Wayne Grubb
Encyclopedia
Wayne Grubb is a former NASCAR
driver and now a car chief for Baker Curb Racing. He ran 52 NASCAR Busch Series
races and 7 Craftsman Truck Series
races before he retired late in the 2000 season. He is the older brother of former NASCAR driver Kevin Grubb
, who died on May 6, 2009 at age 31. Grubb was born in Mechanicsville, Virginia
.
run in 1998. His debut came at New Hampshire International Speedway
, driving his family-owned to 35th on the starting grid. He was making his way through the field in his #83 Link-Belt Chevy, but an engine failure put him 36th on the final rundown.
He ran at South Boston Speedway
next, finishing 25th with engine problems, despite his first top-10 qualifying effort of 8th. His potential showed, however, when after qualifying 31st at Indianapolis Raceway Park, he drove through the field, led 28 laps, and finished 5th, his first career top-10 finish.
In 1998, Wayne had a decent rookie run. He had an average start of 17.8 and an average finish of 22.5. Wayne secured his best weekend of his career when he secured his first career pole in the spring race at Richmond International Raceway
. He led 3 laps in that race, and finished a career-best 4th place. Wayne also finished 7th at Bristol Motor Speedway
. He also had an outside pole at South Boston and a 5th place qualifying effort at New Hampshire to his credit. However, he often DNQed and the budget was tight, only competing in half the races and finishing 36th in the points.
In 1999, Wayne had a disappointing year. He had no top-10 runs or qualifying efforts. He only ran 17 of 32 races. His average start was 28th and average finish of 31st. Once again, his best weekend of the year came at Richmond in September. He qualified and finished in 15th. He had two other top-20 runs: 15th at Gateway
and 17th at South Boston. He ended 45th in points
Things did not get any better in 2000. His average finish was 29th. Even with an 8th place start at IRP and a 5th place at Darlington, Wayne finished his Busch Series career at Darlington with a 32nd place finish. He gave the car over to Brandon Butler, watched his team finish out 2000, and then dismantled it due to lack of sponsorship before 2001. Wayne ran 15 races in 2000 and finished 40th in points.
In his Busch Series career, Wayne had one pole, 2 top-5s, 3 top-10s and his best finish in a race was 4th (Richmond 1998). His best points finish was 1998 in 36th.
, driving the #4 Link-Belt Chevy in 7 races during 1996 and 1997.
He made his debut in the 1996 race at Richmond. He qualified a solid 13th, but became involved in an accident, and he finished that race a disappointing 32nd. Wayne also ran in 1996 at Martinsville, finishing a solid 18th after starting deep in the pack. This would end up being his best Craftsman Truck finish.
After those two races in 1996, Wayne added 5 more to his resume in 1997. He finished 36th at New Hampshire
, 27th twice at Louisville and Martinsville
, 23rd at Richmond, and a 22nd at Fontana
. He finished the year 49th in points. He would never race in the Truck Series again.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver and now a car chief for Baker Curb Racing. He ran 52 NASCAR Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
races and 7 Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
races before he retired late in the 2000 season. He is the older brother of former NASCAR driver Kevin Grubb
Kevin Grubb
Kevin Grubb was an American race car driver from Mechanicsville, Virginia. He was the younger brother of former race car driver Wayne Grubb...
, who died on May 6, 2009 at age 31. Grubb was born in Mechanicsville, Virginia
Mechanicsville, Virginia
Mechanicsville is the name of four places in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States of America:*Mechanicsville, Hanover County, Virginia*Mechanicsville, Loudoun County, Virginia*Mechanicsville, Rockbridge County, Virginia...
.
Busch Series Career
In 1997, Wayne made some laps as he was getting ready for a Rookie of the YearNASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
run in 1998. His debut came at New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...
, driving his family-owned to 35th on the starting grid. He was making his way through the field in his #83 Link-Belt Chevy, but an engine failure put him 36th on the final rundown.
He ran at South Boston Speedway
South Boston Speedway
South Boston Speedway or "SoBo" is a short track located just outside South Boston, Virginia, U.S.A.. SoBo is located approximately sixty miles east of another area familiar to most NASCAR fans, Martinsville. It is owned by Mattco, Inc, the Mattioli family trust that owns Pocono Raceway, with...
next, finishing 25th with engine problems, despite his first top-10 qualifying effort of 8th. His potential showed, however, when after qualifying 31st at Indianapolis Raceway Park, he drove through the field, led 28 laps, and finished 5th, his first career top-10 finish.
In 1998, Wayne had a decent rookie run. He had an average start of 17.8 and an average finish of 22.5. Wayne secured his best weekend of his career when he secured his first career pole in the spring race at Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
. He led 3 laps in that race, and finished a career-best 4th place. Wayne also finished 7th at Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
. He also had an outside pole at South Boston and a 5th place qualifying effort at New Hampshire to his credit. However, he often DNQed and the budget was tight, only competing in half the races and finishing 36th in the points.
In 1999, Wayne had a disappointing year. He had no top-10 runs or qualifying efforts. He only ran 17 of 32 races. His average start was 28th and average finish of 31st. Once again, his best weekend of the year came at Richmond in September. He qualified and finished in 15th. He had two other top-20 runs: 15th at Gateway
Gateway International Raceway
Gateway Motorsports Park is a race track in Madison, Illinois, USA, just east of St. Louis, Missouri. After being shuttered by former owner Dover Motorsports Inc., on Nov. 3, 2010, it was announced Sept. 8, 2011, that the facility would re-open and host an NHRA Full Throttle Series event Oct. 5-7,...
and 17th at South Boston. He ended 45th in points
Things did not get any better in 2000. His average finish was 29th. Even with an 8th place start at IRP and a 5th place at Darlington, Wayne finished his Busch Series career at Darlington with a 32nd place finish. He gave the car over to Brandon Butler, watched his team finish out 2000, and then dismantled it due to lack of sponsorship before 2001. Wayne ran 15 races in 2000 and finished 40th in points.
In his Busch Series career, Wayne had one pole, 2 top-5s, 3 top-10s and his best finish in a race was 4th (Richmond 1998). His best points finish was 1998 in 36th.
Craftsman Truck Series
Before Wayne was racing in the Busch series, he was actually making some races in the Craftsman Truck SeriesCraftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
, driving the #4 Link-Belt Chevy in 7 races during 1996 and 1997.
He made his debut in the 1996 race at Richmond. He qualified a solid 13th, but became involved in an accident, and he finished that race a disappointing 32nd. Wayne also ran in 1996 at Martinsville, finishing a solid 18th after starting deep in the pack. This would end up being his best Craftsman Truck finish.
After those two races in 1996, Wayne added 5 more to his resume in 1997. He finished 36th at New Hampshire
New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...
, 27th twice at Louisville and Martinsville
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
, 23rd at Richmond, and a 22nd at Fontana
California Speedway
Auto Club Speedway is a two-mile , low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since 1997. The track was also used for open wheel racing events until 2005. The racetrack is located near the former locations of Ontario Motor Speedway and...
. He finished the year 49th in points. He would never race in the Truck Series again.