J.J. Yeley - Phoenix Pre-Race Notes and Quotes
Event: Arizona 200 presented by Walk the Line
Date: November 12, 2005
Track: Phoenix International Raceway
Laps/Miles: 200 / 200
TV: TNT 3:30 PM EST
Radio: MRN 3:30 PM EST
DID YOU KNOW?
* J.J. Yeley will return to his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, this weekend to race his #18 Vigoro / Home Depot Chevrolet in Saturday's NASCAR Busch Series event.
* Saturday's race will mark Yeley's third career NASCAR start at Phoenix. Last November during his inaugural NASCAR campaign, Yeley finished 15th in the Bashas' Supermarkets 200. Earlier in 2005, Yeley finished 10th in the Busch Series event in April.
* The Vigoro / Home Depot team will bring Chassis #1850 to Phoenix. J.J. Yeley has raced this particular Joe Gibbs Racing chassis three times in 2005, including his career-best outing at Memphis when he finished second. Yeley also raced this car at Darlington (19th) and Gateway (ninth).
* After last week's NASCAR Busch Series race at Texas, J.J. Yeley fell one position in the overall standings to 12th. With just two races remaining in the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series campaign, the fight for 10th place is very intense. David Stremme currently occupies 10th place, while Greg Biffle (11th, 36 points back), Yeley (12th, 68 points back), Ashton Lewis (13th, 113 points back) and Johnny Sauter (14th, 131 points back) are all within striking distance.
QUOTES
Driver J.J. Yeley on this week's race in Phoenix - "I can't wait to go back home to Phoenix and to try to get my first NASCAR Busch Series victory. We ran up front all night at Phoenix earlier in the year, but the handling on our Vigoro / Home Depot Chevy went away on us. We ended up settling for 10th, but we're very confident that we'll improve on that finish this time."
Driver J.J. Yeley on returning to his hometown to race - "I always enjoy going back to Phoenix to race. It's awesome to see the growth in the Phoenix area in general, but it's really cool to see the growth of NASCAR fans in the area. NASCAR has done a great job in bringing our sport to different areas of the country. There is a large population base to pull from in the Phoenix area, and now that there are two NASCAR weekends at PIR, the fan base will continue to grow and grow. Being a Phoenix native, that's just incredible to see."
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