Overview

Jessi Combs (July 27, 1980 – August 27, 2019) was an American professional racer, metal fabricator and television presenter. She built a public reputation for high-performance driving, hands‑on fabrication skills, and on-screen roles that brought automotive craft and motorsport to a wider audience. Combs was often referred to in media as "the fastest woman on four wheels," a description linked to her pursuit of land speed achievements.

Career and skills

Trained as a metal fabricator and welder, Combs combined shop skills with motorsport ambitions. Her practical expertise included vehicle modification, custom fabrication and performance tuning. Combs worked as a mechanic and fabricator for custom shops and television productions, and she regularly demonstrated technical procedures and build techniques on camera.

Television and public work

Combs became widely known through television work that mixed instruction, competition and personality. She co‑hosted the off‑road program Xtreme 4x4 on Spike TV for multiple seasons and appeared on several automotive and science series. Her notable credits included:

  • Xtreme 4x4 (co‑host)
  • Overhaulin'
  • MythBusters (guest)
  • All Girls Garage
  • Science Channel and other specials about vehicle building and engineering

Through these roles she helped highlight both the technical side of vehicle work and the participation of women in automotive trades and motorsport.

Land speed efforts and death

Later in her career Combs pursued high‑speed records on land. In August 2019 she was participating in a land speed record attempt as part of the North American Eagle Project on the Alvord Desert in southeastern Oregon. During that attempt she suffered a fatal crash and died on August 27, 2019. The event drew attention to the risks of land speed racing and sparked discussions about safety, record verification, and the engineering challenges of extremely high speed runs. The location of the attempt is commonly cited as the Alvord Desert.

Legacy and distinctions

Combs is remembered for bridging hands‑on fabrication with mainstream media and for advocating practical skills and motorsport for a wide audience. Colleagues and fans cite her enthusiasm for teaching, willingness to tackle difficult builds, and visibility as a woman in technical and racing communities. Her on‑screen presence and competitive pursuits helped inspire interest in automotive trades and engineering among new audiences.

Notable facts

  • She earned recognition as a television host as well as a professional driver and fabricator.
  • Combs' work spanned instructional builds, competitive driving and promotional appearances.
  • Her death occurred during an attempt to achieve or challenge a land speed mark, an event that received global media coverage.

Jessi Combs' career combined practical workshop expertise with media visibility, leaving a lasting impression on automotive television and the motorsport community.