NASCAR: U.S. Marine To Make NASCAR History At Martinsville Speedway

If the 2016 NASCAR season had to be labeled with a theme, it would no doubt be the year history was made. Not only was this the year that someone other than Jeff Gordon was piloting the legendary #24 car, it was also the year of first-time winners and so much more! With that being said, U.S. Marine Josh White hopes to add to that theme with a little history making of his own.

In fact, if Josh White, who is currently in the IRR, succeeds in qualifying for the October 24th truck race at Martinsville Speedway, he will become the first Marine in history to do so! Helping him with this noble quest is Jennifer Joe Cobb Racing, who is lending White her teams truck to qualify and hopefully make his fellow servicemen proud!

Beyond The Flag caught up with Josh Recently to discuss how he feels about the potential to make history at Martinsville, what it means for Jennifer Joe Cobb Racing as an organization  and his thoughts on the current string of National Anthem protests in main stream sports. Strap in! It’s going to be an emotional and wild ride!

Brian Thornsburg. You’re the first marine to become NASCAR national touring series driver. How does that feel?

Josh White: It makes me feel awesome! I am amazed by the support that I have had from my #10 team, my primary sponsor, and my family! I am honored to represent the U.S. Marine Corps, my sponsors, and Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing in this historic event!

BT: Anything is possible at a track like Martinsville, but what is your ultimate goal in the first Camping World Truck Series race of your career?

JW: My goal at Martinsville is to finish, I’m in this for the experience! I would like to secure sponsors for 2017 and go for some wins, rookie of the year and hopefully fan favorite! I am looking for sponsors for 2017 to do that so right now 2017 is up in the air. Martinsville is all about accomplishing my dreams, getting some experience and having fun!

BT: What are your plans moving forward? Any chance NASCAR fans get to see you again sometime soon?

JW: My future plans? They are all up in the air. We are looking for sponsors for future races this year and 2017.

BT: Is there any intimidation going up against some of the best drivers that NASCAR has to offer? How has your time in the marines prepared you for this?

JW: I’m not really intimidated, I’m more intimidated by the long entry list Martinsville is sure to have and us going out there to put down our best effort. How has the Marines prepared me for this? My answer is mindset, discipline, and patience.

BT: You teamed up with Jennifer Jo Cobb racing who have always been proud supporters of the military in the past, any chance this leads to more starts with them if it goes well?

JW:I have a lot of faith in what I can do with Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing and the #10 team. I am extremely honored and excited to have this opportunity for them and they are excited to have me so we will be working as a team to go forward but first and foremost we need sponsors. It’s going to be tough but I’m used to that. I feel we can do this!

BT: When did you get the news and what was the conversation like when you were told that you would actually get a chance to start your first NASCAR race? What were you feeling when you got the news.

JW: Well I can’t really describe the feeling other than disbelief. I thought it was going to be another high hope to a dead end because of my past in this industry. I was wrong and it still hasn’t sunk in yet, none the less I was very hopeful and I’ve been extremely excited throughout this adventure! The conversation was interesting to say the least, I was talking to a veteran that deployed and was employed by Jennifer Jo Cobb, it all started by a Facebook post.

BT: Feel free to ignore this one if you want, but what are your feelings towards the recent string of national anthem protests in professional sports and do you think we would ever see something like that in NASCAR?

JW: I think the recent protests in professional sports is downright disgusting. I can’t say it’s non American because they have the right to do it, however I feel that they could have done it differently and not with the national Anthem. I did not deploy when I served (I wish I would have), but there are a lot of service members that has died or got injured for their country. So when somebody disrespects the flag, or the national Anthem, they are disrespecting our country! It makes me very angry, if anyone ever done that in front of me I would absolutely just loose it. I think all this is just to get attention honestly and I wish they would choose something different to protest. They need to go and visit some veterans to learn what they are disrespecting, I think that problem would be fixed real quick!!! I don’t think it would ever happen in NASCAR, NASCAR loves America and they would never do anything to disrespect or discredit this wonderful nation.

BT: This start at Martinsville allows you to make history as the first marine to start a NASCAR race, but what do you think this start means for Jennifer Joe Cobb and her organization?

JW: I think it means a lot to the Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing organization and I know that Jennifer Jo herself is extremely excited! She says she’s honored and I think there’s a lot to come for me, and Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing. I don’t feel that it will stop at Martinsville, and I think and hope that I will be an asset to Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing to move forward.

BT: What would a win or a top-ten finish at Martinsville mean to you?

JW: What would a win mean to me? You would see a Marine cry on television I’ll tell you that. It would absolutely be a highlight of my racing career and a huge dream of mine accomplished. Words couldn’t even begin to describe that. If I got a top 10 it sure would be awesome and a really nice stat to put on my resume. It would be awesome!