was born in the Black Hills of Rapid City, South Dakota. With a lifelong desire to become a race car driver, she found a love for speed and its machines at a very young age. In addition to her passion for automotive, Jessi was an artist who spent much of her time creating with her own hands. She loved metal working, leather craft and photography, and would create anything she could dream up.
She was an independent and adventurous spirit, boasting the skills and the personality to host and star in shows such as “Overhaulin’,” “Xtreme 4×4” and “Mythbusters.” Not known for sitting still, Jessi began her own metal fab shop building hot rods, motorcycles, custom trucks, race vehicles and more. After realizing a need in the industry, she developed a line of welding gear for ladies. Her ability to create opportunities for women and achieve her goals, all while maintaining her fast-paced and hands-on way of living will forever define Jessi in the hearts of people around the world.
Graduates from WyoTech with a degree in Custom Automotive Fabrication and is hired to build a 1964 Mercury Cyclone from the ground up to showcase at SEMA in Las Vegas.
Guest fabricator appearances on Overhaulin’
kickstarted Jessi’s TV career.
Co-hosted Xtreme 4x4 on Spike TV for 90+ episodes.
Developed a line of women’s protective welding gear as spokesperson for Lincoln Electric.
Spokesperson for the American Welding Society.
Filled in as host and builder during season 7 of Mythbusters.
2nd-place class 10 finish in the Baja 1000, considered the toughest race of its kind.
Co-host and builder on Velocity Channel’s All Girls Garage
Hosted and built for Overhaulin’s return to TV.
Drove the North American Eagle at record 398 mph with top speed of 440 mph. Becomes The Fastest Woman on 4 Wheels.
Spec class win in the King of the Hammers made her the first woman to ever place at Ultra4event. KOH is the most brutal one-day desert race in the world with only a 20% finishing rate. She proceeded to podium to finish the entire season & win the national championship [spec class].
1st-place finish in the First Participation category (10th Place Overall) at the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles: a 9-day, all-woman off-road rally through the Moroccan Sahara using only a compass and 1960 hand-drawn maps.
Invited as one of the first women to compete in The Race of Gentlemen, driving a twin engine 1913 Model T.
Jessi’s first children’s book published, “Joey and the Chopper Boys,” a story about a little girl who rides motorcycles.
Part of all-female driving team that took 2nd-place Class 7 Finish in Baja 1000.
Created The Real Deal, a lifestyle brand dedicated to empowering others to break stereotypes, shatter expectations and believe that anything is possible.
1st-place finish in King of the Hammers re-earned Jessi the nickname “Queen of the Hammers.”
Can be seen on “The List: 1001 Car Things to Do Before You Die” on autoblog.com for Velocity Channel.
Named the official Grand Marshal for the 77th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and the 15th Annual Sturgis Mayor’s Ride! After 77 years, Jessi Combs was the first woman to ever be named Grand Marshal of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Having never been done before by a {wo}man, Jessi attempts to iron[wo]man the 50th running of the Baja 1000, driving all 1200+ miles solo. Alas Baja won this year, ending Jessi’s attempt at mile 357.
Jessi sets a new personal top speed of 483.277 miles per hour in her pursuit of becoming the fastest women overall.
On August 27th Jessi achieves her dream of setting a new overall women’s land speed record of 522.783 miles per hour breaking the 40 year old previous record set by American stuntwoman Kitty O'Neil, whose jet-powered, three-wheeled vehicle hit 512.7 mph in 1976 in the Alvord Desert. Unfortunately Jessi died in an accident on her final run.
Jessi’s life, accomplishments and impact on the world are honored in a special exhibit “JESSI COMBS: LIFE AT FULL SPEED” held at the Petersen Automotive Museum, a place she visited often and remarked that one day she’d have her work displayed there. The exhibit marked the official launch of The Jessi Combs Foundation