NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Josh Comstock, the chairman and CEO of C&J Energy Services and longtime supporter of Bob Vandergriff Jr.’s Top Fuel team and a friend to NHRA Drag Racing, died early Friday suddenly and unexpectedly in his sleep. He was 46.

Comstock, 46, founded C&J in 1997 in Corpus Christi and later moved the company to Houston, and has been the primary sponsor for Bob Vandergriff Racing for seven years.

“It's truly a sad day for me, my family and everyone at BVR,” said Vandergriff. “Josh was bigger than life, he was one of the few people that I've run across in my career that I was truly impressed with. Behind the rough exterior was a true genius, a visionary that I respected very much. Josh started a company with $200 which he would tell you was borrowed, and created the multi-billion dollar company that you see today, I was very fortunate to ride along with him and even play a part in the incredible growth of his company over the last seven years.

“Josh entrusted me with numerous projects and the vision that he had over the years. He was always two steps ahead of what you saw in reality and had grandiose plans for the future of C&J. It's really a shame that his life was cut short before they came to fruition because he was in the process of revolutionizing the oil field service industry. Beyond the business aspect, he was an incredibly giving and generous man to those around him. Our families became closely intermingled; we shared many of our most memorable family vacations together. Josh was the godfather to my older son and my youngest proudly bears his name. There was no one better to have on your side and he always encouraged me to excel; he was passionate about pushing for BVR to become one of the top teams and with his help we are well on the way. The void his death leaves is immeasurable but in his image we will push on and in his memory strive for greatness every day.”

Current BVR drivers Leah Pritchett and Dave Connolly echoed Vandergriff’s sentiments.

“Heartbroken is a pure understatement, as his uplifting and unconditional enthusiasm for our entire team as a whole was not only admirable but infectious,” said Pritchett, who drove the BVR/Quaker State dragster to victory at the most recent NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event in Phoenix. “His presence was something we all looked forward to and he will be more than missed.”

“I am still in shock," added Connolly. “I was just hanging out with Josh a couple weeks ago in a pit box at the Daytona 500. Josh was so easy to talk to, straight forward and a genuinely great guy. Josh did so much for so many people at C&J Energy Services and our race team. He had such a big impact on my life for the last couple years. The world has lost such a great person.”