NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Jennifer Jo Cobb won’t appeal a $5,000 penalty and probation for the remainder of the season after walking onto a hot track in last Friday’s Lucas Oil 200 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
Cobb confronted eventual race winner Tyler Reddick after she felt the Brad Keselowski Racing driver punted her into the frontstretch wall just 13 laps into last week’s race. Cobb exited her vehicle unattended, walked 12 steps and raised her hands at Reddick as he passed by. She attempted to walk up the track a second time and gesture at Reddick again but was restrained by a NASCAR official.
The Kansas City, Kansas driver was then summoned to the NASCAR hauler following the race to discuss her actions. On Wednesday, Cobb was notified of her consequences.
“I believe NASCAR has acted in a fair and necessary manner,” Cobb told CATCHFENCE.com. “The irony is that there are no consequences to turning someone head first into a wall. NASCAR is diligent about our safety and that is something I have always appreciated. I hope we can continue to see improvements in rules and policies that best benefit the entire NASCAR community.
“We will not appeal and now can fully shift our focus on Friday night’s race at Texas.”
At the time, the truck series’ lone full-time female driver said she was “mad as hell” and forgot a NASCAR rule that forbids drivers from walking on the track. Cobb estimated that it would cost between $6,000 and $7,000 to fix her No. 10 truck from last weekend’s crash.
NASCAR initiated the rule last August after Cup driver Tony Stewart struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. in a sprint car race in New York. Ward, after colliding with Stewart, walked down the track towards Stewart’s car where he was struck and killed.
During Sunday’s FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks, Trevor Bayne walked across a hot track after being involved in a crash with Michael Annett and Justin Allgaier. While Bayne, visibly frustrated, was attempting to leave the scene of the incident on foot, he too was in violation of the rule.
Furthermore, NASCAR fined Bayne $20,000 for his actions and placed the Roush Fenway Racing driver on probation for the remainder of the Sprint Cup Series season.
Bayne was testing an ARCA Racing Series car Wednesday at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in preparation for Saturday’s Pocono ARCA 200 at the 2.5-mile triangle, but declined to comment on the situation, citing he’s moved on and is “focused on what’s ahead.”
Cobb will make her 100th career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start Friday night at Texas Motor Speedway.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
