Wayne Grubb 2000

April 7, 2000 - Wednesday Grubb Motorsports announced their decision to withdraw from the Nashville, Talladega, and California races in order to greet the remainder of the season with a stronger, more competitive team. The team is confident that by utilizing the time off in preparing and testing, they can have stronger runs and become more of a force to be reckoned with on track.

The decision was not based upon team performance, since this time last year Wayne was sidelined by a broken shoulder suffered from an accident at Atlanta. Plus, the team overall had competed in only three of the first seven races, with 30th as Wayne's highest finish. Compared to this year, where Grubb Motorsports is poised in 37th overall, with two DNQs, and a top 20 finish at Atlanta.

Earlier today I had an opportunity to speak with Wayne and ask him some questions regarding the team's decision, his aspirations for Grubb Motorsports and his relationship with his younger brother Kevin.

NIKKI: Who had the final decision in deciding to withdraw from the next three races?
WAYNE: "It was a group decision between myself, our crew chief Bobby King, team manager Franklin Butler, and my dad Bill, who is the team owner. We sat down and talked about it and we all decided it was a good idea."

NIKKI: What was the decisive factor to do so?
WAYNE: "I think the fact that no one on the team has been really disappointed with the season this far, but no one has been at all satisfied with it. We know we can do better than we have been, and we all think this is the way we'll be able to accomplish our goals."

NIKKI: Did the amount of Cup drivers in the Busch races have anything to do with the decision? Did it make it easier to walk away or no difference?
WAYNE: "No, the Cup drivers didn't have anything to do with our decision. They only make us work harder. It's always hard to not go to races."

NIKKI: What type of improvements are you looking for?
WAYNE: "Overall, I think we're looking at trying to get to the point where we can get to the track and be quick right from the get-go. We don't want to have to spend a whole practice chasing everyone else. The time off is going to give us a chance to spend a little more time looking at the bodies we've got on our cars and to try and make improvements in that area."

NIKKI: What exactly will your team be doing with the time off?
WAYNE: "We're going to do some testing and get prepared for some races coming up in May, like Richmond and Charlotte. We're going to get caught up in the number of cars we have at the shop ready to go. I'm also going to a road coarse driving school to try and get ready for Watkins Glen."

NIKKI: Are you looking forward to going back to class?
WAYNE: "I really am. I have no experience on road courses, and the school I'm going to has super-charged Mustangs, so it should be a lot of fun."

NIKKI: Will there be any other drivers attending the class with you?
WAYNE: "My brother Kevin was going to go, but he decided not to. As far as I know, I'm the only Busch driver that's going to be there."

NIKKI: Are you and Kevin close? Do your teams still share information?
WAYNE: "We're pretty close. My team and his team are always trying to help one another out, but on the track, he's just another competitor."

NIKKI: What is the main goal that you hope to accomplish after the time away?
WAYNE: "To come back a stronger, more focused team. We're not happy running 20th every week. We want to be consistently in the top 15 and top 10. And if we have to take a few weeks off to get there, that's what we'll do."

NIKKI: If you don't reach that goal, what happens next?
WAYNE: "Then we'll sit down again and try to figure out where to go from there. But I try not to even think about that, because I really believe that we can reach our goals. We have before and I know we can again."

NIKKI: How will the time off affect your sponsor?
WAYNE: "We are really lucky in that Link-Belt has always supported Wayne Grubb. And I think that if this is going to help us to run better, then it is all for the better for them, as well."

NIKKI: What do you think the team needs in order to be competitive, what do you feel is missing?
WAYNE: "I wouldn't really say anything is missing, we just aren't caught up to the point we need to be. We're still trying to switch our bodies from '99's to the 2000 Monte Carlos, so it's like we've been behind since before Daytona."

NIKKI: What are your goals for Richmond?
WAYNE: "To win, of course! We sat on the pole here two years ago, and had a top 5 finish. I'd like to see that kind of success again."

NIKKI: Do you think you are at a disadvantage for not having a teammate?
WAYNE: "No, not really. I think the only advantage to having a teammate is the additional sharing of information. And we get a lot of that from Kevin's team."

NIKKI: How long do you plan on driving in BGN?
WAYNE: "Until I feel ready for Winston Cup. I don't want to make the step too early and then not succeed there. Once I get to Cup, I don't want to come back to Busch."

NIKKI: Where do you see Grubb Motorsports at in a year?
WAYNE: "I think we'll still be going strong, and hopefully at this point next year we'll be in the top 10. And I really think that if we stay focused, we can win some races in the next year."

NIKKI: Do you ever gauge your performance on Kevin's accomplishments?
WAYNE: "I guess in a way, but because it makes both of us more competitive. I'm glad for Kevin when he does well, but I always want to beat him, and vice versa. He likes to see me run well, but he wants to do better. So it drives us to work harder and we're competitive with one another."

NIKKI: Who do you think will get the first win?
WAYNE: "Me."

NIKKI: Why?
WAYNE: "Seriously, Kevin's team is strong this year, but hopefully when we come back to racing, we'll be just as strong as they are."

NIKKI: Do you think either one of you will see victory lane this season?
WAYNE: "I think Kevin has a really good chance of going to victory lane at any race we go to. And I think we definitely have the potential to get there."

NIKKI: Who do you think will move up to Cup first?
WAYNE: "It's hard to say. With Kevin having the great season he is, a lot of Cup owners will be talking to him, wanting to give him opportunities. I think I'm more content to stay in Busch for now and get more experience."

Well that's a wrap for this report. Keep sending in your questions. And until next time, remember Safety First!

Nikki

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