Grant Enfinger started the first multi-truck wreck in Friday’s (Feb. 16) NextEra Energy Resources 250. But it was Jennifer Jo Cobb who got the worst of it, ending her night in the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series opener.
Enfinger simply lost it entering Turn 3, a wreck involving five trucks. The driver claimed something broke over the radio although the team quickly assured him that wasn’t the case.
“Something just let go in that right rear and we just spun out in front of the field,” he said later. “Luckily, we only got hit once but it did do a pretty significant amount of damage to the right rear.”
But while the No. 98 missed the wall, avoiding major damage, Cobb quickly turned left to avoid it.
What followed was the No. 10 losing control and hitting the inside wall hard off Turn 4. The truck quickly caught fire, showering sparks as it headed to the tri-oval grass.
Heavy impact for @JenJoCobb; thankful to see her walk away under her own power. #NextEra250 pic.twitter.com/titDyGdUif
— NASCAR Camping World Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) February 17, 2018
All other trucks involved, including Enfinger and Dalton Sargeant, continued on without incident. But Cobb’s truck was destroyed, a tough early season hit, although the driver wound up OK.
“NASCAR does an awesome job making us safe, it doesn’t even shake me,” she said. “It was a heck of a hard hit, but NASCAR has done so much to advance the safety that I feel completely confident getting back in our ThinkReality Chevrolet for Atlanta [Motor Speedway] next week.”
Cobb spent nearly 90 minutes in the care center after her arm hit something during the impact. Thankfully, x-rays came back negative.
“Just sore,” she explained, showing her injured right arm. “I just had a pretty good bruise and a little swelling on my arm. As you can imagine, they just want to be overly cautious to make sure everything is OK, especially with us going to Atlanta next week.”
Cobb’s only career top 10 in the Truck Series was a sixth in this race back in 2011. Tonight was her 151st start in the series. After Sunday, once Danica Patrick retires from NASCAR, she’ll be the only remaining full-time woman driving in NASCAR’s top three divisions.
Christian Koelle contributed to this story.
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