J.J. Yeley Storms from Back of Pack to Finish Ninth in Michigan Busch Series Race

Event: Carfax.com 250
Date: August 19, 2006
Start: 42nd
Finish: 9th

Race Review

Brooklyn, Michigan (August 20, 2006) – J.J. Yeley started virtually last in Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Series event at Michigan International Speedway, but that did not stop him from leading several laps and finishing ninth, scoring his 17th top-10 finish of the year in 25 events. Yeley suffered a spin during qualifying and never completed a lap. The Vigoro / Home Depot race team surveyed the damage to Yeley’s left-rear quarter panel and made the necessary adjustments. “I just went for the pole and got too loose in the middle of Turns 1 and 2,” explained Yeley. “I knew we had a great car and I went for it. Unfortunately the crew had to really thrash to get it repaired in time for the race. They did an awesome job.”

Once the green flag was displayed for the 250-mile event, Yeley wasted little time moving up the leaderboard. Enjoying the wide racing groove at Michigan, Yeley used every lane possible to make each and every pass. By Lap 43 Yeley was already inside the top 15. “You are running lap times as good as anyone in the top-five,” said crew chief Jason Ratcliff. “Just stay after it and hit your marks.”

Yeley responded by driving around Bobby Labonte, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Brian Vickers, Kevin Harvick, Casey Mears and Kurt Busch to move up to eighth by Lap 73. Two laps later green-flag pit stops ensued, and Yeley waited until all of the leaders had pitted so he could lead a lap and gain five bonus points. Yeley was credited with leading Lap 79 before pitting on Lap 80 for fresh tires and fuel.

Once the pit stops had cycled back around, Yeley was scored in the ninth position. Yeley raced back around Kurt Busch for eighth on Lap 94 and Robby Gordon for seventh on Lap 100. The caution was displayed on Lap 101, and Ratcliff figured several cars would stay out and ride it to the end. The race was scheduled for 125 laps, and Yeley agreed with that strategy. But every other car on the lead lap pitted for at least two fresh tires, while many leaders took four tires.

Yeley restarted with the lead on Lap 105, but was swallowed up on Lap 107 by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Carl Edwards, who were armed with fresh tires. Yeley eventually faded to ninth, but was happy with the team’s strategy. “You know what, we went for it, and I’m proud of Jason,” said Yeley. “If just five or six other cars had stayed out, that would have given us some cushion to hold off the guys that pitted. Plus if we had a few cautions, that would have equaled everyone’s tires just a little, so who knows. It could have really paid off for us, but unfortunately it didn’t. But we went for it, and I like that.”

Yeley remains fifth in the overall standings, 71 points behind fourth-place Boywer, 170 markers behind third-place Edwards and 172 points behind teammate and second-place Denny Hamlin.

The next race on the Busch Series schedule is on Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. The race will be televised live at 7:30 PM EST on TNT.