The Popular TV Host and Racer Killed While Attempting To Set Land-Speed Record

In the automotive and moto worlds, Jessi Combs was a true renaissance woman. She raced, she rode, she built, and she inspired.

On Tuesday August 27, 2019, Jessi died tragically while attempting to break her own land-speed record on the Alvord Desert dry lakebed in Oregon. She held the title of Fastest Woman on Four Wheels when she set a 398-MPH record in 2013 piloting the North American Eagle Supersonic Speed Challenger. In October of 2018, Jessi hit 428 MPH in that car during a shakedown run but was unable to make the required back-to-back runs to set a record due to mechanical troubles. Jessi returned with the same car this past week to try to set the record. Her ultimate goal was to pilot the car past 512 MPH (the record set by Kitty O’Neil in 1976) which would have made her the Fastest Woman on Earth.

Jessi acquired her fabrication and building skills back in 2004 when she graduated from Wyotech’s collision and refinishing program. She was perhaps best known for her many appearances hosting and fabricating on TV shows such as Overhaulin’, All Girls Garage, Xtreme 4×4 and Mythbusters.

Jessi was also into the two-wheeled scene, often testing and riding motorcycles and inspiring women to get out there and ride. Her loss will be felt by many. Her death was confirmed this morning by Terry Madden, a member of Jessi’s racing team who was on the scene when the crash occurred.

“Unfortunately, we lost her yesterday in a horrific accident, I was the first one there and trust me we did everything humanly possible to save her!! I’m not ok, but she is right here keeping me going. I made her a promise that if this didn’t go well that I would make sure and do good with it…”

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So I don’t know how to say any of this but it all needs said. I have never loved or been loved by anyone as much as this amazing woman @thejessicombs she was truly my unicorn and I enjoyed every single minute that I had with her. She was the most amazing spirit that I have ever or will ever know. Unfortunately we lost her yesterday in a horrific accident, I was the first one there and trust me we did everything humanly possible to save her!! I’m not ok, but she is right here keeping my going-I made her a promise that if this didn’t go well that I would make sure and do good with it, please help me with that, you are all going to see things on news please believe non of them.. we the family have drafted a release and it will come out today with more proper info, but I was just woke up by the media tracking me down and I need everyone of her true friends to do what she would want “take a deep breath, relax” and do good things with this. Please donate to nothing, I know there will be people try, we are finishing the documentary as she wished and the world will know the truth and her foundation will use those funds to do amazing things in this world and make her legacy live on properly. In the coming days her family and I will get the proper channels put together that you can then donate to that foundation but until you hear it from me wait please-I don’t want some asshole profiting off this (all ready had one try to sell us a video)… . . Love you all and thank you all for being such amazing friends to her, she dedicated her life to helping support others dreams and I promise I will continue that.

A post shared by Terry L. Madden (@terry_madden) on Aug 28, 2019 at 5:51am PDT

Jessi was a good friend to all of us here at Edelbrock and we send our sincere condolences to her family, friends and fans.