Former ‘Mythbusters’ Host and Race Car Driver, Jessi Combs Passes Away at 36 Trying to Break Her Own Land Speed Record

Jessi Combs, a former host of Mythbusters and Overhaulin’, tragically passed away on Wednesday while trying to break the land speed record. Combs set the record herself in 2013 at 398 mph. Her death was confirmed Wednesday on Instagram by teammate Terry Madden.

View this post on Instagram

So I don’t know how to say any of this but it all needs said. I have never loved or been loved by anyone as much as this amazing woman @thejessicombs she was truly my unicorn and I enjoyed every single minute that I had with her. She was the most amazing spirit that I have ever or will ever know. Unfortunately we lost her yesterday in a horrific accident, I was the first one there and trust me we did everything humanly possible to save her!! I’m not ok, but she is right here keeping my going-I made her a promise that if this didn’t go well that I would make sure and do good with it, please help me with that, you are all going to see things on news please believe non of them.. we the family have drafted a release and it will come out today with more proper info, but I was just woke up by the media tracking me down and I need everyone of her true friends to do what she would want “take a deep breath, relax” and do good things with this. Please donate to nothing, I know there will be people try, we are finishing the documentary as she wished and the world will know the truth and her foundation will use those funds to do amazing things in this world and make her legacy live on properly. In the coming days her family and I will get the proper channels put together that you can then donate to that foundation but until you hear it from me wait please-I don’t want some asshole profiting off this (all ready had one try to sell us a video)… . . Love you all and thank you all for being such amazing friends to her, she dedicated her life to helping support others dreams and I promise I will continue that. #doitforjessi #myjessi

A post shared by Terry L. Madden (@terry_madden) on Aug 28, 2019 at 5:51am PDT

Combs was best known as a host of Discovery’s wildly popular Mythbusters. She stepped up to fill in during the seventh season while Kari Bryon was away on maternity leave. Combs also co-hosted the Overhaulin’ on Velocity from 2012 to 2014. Velocity’s parent company, MotorTrends, is owned by Discovery.

Discovery released a statement regarding Combs’ passing: “The Discovery and MotorTrend family is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Jessi Combs. She was a friend and colleague, an icon in the industry, and an undeniable force of nature who left an indelible mark on the car world. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones.”

As word of her passing was made public, a number of her former Mythbusters co-hosts remembered her on social media. Even Jay Leno, a noted car enthusiast, shared his condolences, tweeting that she was, without a doubt, “the fastest woman on four wheels.”

In memory of the fastest woman on four wheels.

Your memory lives on. pic.twitter.com/ztY8F18oMO

— Jay Leno (@jayleno) August 28, 2019

I’m so so sad, Jessi Combs has been killed in a crash. She was a brilliant & too-notch builder, engineer, driver, fabricator, and science communicator, & strove everyday to encourage others by her prodigious example. She was also a colleague, and we are lesser for her absence.

— Adam Savage (@donttrythis) August 28, 2019

So sad to hear about Jessi. She was a badass. Always pushing limits. Sending smiles into the universe for her. @mythbusters https://t.co/H2gEtN5U0e

— Kari Byron (@KariByron) August 28, 2019

So sorry to hear about Jessi. She was a talented builder and host, and above all, a go-getter. https://t.co/y2zgQZyOCo

— Grant Imahara (@grantimahara) August 28, 2019

View this post on Instagram

Absolutely gutted to hear the news of @thejessicombs You’re a legend Jessi and I will miss you my friend.

A post shared by Tory Belleci (@torybelleci) on Aug 28, 2019 at 11:13am PDT