Va. Tech graduates solemn within NASCAR garages

When Darian Grubb received word of dozens killed at his alma mater, Virginia Tech, his skin tightened and his heart began to race.

"Right away I thought of my mom; she works on the campus," said Grubb, crew chief for Nextel Cup Series driver Casey Mears. Grubb, 31, studied mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech and is from Floyd, Va.

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"She was on lock down in her office, next door to where the first shooting took place. She was fine but you always panic in a situation like that."

Dozens in the NASCAR community this weekend are sharing similar stories around the garage as the news of the Virginia Tech tragedy is still fresh in minds of all Americans right now.

"I never would have predicted something like this happening at my school," Grubb said. "It's the most laid back, serene campus. I'm still proud to be a Hokie."

NASCAR drivers will pay respect to the victims whose lives were lost in the senseless act of violence on Monday in Blacksburg, Va.

Each car will don the maroon and orange Virginia Tech logo with a black background when the cars take the green flag for Saturday night's Subway Fresh Fit 500.

Director of Series Operations David Finley said the decals are being shipped to the track on Thursday.

"We'll hand them out to all the teams ASAP," Finley said. "We are trying to create awareness and exposure to the funds being put together for the victims' families."

Virginia native Jeff Burton spoke about the tragedy in the media center earlier Thursday but really couldn't find the words to describe what he felt.

"It's hard to get your hands around something like that," he said. "It's an awful deal, I don't know what to say."

Ron Denton, a 1994 Virginia Tech graduate who studied economics and engineering, is a shock specialist on Denny Hamlin's Busch car. Denton was devastated when he heard the news.

"Best way I've heard the [gunman Cho Seung-Hui] described is a walking, talking two-legged disaster," Denton said as he shook his head in disdain.

Denton's concern is the politicizing and finger pointing taking place days after the incident.

"I don't like to see people attacking our right to bear arms. I believe in our Bill of Rights. We live in a free society, but I fear this will take away more of our freedoms because of one bad nut."

The Virginia Tech logos will be used on the machines of all the NASCAR series; Cup, Busch and Truck through the May 4-5 race weekend in Richmond.

In addition to the decal on his Cup car, Virginia native Denny Hamlin also will wear a VT logo on his helmet. Like several people in the garage area on Thursday, Hamlin was wearing a Virginia Tech cap before practice session.

"It's a big deal for me and Elliott [Sadler] and Jeff and Ward and those guys that are from Virginia," Hamlin said. "It means a little bit more us than probably anybody else.

"Everyone feels it and I've obviously been a Virginia Tech fan for a long time and have talked to [head football coach] Frank Beamer before. Oddly enough, I just got a bunch of stuff in the mail from [him] the day after all that happened. It's amazing what the world's coming to. We've still got to press on and keep in our hearts the memories of the families of the victims."

Paying tribute to national tragedies is something NASCAR has always taken seriously, Finley added. In the recent past, NASCAR has created special decals for Hurricane Katrina victims and the late NASCAR champion Benny Parsons.