Kevin Grubb: GNC 250 recap

WEST ALLIS, Wis. -- Kevin Grubb made his return to the No. 26 Dr Pepper Dodge this weekend for the GNC Live Well 250 and got no cooperation from Mother Nature or his motor. For the fourth time this season, qualifying for the NASCAR Busch Series was canceled due to rain. Grubb was assigned the 21st place on the starting grid and was running 18th when the engine failed on Lap 163 resulting in a 35th place finish. The No. 26 Carroll Racing Dodge dropped to 23rd in the Owners Points.

Kevin started the race around the Milwaukee Mile by picking up three spots in the initial six laps. The first caution came out on Lap 21 and Kevin mentioned the car was tight off the corners. Passing at the Milwaukee Mile is extremely tough, therefore Todd Lohse, Crew Chief, instructed Kevin to stay out for track position. Unfortunately, another caution did not come out for another 130 laps. During that sequence of laps, Kevin's car tighter until a green flag pit stop was made on Lap 88. The "Thirst Crew" made an excellent stop getting the No. 26 Dr Pepper Dodge back on the track and picking up a spot during the pit cycle.

When Grubb returned the car's handling improved, however on Lap 96 he could feel and hear the engine struggling. Lohse informed him to try and nurse the engine and keep an eye on the engines RPMs. While experiencing these difficulties the No. 26 Dr Pepper Dodge lost the lead lap, but only 13 cars finished on the lead lap. Kevin was running smooth coasting into the corners a bit earlier and rolling back into the gas a bit later when exiting the corners. On Lap 155, Kevin moved into 17th place despite the concern when the second caution flag flew for oil on the track.

Kevin was restarting in 18th on Lap 161 and hoping for a quick caution to get back on the lead lap. That quick caution occurred when No. 48 Shane Hmiel got tangled up with No. 2 Ron Hornaday on Lap 163, but by that time the restart took its toll on Kevin's engine. The high RPMs needed for the restart had cooked the motor and blew it up. Their day was terminated and the outlook for Daytona began.