Page 9 - Jan 2019 IWMA Nation News interactive magazine

to race there. She raced just once or twice a year for 9 years before being able to race full-time in 2010, and has raced full time in either the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series or the XFINITY Series since.
Jennifer’s marketing partners include: Think Realty, Osage Construc- tion LLC, Pit Stops for Hope, Support Military, Driven2Honor, Waldo’s Paint- ing and many local sponsors for each market in which she races.
Jennifer has a team of 6 full- time members that help her with her car.
Jennifer has had many first placefinishes,atthelocallevel.Her most memorable moment in racing was finishing 6th place at Daytona in 2011.
Jennifers races all 23 races in the NCWTS, 2-3 NXS races per year and the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.
She has a variety of vehicles that she races, but most of them are Chevrolet.
Jennifer has raced over 200 mph (at Talladega) and she has hit walls at well over 160mph but the only racing accident where she was injured more thanabruisewasinherfirsttwomonths of racing when she was in a 4-cylinder Pony Stock on a low-banked half mile track.
“I cracked a vertebrae in my neck and it healed well but I started col- lege in a neck brace. Our safety equip- ment is cumbersome, uncomfortable and expensive but it is definitely worth it.” she shared.
“I was once racing at the local level and I was going to fin- ish second. On the final lap com- ing out of the fi- nal turn I decided I would go for the win - I pulled out from behind the first place guy and went high where
nobody usually drove. I pulled off the pass and won. The guy that finished second went on to become a radio personality for a big racing show in Kansas City. He told that story many times over the years and said I had earned his respect. It was a chance that obviously paid off but imagine had it not worked out and I would have wrecked us both!”
Jennifer is the only woman full-time in NASCAR’s big leagues. She tries to meet any women that come into the series and welcome them.
“I do not think women support other women enough in racing and it is important because we are all facing a lot of the same issues and could be a great sisterhood.” she explained.
Her racing career goal is to become a winning team by gaining the appro- priate sponsorship to be able to do so.
Her favorite part of being a race car driver is living the life she always dreamt she would live racing full-time and traveling.
“To get behind the wheel and diagnose the car/truck and to gain speed is so rewarding. We are millions of dollars short of being able to race and win but I stillloveclimbingintothecar/truckandgettingontrack.Beingasuccessfulrace team owner and driver is racing, improving and being happy doing it. Winning is important but when you race at my level very few people win so it is important to align your goals accordingly. Happiness and helping others is a great barometer for success.” she said.
Her car number was #0 at the local level because of her Dad but her full- time NASCAR # is 10. That is a number she always liked but she inherited the number after buying the 2009 #10 truck team and she has had it ever since 2010.
We asked Jennifer if she had any kind of race day routine, like something she does or wears...
“Oh gosh... animal print underwear... but before going on track any time I pray “The Lord’s Prayer” that start’s “Our Father Who art in Heaven...”
When she began racing full-time she was overwhelmed with gratitude and shewantedtodosomethingforothers. Shecreatedanotforprofitorganization called Driven2Honor where they honor female military members at each of her races.
“We hope to encourage and empower both these military women and young girls who may be able to serve our country and find a viable path for edu- cation where they perhaps once did not see a way because of finances or family circumstances.” What a wonderful thing for her team to do!
You can follow Jennifer on social media at:
Facebook: /JJCRacing and on Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram: jenjocobb
Daytona is the first weekend of racing for Jennifer. We wish her well!
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