He may not be a household name or the most talked-about driver in NASCAR but he is the most decorated Arizona-born competitor to ever race in NASCAR.
J.J. Yeley will forever own the title of earning one of the most prolific accomplishments in all of racing. In 2003, Yeley won all three of USAC’s national championships in a single year, one of only two drivers to do so in the history of racing. Yeley totaled five USAC national titles between the disciplines of sprint cars, midget cars, and Silver Crown in his career and made his move to NASCAR in 2004.
Even though he hasn’t had many opportunities to compete in NASCAR while driving top-tier equipment, the Phoenix native has now battled in the United State’s premier level of racing for 16 years. At 43 years old, Yeley signed a one-year deal with young Cup Series team, Rick Ware Racing, to be the lead driver of the growing organization.
Yeley sat down with Sports360AZ’s Devon Henry before the FanShield 500 at Phoenix Raceway discussing why he continues battling in NASCAR, his racing career up to this point, and racing at his home track, Phoenix Raceway.