Kevin Grubb - Substance Abuse Test

Substance Abuse Test

NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy allows NASCAR to administer drug tests virtually any time, anywhere, based only on "reasonable suspicion."

Grubb failed a substance abuse test in March 2004, and was inactive until June 2006 when he was reinstated by NASCAR. One of the conditions of his reinstatement was random, unannounced drug tests, a condition to which he agreed. He participated in five Busch events before being suspended indefinitely on September 11, 2006, when he refused to take a drug test following a second-lap crash at Richmond. Failure to take the test resulted in automatic suspension.

The next day, Grubb claimed that his failure to take the test was a result of confusion following a concussion suffered during the race, and offered to take a drug test at that time. He was cleared by the infield hospital following the crash, but was diagnosed with a concussion the next day at a local hospital. He claimed no memory of the refusal to submit to a drug test.

In a comparable situation, NASCAR driver Shane Hmiel was offered a chance at reinstatement after a second such infraction, under condition that he submit to medical and psychological reviews, and frequent drug testing before reinstatement. In February, 2007, Hmiel failed a drug test, and was banned for life.