Eric Jacobsen
After several years of cross country commuting between his home in California and the hub of his Dirt Late Model operation in east Tennessee, driver Eric Jacobsen has been forced to halt his own racing operation. The news was confirmed via text message by Jacobsen’s crew chief and longtime friend, Greg Martin.
The 2014 season was among Jacobsen’s best as he finished second in the Ray Cook promoted Southern Nationals after winning the series finale event at the Tazewell Speedway. He also won a Southern Nationals race at Duck River Raceway Park in 2013.
Jacobsen won races at Tazewell and at Boyd’s Speedway back in 2011 on his way to claiming the STARS Volunteer Racing Series championship that year.
Earlier this past season, Jacobsen and his crew switched chassis brands from Bloomquist Race Cars to Rocket Chassis. The move seemed to pay dividends as shown by the success listed above. Now Martin reports that the team is in the process of selling off all their equipment.
Jacobsen’s team fielded cars at various times throughout this past year for former World of Outlaws Late Models champion Rick Eckert and seemingly had plans to do so on a limited basis in 2015. There was no immediate word as to the status of that situation.
The 45-year-old driver had divided his time among racing, family and a family owned business in California. Those demands had resulted in his status as a part-time racer and a very frequent flyer on commercial airlines.
According to his website, Jacobsen had been involved in racing as a driver since 2000.
*Note: The story posted above is accurate but clarification is needed on Jacobsen’s status as a driver. It should be pointed out that he has not necessarily ended his driving career. Although his own operation has had to be terminated due to a funding issue, he would perhaps be open to the possibility of driving again at a later date under different circumstances.
“I honestly don’t know what Eric’s future holds,” Greg Martin said. “We are selling everything here, but he may be able to drive again in the right situation. He’s not necessarily retiring.”
Eric Jacobsen’s #5 machine will no longer be seen on the race track.
