With all the young talent coming into NASCAR these days, it is extremely hard to be a breakout star. Couple that fact by being a female driver, and it becomes one of the hardest tasks in the sport.
Everyone needs to do something to get their name out there, no matter what or how it may be. At Bristol, it wasn't just Kyle Busch getting all the attention by the media. In fact, his win wasn't the big talk of the weekend.
Instead, it was Jennifer Jo Cobb walking away from her car, and the race.
Even with a limited budget on her own race team, and the fact that she's jumping from ride to ride, Cobb has made a commitment to herself, to her livelihood, potential sponsors, to fans, and NASCAR to not do something that has become part of the sport.
Cobb does not want to be a "start and park" driver, by her own admission.
She knew heading into Bristol something wasn't right when she was first found out she wasn't racing in California with 2nd Chance Motorsports. She was confused because her contract was for the first five races. Then, she found out just before the race, 10 minutes no less, that she was going to be a start and park driver.
Not to mention, owner Rick Russell said he had the authority to make her do it via asking for a black flag.
This after spending money on tires, and discussing with the team to race "conservatively" because the same car was going to California. Cobb admitted that buying tires using funds from her own race team was expensive because of the situation teams had in Bristol.
She was willing to start and park, but only if she knew she was racing in California. When Russell said she wasn't racing at California, the dominoes began falling and Cobb packed up, leaving the team.
Cobb did something that has not been seen in NASCAR. In essence, she boycotted the race, which hasn't been seen since the boycotting of the first race at Talladega.
When she did that, she showed a real racing mentality by not racing. She was told to only race conservatively, not to just run a few laps then quit. There's no question that Cobb is trying everything to get a strong ride in NASCAR.
In doing what she felt was best for her career, it may open the door for other teams to consider her as a driver.
No driver wants to be a "start and park" driver; it's humiliating. Bobby Labonte for a few races in the last couple years in the No. 71 car had to start and park. He's a former champion, so the idea of seeing someone with those credentials forced to do that has to be a career low.
Cobb didn't want to be that kind of driver. She didn't want to race a few laps and pull into the garage. Cobb wanted to run smart, save the equipment, and race to the best of her, and the car's, ability.
The communication between a crew chief and driver is important, but in this instance it was communication between the driver and owner that broke down. Cobb said she would race smart and conservative, but the owner told her she was starting and parking.
It was something that Cobb never was told to do until 10 minutes before climbing in the car. A lack of communication is what drove Cobb away from the team.
She has landed a ride with Rick Ware Racing for California, but Russell has not returned some equipment for Cobb. Specifically, her racing seat. Cobb is being fitted in Carl Long's seat, which is sad because that makes a major safety issue in her eyes.
The bottom line Cobb will be racing at California because she not only stood up for her ideals, but someone gave her an opportunity to do so.
Cobb made a statement that she wants to race. How did she did it...by not racing.
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