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CHAMPION CAR OWNER PROFILE: Dave Jacombs
Many want to say that Dave Jacombs was lucky to find Andrew Ranger, but credit should be given where it is due.
Without question, Ranger has natural abilities and skills behind the heel of a race car. As evidenced up and down the rungs of the NASCAR ladder, it takes time and great communication to translate that talent from open-wheel cars to a stock car.
Jacombs, a competitor in the former CASCAR series, has been able to instruct his 22-year-old driver and instill the subtleties of a new brand of racing, as well as, an entirely different type of car. Further complicating the issue, at least initially, was the occasional language barrier. Having been born and raised in Quebec, Ranger’s primary language is French while Jacombs and the rest of his crew are English-speaking. Like the rest of the hurdles in this venture, this one, too, has been cleared with room to spare.
“There’s no doubt that Andrew has an abundance of God-given ability, but the transition from open-wheel racing to stock cars is not easy,” said Jacombs. “It hasn’t always been easy. Having that kind of talent, however, has made it easier.”
Now, with a pair of championship owner trophies on his mantel, Jacombs has pioneered a new way of doing business for Canadian stock-car racers. For years, drivers owning their own teams were the norm, but a blueprint of success has been authored by Jacombs – one in which the owner employs a driver to race his car.
“Racing up here in Canada, historically, has been a little different than in the States, but we’ve been pretty fortunate,” Jacombs said. “I really think more people will go this route as things settle down economically.”
Luck is a big part of racing, however, more often than not; it is made through hard work and determination. It just doesn’t happen. Yes, Jacombs got lucky, but he earned it.
