Wayne Grubb

November 14, 1999 - Hello Everyone. Last weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Wayne Grubb, driver of the number 83 Link Belt Chevrolet in the Busch Grand National series. Unfortunately, it was shortly after second-round qualifying for the Outback Steakhouse 200, in which temporary driver Jimmy Hensley failed to qualify.

Grubb and Grubb Motorsports have been struggling most of the season, making just 17 races. "It's heartbreaking, you put a lot of effort into trying to make it into a race and just being out preformed like that, it's very disappointing," confirmed Grubb.

Out of the first four races Grubb had two DNQ's. Then Grubb was sidelined by an accident during the Yellow Freight 300 where he broke his shoulder. This accident kept Grubb out of action for four races, in which the 83 car failed to qualify three times.

Grubb made his return at Talladega starting 35th and finishing 38th. Grubb's average starting spot this season was 27th, with an average finish of 31st. This season not only saw Grubb heading home early, but other various Busch regulars as well, due to the increase of Winston Cup drivers competing on the Busch circuit.

"The more Cup drivers in (a race) is just more spots being taken. They got a lot of experience… they have so much resources with their crew chiefs, their technology, their testing and they have the money to back it. It's making us have to step up to the plate but that is part of it (racing) and you got to deal with it," voiced Grubb.

Grubb gained momentum at the Autolite Platinum 250 where he qualified a season best 15th and tied his season best finish of 15th. Grubb Motorsports is one of a dying breed and one of the few family teams still intact. According to Grubb, "You do it more for the heart than you do it for the money. I do it for the love of the sport and a lot of family-owned business are the same way they do it for the love instead of the money."

"When you are not running as good, the emotions tend to play a lot more into it, that is just going back to the love of the sport. You have the desire to run good and accomplish what your goals are and to not accomplish them it's like having something stolen from you," expressed Grubb.

With four races left in the season, Grubb Motorsports decided to have Jimmy Hensley, a Craftsman Truck series regular, attempt to qualify the 83 in the remaining races. Hensley did just that, with the exception of the Sam's Town 250, in which he was scheduled to run in the CTS season finale at California Speedway.

"Jimmy and Bobby King, my crew chief, worked together quite a few years ago when Hensley ran the Busch series. He's driven pretty much in every series there is in NASCAR, so he definitely has the experience and we thought he'd be a good asset to the team. Sort of lead us in the right direction in what's wrong with the car, why we are missing races, and why we aren't running as fast as everybody else," stated Grubb.

Hensley failed to make all three of the races that he attempted as a fill in. "It's hard to figure out what you need to do as a team to make yourself better and that's the situation we are in now. We got to figure out what we have to do to make ourselves better," explained Grubb.

Despite the roller coaster lows of the season, Grubb Motorsports is still ready to run a season with Grubb as the full-time driver. "We just don't have everything in place right now, we are still on the drawing table, we'll announce that soon," informed Grubb.

Whatever the 2000 season holds for Grubb, you can count on him to be there to take the good along with the bad. Good thing he is a 'calm, laid-back person.'

"I thrive off competition and the adrenaline rush you get trying to thrive for that win, the desire for it. That is basically what racing is, it has all of those elements and that's what I love to do," said Grubb.

Once again it all goes back to the love of the sport, and Grubb will continue to strive for his first Busch Grand National win next season.

Well that's it for this report. Until next time race fans, take care and hang on the ride is sometimes wild. Remember Safety First!!!

Nikki

If you have a question for a driver or crew member that you would like to see answered 'In the Pits,' send your question(s) here.