Former driver Grubb found dead in Virginia hotel room

RICHMOND, Va. -- Henrico County police are investigating the death of former driver Kevin Grubb, who was found dead in an area motel room.

Grubb

Authorities said personnel at the Alpine Motel discovered the Mechanicsville, Va., native in his room at about 11 a.m. Wednesday.

According to the police report, the autopsy revealed that Grubb died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. There were no indications of drug use inside the room. Results of a toxicology test are expected in about six weeks.

Grubb, 31, was suspended from NASCAR indefinitely on Sept. 11, 2006, because he refused to submit to a random drug test following the Nationwide Series race at Richmond.

Grubb was previously suspended in March 2004 for failing a drug test. But he agreed to random testing as part of his reinstatement.

He made his national touring series debut on Sept. 5, 1996, in the Truck Series race at Richmond. His first Nationwide Series start was May 10, 1997, at Loudon. He finished with 10 top-five finishes and 32 top-10s in 174 Nationwide Series races and also made eight starts in the Truck Series.