In a male-dominated sport, Jennifer Jo Cobb, a driver with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, is doing something to show that women are just as capable as men. She is the creator of the promotional campaign “Driven2Honor,” which brings recognition to female U.S. military servicemembers.
The Driven2Honor program, which Cobb created in 2011, has three goals: to honor women in the military; to inspire young women that the military is a viable option for their future; and to empower female veterans post-duty.
Amid other nominees, Cobb chose Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty Officer Rebecca Polzin to accompany her during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at the Michigan International Speedway, in Brooklyn, Mich., Aug. 18, 2012.
Cobb decided to use her racing platform to bring attention to military-related causes concerning female soldiers and reward soldiers for their service by hosting them as guests at the track each week she competes in a NASCAR event.
Polzin, officer-in-charge of Coast Guard Station Michigan City, Ind., was nominated for the event by Petty Officer 2nd Class Charlene Sander, a crewmember of the station.
“I nominated Senior Chief Polzin because I feel that she is a great role model for women to look up to,” said Sander. “She inspires others to become great leaders and empowers them through various organizational initiatives.”
“I did not know I was nominated until I received an email about two weeks prior to the race that I had been selected,” said Polzin.
During the Driven2Honor, Polzin met Cobb, had lunch with her and her crew, attended the driver’s meeting and opening ceremony at the winner’s circle and watched the race from Cobb’s pit box with her crew chief.
“It was an incredible experience, and it is great what she is doing for military women,” said Polzin.
