Second-generation racer J. J Yeley, son of “Cactus” Jack Yeley, says the first race he went to was when he was three weeks old and he was constantly on the road with his father, going from track to track. other. another on the west coast and midwest. Born on October 5, 1976 in Phoenix, Arizona, the proud father of Fatih Anne and husband of Kristen was born and raised for sports. He was always sitting in the stands when he was seven years old to cheer on his father as his car sped by. Once JJ was old enough to help out on his father’s race team, JJ gained many beneficial experiences and watched his father’s behavior in and out of the pit. JJ was able to work on the interior and exterior of the car from the ground up, which is a valuable asset to any aspiring young racer.
JJ started racing when he was 10 years old, where he participated in the Arizona Quarter Midget Racing Association. Due to a forged birth certificate, he began racing midgets at age 14 and became the youngest driver to apply for and receive a United States Auto Club (USAC) license. At 19, he became the youngest Sprint Car Racing Association driver to win a non-winged sprint car race at Silver Dollar Speedway in California. He went on to win in the SCRA in 1996 and his golden ticket came at age 21 in the IRL Indy Car Series. His debut at Phoenix International Raceway paved the way for him to run the Indianapolis 500, where he started 13th and finished ninth. Although he was participating in more IRL events that year, he decided to focus his attention on building a USAC career as he was not receiving funding from IRL racing.
JJ Yeley won his first USAC Sprint Car Series championship in 2001, but that was nothing compared to what awaited him in 2003. He notched 24 USAC victories in a single season that broke the record held by legend AJ Foyt in 1961. with 19 runs. JJ also became the second USAC driver to win the Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown championship in one season. 2002 was his best year, as the wins he had successfully captured would propel him into the breakout year that was 2003. In 2004, he was approached to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing.
JJ’s biggest break came in 2005 when he had to fill in for teammate Tony Stewart at Chicagoland Speedway. His performance won recognition from his teammates and everyone could see that he was ready to step up to speed with the big league bigwigs. He later was selected to race the 2006 NEXTEL Cup full-time. Although he had a good season in 2006, it was nothing compared to previous seasons. JJ, however, is taking all of this in stride and plans to make an impact next season. He is optimistic that he will be able to learn from his previous mistakes and improve himself. There are times when JJ is amazed at how much he has accomplished. Yeley, 16, was happy racing Sprint Cars and never dreamed he would be racing in NASCAR or the Indianapolis 500.
In addition to racing, JJ regularly volunteers at various fundraisers including events for the Victory Junction Gang Camp and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He realizes the importance of children in our future with the presence of his little daughter, Faith. The Yeley family resides in North Carolina to be close to the tracks.
