukee and New Hampshire, and I really don’t know why. One thing that I have learned is that to be successful in this or any other NASCAR series, you better be able to adapt to the different types of tracks. There are so many mile and a half tracks now on the schedule, but you don’t drive them all the same. Each track has its own characteristics and you better learn the fast way around or you’ll be left behind in a hurry." Grubb had several other thoughts in closing.

"Winning the pole and finishing second at Dover in ’98 was a big thrill," Grubb concluded. "Especially driving for my dad’s team. I’ve been fortunate to be associated with a great sponsor like Timber Wolf the last three years. They (Timber Wolf) have been very supportive and I’ve had some great times meeting their reps and guests throughout the country. But, I believe my biggest thrill is yet to come. That’s getting that first Busch Series win. That will be one to remember."

And, with finishes of third, eighth, and thirteenth in his last three races, Kevin Grubb and the Timber Wolf Racing Team just might have that first victory celebration this weekend at Chicagoland in his 100th career start.