The names may be unknown to some, but they are ones to keep an eye on. Former ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Jennifer Jo Cobb has linked with Kentucky's Keith Coleman Racing for this weekend’s Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway as well as partnering together for the entire 2005 NASCAR Busch Series schedule, with Cobb aiming for Rookie-of-the-Year honors.

Despite limited experience in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, Cobb has shined. This season she competed in three events and exploded with three top-ten finishes. Ironically, driving for Kentucky's Keith Murt, Cobb mastered the tracks of Kansas Speedway (her hometown track), Nashville Superspeedway, and Chicagoland Speedway.

At Kansas, she remained focused, stay clean and finished ninth. Then came Nashville, a track she never had seen before. It didn’t stop her determination. After a solid qualifying run, she hustled all day to collect her career-best finish of seventh. In her final race of the 2004 season at Chicagoland, she did it again. At yet another facility she had no experience at, she overpowered the other veteran drivers and rookies to finish tenth.

Now, she’ll make the next step in her career, the NASCAR Busch Series.

In a second KCR (Keith Coleman Racing) entry, she will jump in the No. 50 Chevrolet Monte Carlo looking to become the third female this season to compete in the NASCAR Busch Series.

Kim Crosby, another ARCA RE/MAX Series sensation has competed in a limited schedule with WARE Racing and Ortec Racing. The other, Tina Gordon, pilots the No. 39 Yahoo! Ford Taurus for Jay Robinson Racing.

KCR is a new NASCAR Busch Series team joining the tour in the latter part of the 2004 season purchasing the remaining assets of Holigan Racing. Cobb will drive Holigan’s former car number No. 50 this weekend.

Aiding her this weekend in the sponsorship department will be Vassarette. Vassarette, a slick women's lingerie apparel firm is stepping up from their prior commitments and ready to soar into victory lane with Cobb and the Keith Coleman Racing team.

Vassarette debuted in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with driver Tina Gordon at ThorSport Racing in February at Daytona. Shortly after, ThorSport and Gordon parted ways. She rebounded in the NASCAR Busch Series a short time later to take the reins of the No. 39 Ford Taurus previously driven by Mark Green, who now drives for Keith Coleman Racing. Gordon sadly has struggled behind the wheel with Vassarette as an associate sponsor.

“Vassarette is no longer associated with Tina Gordon, or Jay Robinson Racing,” said Keith Coleman, owner of Keith Coleman Racing. “We are pleased that they have joined our stable and we are looking forward to a very productive relationship.”

With sponsorship now firm for this weekend’s season finale, Coleman turns to his rookie driver for the best. “I believe in Jennifer Cobb,” he said. “I have spent a lot of time reviewing drivers for this ride, and there’s no doubt she’s the right driver for the job. She’s outstanding, she’s focused. She also has a great ambition, and has a great passion for doing her best. I couldn’t be more proud to have her driving our Vassarette Chevrolet this weekend.”

For Cobb, a Kansas City, Kansas native, she’s ready. “This is what I have been waiting for my entire life,” she explained. “I am so grateful to Keith Coleman, his race team and our sponsor Vassarette for giving me this opportunity.” Cobb, who was an impressive late model driver continued, “I’m going to go out there, like I would do for any race. I know that the team is going to give me great equipment this weekend, we’re going to dial in our Chevrolet Monte Carlo and be in the field for Saturday. There’s really no extra pressure.”

Jennifer continues to boast about her new sponsor. “Being a female and having a female product step up their involvement in NASCAR really says something. I know that I am going to be a great spokesperson for their company and I look forward to taking them to victory lane very soon. It is a privilege and an honor to have them here at Keith Coleman Racing.”

Cobb will definitely have lots of support and guidance this weekend. Mark Green, Keith Coleman Racing's other driver will look to mentor her smoothly into the secondary series of NASCAR.

Green pilots the No. 26 Lovefifi.com Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Since debuting the team at Kansas Speedway in October, they have been able to qualify for each event they have attempted and the finishes have been promising. After qualifying a team best 13th at Memphis Motorsports Park, the team has collected a best finishing position of 24th at Lowes Motor Speedway.

Without any provisonals to fall back on the team has needed to gain entry through qualifying times, and they have. With a worst start of 26th, it has to give Cobb confidence going into the weekend knowing that she is going to have strong Wagner horsepower under her.

“Andy Bean, who works for Wagner engines is here at our shop full-time,” explained Coleman. “We have great success in qualifying, and he is putting a good motor under Jennifer's hood, so we are really looking forward to Homestead.”

Even though Homestead is a track where Cobb has no experience, it doesn’t seem to phase her. “I’ve been in this situation before, I’m going to remain focused and just go out there and do my job.”

Following Homestead, it will be a busy off-season for Keith Coleman Racing. Lovefifi.com will return as the primary sponsor of Green’s No. 26 in 2005, while Vassarette inks with Cobb in the No. 50 next season.

In addition to running two-full time NASCAR Busch Series teams with Green and Cobb in 2005, he is also going to launch a third full time NASCAR Busch Series operation with another female driver at the helm.

Coleman has sponsorship set for the team, and is currently reviewing possible female candidates for the position.

“I’m very excited about 2005,” added Coleman. “We are going to have three competitive NASCAR Busch Series programs next season. Mark and Jennifer are in place, their sponsors are in. We have the third operation almost complete; we are just searching around for a female driver who could put a third Keith Coleman Racing team up front.”

While Coleman couldn’t elaborate on a possible female driver, several names have crossed my mind.

Christi Passmore, the ARCA sensation. Kim Crosby, the combined NASCAR, and ARCA driver. Tammy Jo Kirk, a former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is a driver looking to return to racing. Sarah Fisher, the open-wheel driver, is looking to move her way into stock cars, and Michelle Theriault the USAR rookie all would be able to get the job done for the team.

That’s not all Keith Coleman Racing has planned. In addition to his impressive Busch operation, he will also unveil a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series team in 2005. The Keith Coleman Racing Cup entry will run a limited schedule with a driver to be announced at a later time. The experience the team receives in Cup will only aid them in their bid for a full-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Series program in 2006.

Female drivers deserve the opportunity to go out and race. I love the chance that Keith Coleman is giving Jennifer Jo Cobb and she is soon to be another female driver to become a superstar. Some may love seeing a NASCAR an all-male driver sport, but I say if a female can get the job done, suit up and race.

Keith Coleman Racing has a lot of great things going on. His drivers choices are exceptional, and we all look forwarding to seeing great things from his operation in the future. With Cobb and Vassarette now signed, he’s another step forward to inching his way into victory lane.

Thanks to Jared Nelson of The Times-Leader in Princeton, Kentucky who assisted Catchfence.com with the photo.

On The Web:

Keith Coleman Racing

Jennifer Jo Cobb

Vassarette

Mark Green

Lovefifi

You Can Reach Chris Knight at: CKnight@Catchfence.com

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