Thursday's News and Notes

Kevin Grubb-First of all I would like to send out my thoughts and prayers to the family of Kevin Grubb. It's a sad ending to a sad story.

From all indications Grubb died as a result of a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head. No drugs, drug paraphernalia, or signs of drug use were present in the Richmond area motel. It simply appears Kevin had come to the end of the road.

Grubb was a fast-rising and promising talent in the Nationwide series. A failed drug test in 2004, and a refusal to take another after an early wreck at Richmond on '06, resulted in NASCAR's stiffest penalty...A lifetime ban.

At the time of the second test Grubb told officials that he was suffering from a concussion and was not in the right state of mind to make rational decisions. Sadly the damage had already been done and NASCAR had no choice but to stand firm on its policies.

Mark Martin To Run Full-Time In 2010-Speculation became fact on Wednesday when Mark Martin confirmed that he will be back in the 5 car full-time next season.

The bad news for Brad Keselowski is that Martin's decision leaves him on the outside looking in.

The plan was for Martin to run full-time in '09 and then share the 5 car with Keselowski in 2010. Martin's announcement now shuffles Keselowski out of the 5 car and into a potential free agent role. This makes things very interesting for Rick Hendrick and company because after this year an owner can run no more than 4 teams. With the 24, 48, 5 and 88 locked up that leaves Keselowski without a ride.

One theory has Keselowski going over to a third, newly formed, Stewart-Haas owned team. With Hendrick already providing engines and chassis to SHR, it would keep Brad in the HMS family so to speak.

Perhaps the strongest rumor has JR Motorsports making the jump to Sprint Cup with Keselowski as the driver. Dale, Jr has stated in the past that the idea of moving up to the Sprint Cup Series seems logical and smart financially. With the Nationwide series going to Pony Cars in 2011, Junior said it would cost just as much to convert his inventory over to Cup cars as it would to convert to the new Nationwide Pony Cars.

One thing is for certain, no matter how this unfolds Brad Keselowski will be a hot commodity come the middle part of this year when the silly season starts.


Gordon can make history at Darlington-If the 24 bunch can win Saturday night at the Southern 500 in Darlington it would be a historic night for the 4-time Champ. The win would be Gordon's 83rd career win and would tie him for 5th all time on the list with South Carolina native Cale Yarborough.

If Gordon makes it to victory lane it would put him 2 wins away from surpassing Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip for 3rd All-Time in wins. Many in the racing circles believe that if Gordon can get hot he can work his way all the way up to 2nd on the all-time win list behind Richard Petty.