| | | | | | | 96 - J.J. Yeley | Phoenix, AZ |
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Manufacturer: Toyota
Car Owner:
Team: J.J. Yeley is the driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs in the NEXTEL Cup Series. Yeley got the nod to drive the No. 18 in the Cup Series in 2006, after he finished 11th in points in his first full Busch Series season. Yeley had driven Gibbs’ No. 11 for four races in 2005, and in 35 Busch starts, he posted four top-fives, 12 top-10s and a career-best second at Memphis.
When Yeley was 10 years old, he got behind the wheel of his first Quarter Midget. He was racing midgets by the time he was 14, and was named Arizona Midget Racing Association rookie of the year in 1991.
Yeley was the youngest driver to receive his USAC driver’s license in 1992 – he was just 16 years old at the time. He was also the youngest driver to be invited to participate in the International Midget Contest for Team USA in 1993.
Yeley set several SCRA track records in 1994, two of which are still standing. He continued to set track records over the next several years, and in 1997 he was named USAC National Sprint Car rookie of the year. Yeley won the USAC Sprint Car championship in 2001. In 2003, Yeley became the second driver in history to win the USAC Triple Crown.
Yeley’s Busch Series debut followed a year later, where he finished with four top-10s in 17 races. That same season he made two Cup starts, and finished 27th at Atlanta.
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