Truck owner repossesses NASCAR driver’s van

Truck Series racer Jennifer Jo Cobb thought someone stole her team's van following a promotional event at a Ponce Inlet restaurant, an official said.

It turns out the van wasn't stolen but taken in an attempt to repossess it by a man with whom Cobb is involved in a civil dispute, according to a Ponce Inlet police report. She could not be reached Thursday afternoon.

Cobb made a promotional appearance with her racing crew Wednesday night at Down the Hatch and discovered her team's van that had crew members' luggage and racing equipment inside was gone, according to the report. Cobb and 10 members of her crew filled out reports detailing what they had lost.

Cobb, who owns JJC Racing and will run Friday's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway, said she did not think the van had been repossessed or taken by David Novak, whom she is in litigation with over the ownership of the team, according to the report.

Soon after the van was discovered missing — between 8 and 9 p.m. — Ponce Inlet police were contacted by Novak, who said he is the rightful owner of the van as well as JJC Racing.

Novak told police he did have someone repossess the van because Cobb has no right to it, according to the report. He supplied police with documents showing he had been making payments on the van and holds the insurance on it.

Novak cut ties "personally and professionally" with Cobb last December, according to a statement he released last year. He attributed the decision to differences in opinions and business practices.

He could not be reached Thursday afternoon. Daytona Beach News Journal