Catchfence

“Becomes first female to claim top 10 in truck series competition at Daytona”

Daytona Beach, Fla. (February 18, 2011) – Jennifer Jo Cobb wrote another page in the NASCAR record book with her performance in tonight’s NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (DIS). Cobb drove to a sixth place finish, making her the highest-finishing female in a NASCAR national touring Series event, which includes the Truck, Nationwide and Cup Series, at the historic, high-banked speedway. The feat also marked Cobb’s career-best finish.

“I’m so excited with what we accomplished tonight,” Cobb said. “This finish is a testament to my team’s hard work and dedication. We don’t have near the budget that some of the other teams operate with, but we never give up. It’s like Walt Disney said, ‘It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.’

“When you think about drivers like Janet Guthrie and Erin Croker who have accomplished so much in their careers, to think that I was able to achieve something that they didn’t at Daytona is really special.”

Cobb started the race from 31st place. She powered her Lilly’s Cosmetics F-150 to a lap of 52.233 seconds on her qualifying run. Using the same truck that she drove at Talladega Superspeedway last season, Cobb was confident that her Ford would carry her to the front of the pack.

When the race got underway, Cobb executed a textbook restrictor plate strategy. She stayed in the back of the pack and waited patiently for the action to unfold. Without trying to advance her position in the early stages of the event, Cobb remained around the 30th position in an effort to stay out of trouble.

Cobb’s game plan proved to be a winning move. Three multicar accidents occurred in the second half of the race. Each time, Cobb narrowly avoided the mêlée and kept her Ford from getting wrapped up in the incidents. She steadily moved up the leader board as attrition took its toll on the field. Cobb climbed into the top five after the final accident, Lap 97.

The wreck on Lap 97 set the stage for a green-white-checkered finish. Cobb hung strong in the top-five, but was passed by one car coming off the final turn. She finished the day in sixth place.

“There were so many close calls tonight,” Cobb said after the event. “My crew chief, Steve Kuykendall, told me to be patient tonight. It paid off. We were around when it mattered most.

“My grandpa and my hauler driver from last season passed away recently. I was driving for them tonight. It means so much to get a good finish for them. I know they were watching from above and I’m glad I gave them a good ride tonight.”

- Breaking Limits Press Release