On Saturday morning you could see the intensity in Jennifer Jo Cobb’s eyes. Not only is she a rookie in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, but she is busting her tail to make a statement in NASCAR. The intensity builds on what she has called a less than stellar season. Still, Cobb the fighter that she is, came to Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway this weekend vowing to prove that she could get the job done.
Cobb started the season driving the No. 79 Ford Mustang for 2nd Chance Motorsports owned by Mooresville, North Carolina’s Rick Russell. After missing the first season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, the team regrouped and made the show at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway and Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway. Her next target, the intimidating .533 mile Bristol Motor Speedway.
After showing some speed in practice, Cobb out qualified two machines on Saturday morning, enough to make her NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at BMS. Just 10 minutes before the start of the Scotts EZ Seed 300, Cobb was informed by her car owner that she was to start and park her machine.
Cobb detailed in a media gathering during the Scotts EZ Seed 300 that her company, Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing (JJCR), had purchased tires for today’s event. Despite that fact and an agreement between Cobb, Russell and 2nd Chance Motorsports, Cobb was not only asked to park her machine after a couple laps, but that she would not be driving the car in the next NASCAR Nationwide Series event (Royal Purple 300) at Auto Club Speedway next weekend.
Obviously shocked by what had transpired, Cobb tried to compose herself, but quickly made a statement based on her personal beliefs and promises that she would not start and park. Cobb, who finished sixth in the season-opening NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, walked away.
“It feels like such a ‘Jerry Maguire’ moment; there were rumblings all week about our team starting and parking and I had made a commitment to my sponsor, my fans, NASCAR that I am not a start and park driver. I am really serious about this and I have to really work hard to prove to people that I am serious about this. The conversation was never had with me until 10 minutes before the race started that I was to start and park,” stated a disgruntled Cobb. “You can imagine that it was a blow to my principles and my finances to hear this. As the owner of this team he has the right to ask NASCAR to black flag me and said that he would do so. So after thinking about it for several minutes because I didn’t have many, I tried to come up with a solution for him and there was also rumblings around town that he was going to surprise me and take me out of the car in California.”
Cobb, who also has dabbled in the ARCA Racing Series said, “we have a five race agreement that says I am racing for him and that’s why I took the Nationwide points versus the truck points, everyone sees how that turned out for me. And so, because of the promises that he’s made, I made decisions about my career.”
As far as justifying her decision to walk away Cobb explained, “just felt like I owed it to my fans and my sponsors that I’m seeking and to NASCAR that if I say, ‘I’m here to race,’ that I go out and race.”
Jennifer Jo as she’s known in the garage also made it clear that she didn’t do what she did to start any drama but to prove and stands for what she believes.
Not only did Jennifer Jo Cobb walk away, but three of her crew from Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing (including her crew chief and tire specialist) and a crew member from 2nd Chance Motorsports, washed their hands of 2nd Chance Motorsports and walked away with Cobb prior to the green flag.
Immediately, she has been receiving encouraging support from everyone including others in the NASCAR community. “I’ve already been told by another team owner that he has my back and he will help me.”
With the rush that Cobb has feeling she was reserved when asking how to pick up from this mess and continue her presence in NASCAR. “You pick up the pieces.”
Despite the disagreement with Russell, Cobb wished her former owner well in his future endeavors. “There’s no problem; no issues in terms of like from here forward; there’s only things to overcome which is just wish him well. You stay away from me and I’ll stay away from you. You do your thing and I’ll do mine.”
Rick Russell offered his side of the story when asked about what happened.
“Five minutes before the race, she took her crew and left. We had a crew meeting here on Friday morning and I explained to everyone what our purpose was here this weekend. In Vegas we destroyed a car through Kyle Busch’s accident. We only had one car, so we had to have the body completely replaced on the car except for the roof, deck lid and rear bumper, so without a sponsor the total of about $16,000 about broke me to get this car together,” replied Russell. “We already had our entry in for here and California, so rather than try to roll this and lose this, we decided we’d come up here and I let everybody know we were here in a conservative mode. We would practice smart. We would qualify and we would make a few laps, and then we would park the car and save it for California.”
Other comments from Russell play the “he said, she said” game which can be expected in any coral. Believe what you want, but here are some of my own personal thoughts. I know Jennifer Jo Cobb. I know she is not a believer in the start and park campaigns. If she was told she was going to race, that’s what she planned to do. I know that she did receive some help from an outside source on a motor at Las Vegas despite what anyone says. The “he said, she said” game will continue but I personally stand behind Cobb. When it comes down to her personal beliefs, feelings and integrity, she did what was right for Jennifer Jo Cobb. I commend her for that.
Jennifer Jo Cobb owns a car and motor, and her JJCR team will attempt Texas Motor Speedway on her own. I expect her to receive some additional support from the racing community as the series steps forward.
Russell did state that Tim Andrews (who is a talented driver too) would be at the helm of the No. 79 machine at Auto Club Speedway next weekend.
In closing, Bristol Motor Speedway always provides some type of drama. Today, it started before the drop of the green flag. If Jennifer Jo Cobb wanted to start this race today, she could of. Russell’s comments are appropriate but I use the philosophy, if something doesn’t make sense, it’s usually not true. You be the final judge.
