NASCAR's JJ Yeley - From Boy to Superstar

The second-generation racer, J. J Yeley is the son ofJ.J Yeley won his first USAC Sprint Car Series
"Cactus" Jack Yeley, says that the first race he wentChampionship in 2001 but that was nothing compared
to was when he was three weeks old and wasto what was in store for him 2003. He pulled off 24
constantly on the road with his father, going fromUSAC wins in a single season which broke the legend
one track to another on the West Coast andA.J. Foyt's record in 1961 with 19 races. J.J also went
Midwest. Born on October 5th, 1976 in Phoenix,on to become the second driver in USAC to win the
Arizona, the proud father of Fatih Anne and husbandMidget, Sprint and Silver Crown Championship in one
of Kristen was born and bred for the sport. He wasseason. 2002 was his fondest year as the wins that
always sitting in the grandstands by the time he washe had successfully captured would propel him to the
seven to cheer his father on as his car zoomed by.great year that 2003 was. In 2004, he was
Once J.J was old enough to help out in his father'sapproached to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing.
race team, J.J picked up many beneficial experiencesJ.J biggest opportunity happened in 2005 when he
and watched how his father conducted himself onhad to replace his teammate, Tony Stewart, in the
and off the pit. J.J was able to work the insides andChicagoland Speedway. His performance gained the
the outsides of the car early on which is a valuablerecognition of his peers and everyone could see that
asset to any young aspiring racer.he was ready to rev it up with the big guns in the
J.J began racing when he was 10 where he took partbig leagues. He was then selected to run the 2006
in the Arizona Quarter Midget Racing Association.NEXTEL Cup full time. Although he had a good
Because of a forged birth certificate, he startedseason in 2006, it was nothing compared to the
racing midgets at age 14 and became the youngestprevious seasons. J.J, however, is taking all this in his
driver to apply and receive a United States Auto Clubstride and plans to make an impact in the next
(USAC) license. At age 19, he became the youngestseason. He is optimistic that he will be able to learn
driver in Sprint Car Racing Association to win afrom his previous mistakes and better himself. There
non-wing sprint car race at the Silver Dollarare times that J.J is amazed how much he has
Speedway in California. He went on winning in theachieved. The 16 year old Yeley was happy racing
SCRA in 1996 and his golden ticket arrived when hesprint Cars and never dreamed that he would be
was 21 in the IRL Indy Car Series. His debut at theracing in NASCAR or race in the Indianapolis 500.
Phoenix International Raceway paved the way forBesides racing, J.J volunteers regularly with several
him to run the Indianapolis 500 where he started atfundraisers such as events for the Victory Junction
13th and ended in the ninth place. Even though heGang Camp and the St Jude Children's Research
was participating in more IRL events that year, heHospital. He realizes the importance of children in our
decided to shift his attention to building a career infuture with the presence of his young daughter,
USAC as he was not receiving any funds from racingFaith. The Yeley family resides in North Carolina to be
in the IRL.close to the tracks.