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#18 - JJ Yeley
One of the highlights of Yeley's career was being the "youngest" driver at age 21 to qualify for the 1998 Indianapolis 500. He finished 9th in the 500 and went on to complete five Pep Boys Indy Racing League Events.
In 2004, J.J. joined Joe Gibbs Racing as driver of the No. 18 Vigoro/Home Depot Chevrolet in the NASCAR Busch Series. At the end of 2005, Yeley was named the driver for the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet in the NEXTEL Cup Series.
If recent history is any indication, you should look for big things from #18 in 2006.
Career Highlights
2003
- 2003 USAC Silver Crown Champion - (12) Starts (4) Wins (3) 2nd Place (1) 3rd Place (2) Top Ten (5) Fast Qual.
- Track record at Tulsa Fairgrounds Motorplex, Tulsa, OK
- "Earl's Fast Qualifier" Award for Weld Racing Silver Crown Series
- Wins USAC "Twin 50's", held at Indiana Raceway Park & Indiana Fairgrounds ($50,000 Bonus)
- 2003 USAC Sprint Car Champion - (31) Starts (13) Wins (8) 2nd Place (4) 3rd Place (5) TopTen (8) Fast Qual.
- Indiana Sprint Week Champion
- Track Record at Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth, PA
- Track Record at Terre Haute Action Track, Terre Haute, IN
- Track Record at Bloomington Speedway, Bloomington, IN
- Track Record at Lawrenceburg Speedway, Lawrenceburg, IN
- Track Record at Limaland Motorsports Park, Limaland, OH
- Wins Tony Hulman Classic Sprint Car Race, Terre Haute, IN
- 2003 USAC Midget Car Champion - (27) Starts (6) Wins (8) 2nd Place (4) 3rd Place (6) Top Ten (7) Fast Qual.
- Track Record at Hawkeye Downs, Cedar Rapids, IA
- Track Record at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway, Mansfield, OH
- Track Record at Madera Speedway, Madera, CA
- "Earl's Fast Qualifier" Award in USAC Western Midget Series
- Sets a new USAC record of 24 wins in a single season and breaks A.J. Foyt's USAC record of 19 wins, set in 1961.
- Becomes the second driver in history to win the "Triple Crown", by winning all three USAC open wheel divisions in one season.
- Harf "Driver of the Year" Award
- Nominated for Speed Channel's Driver of the Year
- Al Holbert Memorial EMPA "Driver of the Year" Award
2002
- Seven Sprint Car wins
- Nine fast qualifier awards in the Sprint Division
- Set Four Track records: Lima, OH, Fremont, OH, Bloomington, IN, and Lawrenceburg, IN
- Finished 2nd in USAC Sprint Car Championship
- Two SCRA Sprint Car Division wins and four fast time awards
- Won two double header Sprint / Midget shows in Cedar Rapids, IA and Fremont, OH
- Finished second in SCRA Non-Wing World Challenge
- Four Midget Division wins
- Three fast qualifier awards
- USAC Silver Crown Champion
- Three Silver Crown Division wins
- Three fast qualifier awards
- Recipient of the USAC "Super License" for the second year in a row
- Winner of the Annual "Earl's Fast Qualifier" Award ($20,000)
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