Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame Gail Cobb, 88 Passes Away Leaving His Daughter Robbin
He claimed multiple feature wins, dozens of heat race victories, and ultimately the 1962 Speedrome track championship.
November 20, 2026
This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on November 20, 2026
The motorsports racing community is mourning the tragic loss of Gail Cobb.
Born on July 18, 1937, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Gail Cobb grew into one of the state’s most respected and durable short-track racers.
His passion for racing sparked in 1958, when a casual trip to the Grand Rapids Speedrome with friends inspired him to build his first race car.
Through the early 1960s, Cobb worked with co-owner Ron Zimmerman and continued to build momentum.
He claimed multiple feature wins, dozens of heat race victories, and ultimately the 1962 Speedrome track championship.
Cobb raced nearly everywhere in the Midwest, including Berlin Raceway, Kalamazoo Speedway, Spartan Speedway, I-96 Speedway, Galesburg Speedway, and even Indiana’s famed Winchester Speedway.
Over the decades, he drove super modifieds, late models, stock cars, Zoo-Mods, and street stocks, collecting wins across multiple classes and eras.
Between the 1970s and early 1990s, Cobb continued to rack up feature victories, including three straight wins at the Super Shoe Nationals at Kalamazoo Speedway.
By career’s end, he had amassed at least 87 feature wins.
Also Read:
Motorsports Hall Of Fame Gail Cobb Died At The Age Of 88
According to sources, Hall of Fame Gail Cobb passed away in November 2026 at the age of 88.
However, the cause of death has not been revealed yet.
Tom De Vetter, a photographer at Tom De Vetter Photography, took to the official Facebook handle and announced the tragic news.
I just learned that we lost one of our veteran racers, rest in peace Gail Cobb, I took this picture in 2016.
Ardenna Verlin from Grand Rapids, Michigan, wrote,
Rest in peace Gail Cobb, you will be missed by many.
Kalamazoo Speedway also posted on its official Facebook page, the loss of Gail. They wrote,
The Kalamazoo Speedway is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of racing legend Gail Cobb. Gail’s impact on our track is etched into history. In 1987, he jumped into the brand-new Zoo-Mods class and won both the first-ever feature and that August’s Race of Champions. He added another Zoo-Mod victory in 1988, then went on an absolute tear—dominating the Super Shoe Nationals from 1988–1990 with the help of Scott Baker, winning three straight years. In 1991, he added another milestone by capturing the Michigan State Championship Sports Stock feature right here at the Zoo. But the night people still talk about? The one where Gail won six races in a single evening… in two different cars… across three classes. Pure, unmatched domination. Even decades later, he still found his way onto the track from time to time—because true racers never really hang up the helmet. Gail Cobb was, and always will be, a Kalamazoo Speedway icon. 🏁
Donald Wenger took to the comment section and offered heartfelt .
One of my Dad’s buddies from the Speedrome. Somewhere I have a picture of Gail and the Big Boy car with the Big Boy statue of top. Very early 60’s at the Speedrome.
Scott Russell, a floor sweeper at Russell Racing, wrote,
RIP to a legend. I remember one of his Modifieds on display at Gilmore Car Museum a few years back. He surely had a handle on 16oz = 1 lb in building a racecar. He had lightened racecars before many even considered it.
Roy Schallhorn from Dunlap, Tennessee, wrote,
One of My favorites When I 1st started coming to Kalamazoo Speedway 30+ yrs Ago!
A sports team named Racing Heroes also to their Facebook handle and wrote,
R.I.P Gail Cobb
Other close ones and relatives have also poured their heartfelt condolences and sent prayers to Gail’s family, asking them to stay strong in this difficult time.
Rest in Heaven, Gail Cobb.
Gail Cobb And His Wife, Alice Ross, Were Blessed With One Daughter
Motorsports Hall of Fame Gail Cobb Alice Ross in 1963.
Alice was born on June 3, 1939, in Mass City, Ontonagon County, to her parents, Albert and Marie Ross.
Tragically, Alice passed away on July 7, 2013, at the age of 74, at her home.
Alice and Gail were blessed with one daughter, Robbin, who married Kenyon Knuth.
They had four grandchildren: Shawna Burns, Angie Rausch, Christi Pedala, and Kyle Phillips.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Gail switched to the Zoo-Mods for 1987 and won the first-ever feature in that class, as well as the Race of Champions in August.
- From 1971 to 1974, driving a 6-cylinder ’66 Mustang, he won nine features between Kalamazoo, Berlin, and Galesburg.
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