Jessi Combs was a true trailblazer, paving the way for women in the racing industry and beyond. Achieving the highly coveted title of “The Fastest Woman on Earth”, Jessi was a talented race driver, skilled metal fabricator and an enthusiastic science communicator.
EARLY YEARS
Born in Rapid City, North Dakota, Jessi was drawn to excitement and speed at a young age. She always wanted to become a race car driver, and had a passion for cars and the automotive industry since she was very little. As a child, she was fearless and brave - always on the lookout for the next adventure.
Alongside her interest in driving, Jessi was an artistic person who loved creating, and she tried her hand at anything from metal working, photography and leather craft.
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Jessi was an independent woman with an adventurous spirit. She never sat still for long, so it comes as no surprise that this trailblazer kept busy with plenty of projects on the go at once.
Alongside her work as a professional racing driver, Jessi also worked as a TV presenter, She had the skills and personality required to be cast in severals shows, and appeared on Overhaulin’, co-hosted Xtreme 4x4 and received great acclaim as a regular on the seventh season of the popular show Mythbusters.
Having graduated from WyoTech with a degree in Custom Automotive Fabrication, she also set up her own metal fabrication shop in which she built hot rods, custom trucks, motorcycles, race vehicles among other things. Jessi also developed a line of welding gear specifically aimed at women after realising there was a gap in the market - within certain male-dominated fields, basic and necessary equipment is still designed for men and not tailored for women.
RACING CAREER
A true legend in the automotive industry, Jessi accumulated a number of firsts - she was the first female to place at an Ultra4 event and the first woman to compete in the hugely popular The Race of Gentlemen. She was also named the “Fastest Woman on Four Wheels” when she set a race record of 398 mph in 2013 at the North American Eagle Supersonic Speed Challenger. She then went on to break her own record when she competed again in 2016.
Jessi’s long-time goal and greatest feat was achieved when she was posthumously awarded the title “Fastest Woman on Earth” by the Guinness World Records after her attempt to break the record in August 2019. She had reached the fastest land speed ever by a female when she drove a jet-powered car in the Alvord Desert, Oregon. Jessi’s speed clocked in at 522.783 mph, and she was the first person to break the record in over 40 years. The woman who held the previous record was the stunt driver Kitty O’Neil, who reached a speed of 510.710 back in 1976 in the very same desert.
UNTIMELY DEATH
Tragically, Jessi passed away on the day of the world record attempt, as her car crashed at the site. Her tragic and untimely death came as the front wheel assembly of her car failed as Jessi decelerated at the end of the run. At that point, the car was moving at a speed close to 550 mph, and though Jessi had done everything right, a crash ensued. Jessi was 39, and left behind a loving family, devoted partner, and a legion of fans and supporters.
In a post on Instagram, shared just days before her death, Jessi seemed determined and excited to break the land-speed record set by Kitty O’Neil over 40 years before.
It may seem a little crazy to walk directly into the line of fire… those who are willing, are those who achieve great things. People say I’m crazy. I say thank you
— Jessi Combs
A TRUE INSPIRATION
Jessi’s spirit and legacy certainly lives on and she will continue to inspire and empower the next generation of women and girls. She was a true legend in the welding and automotive industry, and throughout her career as a racing driver, Jessi passionately advocated for increasing female representation in skilled trades and racing. One of many ways includes a nonprofit she co-founded, The Real Deal Revolution. Created in 2015, it empowers women to break stereotypes, shatter expectations and believe that anything is possible. Her co-founder, Theresa Contreras, keeps their goals alive through hands on classes for women in skilled trades.
Jessi has left behind a huge legacy, and was also a true inspiration to young girls interested in science from her time on the hit T.V. Show, Mythbusters. Adam Savage, who hosts the show and was a friend of Jessi’s, shared his thoughts about her impact after her death. "The Jessi that I knew wanted to inspire young people like her to try things that they were maybe afraid to try and didn't think was possible," he said. “Jessi is someone who took care of obstacles in front of her and left a trail of enthusiasm behind her, and I think that is an excellent legacy to leave.”
To honor Jessi’s memory and legacy, her family created a foundation designed to further her long-standing efforts to empower women and young girls to follow their dreams and achieve their goals. The Jessi Combs Foundation strives to educate, inspire and empower the next generation of strong, brave women and girls - ready to break stereotypes and be trailblazers just like Jessi.
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