Yeley to drive for Phoenix Racing in Busch next season
HOMESTEAD, Fla. - J.J. Yeley will drive Phoenix Racing's No. 1 Chevrolet in the Busch Series next season, with a possible run for the championship.
A spokesman for Yeley confirmed the move at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday. Yeley drives for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nextel Cup and Busch Series, but Yeley was told recently a sponsorship deal to keep Yeley in a JGR Busch deal couldn't be worked out.
Phoenix Racing announced a switch to Chevrolet for 2007, and is running Mike Wallace in a Monte Carlo this weekend in the Ford 300. Since Yeley has a personal-services contract with Chevrolet, driving for another manufacturer in the Busch Series wasn't possible.
Yeley could end up running every Busch race next season. If he challenging for the point lead when the series begins running separately from Nextel Cup in June, Yeley will commute between the two series. If not, Phoenix will find another driver for its Busch car.
Yeley is currently fifth in the Busch Series point standings.
JGR vice president Steve deSouza also confirmed that Denny Hamlin and Aric Almirola will split time in the No. 20 Chevrolet in the Busch Series next season, with Tony Stewart, Almirola and a to-be-decided development driver or two in the No. 18. Sponsorship has yet to be found for every race for the No. 18.
