Yeley repeats at Phoenix
Phoenix native J.J. Yeley led just one lap in the FASTSIGNS 25 USAC National/Western Midget Car Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, and it just happened to be the one that mattered most - the last one!
Yeley, who now spends most of his time driving in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series for Joe Gibbs Racing, was the defending champion of this race. Yeley outran Jay Drake and Bobby East in a close battle for the checkered flag.
“I knew I could make the move, even though there was a transition of the banking coming through there,” said Yeley who will make limited USAC starts in 2005. “I’ve been in races where I’ve won and lost at the line, and I feel for Bobby. We just had the better luck today. I came here as a kid and watched how it was done.”
FEATURE: (25 laps) 1. J.J. Yeley, 2. Jay Drake, 3. Bobby East, 4. Dave Steele, 5. Tracy Hines, 6. Aaron Fike, 7. Tom Hessert III, 8. Josh Wise, 9. Ron Gregory, 10. Dallen McKenney, 11. Steve Paden, 12. Robby Flock, 13. Aaron Pierce, 14. Todd Beach, 15. Richey Jacobs, 16. Teddy Beach, 17. Michael Lewis, 18. Stuart Birkinbine, 19. Doug Cross, 20. Brad Kuhn, 21. Cole Carter, 22. Ryan Durst, 23. Travis Miniea, 24. David Thompson, 25. Thomas Meseraull, 26. Bobby Grewohl, 27. Bobby Santos III. 28. Tony Hunt, 29. Stephen Graves, 30. Davey Ray, 31. Danny Ebberts, 32. Mario Marietta. 12:32.06
**Marietta flipped on lap 11 of the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-15 Lewis, Laps 16-24 East, Lap 25 Yeley.
NEW NATIONAL MIDGET CAR STANDINGS: 1-Yeley-63; 2-Drake-58; 3-East-59; 4-Hines-52; 5-Steele-51; 6-Fike-45; 7-Hessert-42; 8-Wise-39; 9-Gregory-36; 10-Paden-31.
NEW WESTERN MIDGET CAR STANDINGS: 1-Yeley-63; 2-Drake-58; 3-East-59; 4-Hines-52; 5-Steele-51; 6-Fike-45; 7-Hessert-42; 8-Wise-39; 9-Gregory-36; 10-McKenney-33.
Source: Fox Sports
