(High Sierra Photo)

Kevin Grubb hasn’t been in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck since 1997, but his performance this past weekend at Kentucky Speedway doesn’t show that the time away was a setback. His return to the series produced a 21st place finish for the No. 15 Woodard Pools Chevrolet team of Billy Ballew Motorsports. Although the team’s finish wasn’t what they were hoping for, Grubb gives the team optimism as he ran in the top-15 a majority of the race.

Grubb made his return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, piloting the No. 15 Woodard Pools Chevrolet for team owner Billy Ballew. Originally scheduled to drive BBM’s second entry, an early-week change in the lineup moved Grubb to the No. 15. Grubb was positive heading to Kentucky, a track he had just raced on three weeks earlier in the NASCAR Busch Series. Grubb practiced in the top-10 and qualified 15th for the 150-lap event.

Grubb maintained position for the first 30 laps until the third caution waved and he brought the No.15 Woodard Pools Chevy to pit road. Grubb, currently in 12th place, came back out to restart in 26th position after several trucks elected not to pit. Grubb continuously picked up spots and by lap 45, the No. 15 was up to the 13th position. Another caution on lap 48 saw the No. 15 hit pit road for a brief moment, as Grubb exited first of the trucks that pitted.

By halfway, Grubb had gotten up to fifth place and everyone was starting to make green flag pit stops, due to the lengthy green-flag run. Grubb brought the No. 15 down pit road on lap 116 for four tires, gas and an air pressure adjustment. With 32 laps to go, Grubb was positioned in 24th place. Luck would not be on the side of the BBM team, as just five laps later, the caution came out and allowed those that had not pitted yet to get service. Grubb was caught a lap down to the leaders, although he was as fast as them. Coming to the white flag, Grubb was running in 18th place, the first truck one lap down, but got knocked out of the groove and lost three positions. Grubb finished in 21st place in his return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

“It was nice to return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series,” said Grubb. “It was exciting to see everyone in the garage again and be able to compete with guys like (Ron) Hornaday and (Todd) Bodine since it had been a long time. We were having difficulties with the front end, getting the No. 15 Woodard Pools Chevy to travel as I like. We were tight the whole time, but just loose in the corners because I was having to wheel it so hard. We got trapped on that caution and a couple more trucks needed to pit, but I know we could’ve easily had a top-10 finish had that not have happened. I had a great time racing and it was a lot of fun to work with Richie (Wauters, crew chief). I like all the adjustments he suggested and made. I’m looking forward to getting to Memphis and having another strong performance for Billy Ballew Motorsports.”