CONCORD, N.C. – When Nick Jobes was drafted by Hendrick Motorsports Gaming Club back in March, his mind immediately went back to his childhood.
He remembered playing racing games with his brother ever since they were little, growing up in a single-parent household in which their mother worked three jobs at times to support the family.
“Growing up, my mom gave everything for my brother and I,” Jobes said. “She pushed us to succeed in whatever we wanted to do. Unfortunately, when I was younger, we didn’t have much money, so racing wasn’t really feasible for us. So, it kind of led to playing video games.”
When Jobes was a 19-year-old sophomore at Monmouth University, his mother was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and amyloidosis. She passed away less than a month later.
Now competing in the inaugural season of the eNASCAR Heat Pro League, Jobes has found a way to honor his mom every time he hits the virtual track.
“I figured what better way to reward her than to put a decal on the car and honor her that way,” the PlayStation 4 gamer said.
When his No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports Gaming Club Chevrolet was designed, it included a pink ribbon with his mother’s name.
It has made the experience for Jobes all the more meaningful.
“It was really special to see it and to know that I could look around the car and I’d see it any lap I want – I can turn the camera angles and view it,” he said.
With the season finale set for next week, Jobes has been reflecting on what the experience has meant to him. And he knows his mom has been along for the ride with him.
“I grew up a Hendrick fan and I rooted for Jeff Gordon, and not only did I make this league, but I got drafted by the team I wanted to get drafted by,” he said. “So, I know she’s super happy looking down on me.”