Cut Tire Derails Yeley at Road America

ELKHART LAKE, WI. (August 30, 2015) - For the second week in a row, J.J. Yeley and his JGL Racing team were bitten by the "bad luck bug" and a tire issue that ruined their day.  A flat tire as a result of avoiding a spinning car in the early laps proved disastrous and relegated Yeley and his No. 28 Toyota to a frustrating 35th-place finish in the running of the Road America 180 at the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin track.

"That was a tough break for us out there today," said Yeley.  "We were riding there in the early stages of the race and just taking our time.  A car spun in front of me and in my effort to avoid him I must have cut down a tire.  I didn't realize it until a few corners later when my No. 28 Toyota wouldn't turn and I went off course."

With qualifying being rained out, Yeley would start the 45-lap event from the 21st position as a result of the field being set by practice speeds.  The NASCAR veteran racer would take it easy in the early laps knowing that the race would be one of strategy.  While he was slowly moving up through the field and about to slide inside the top-15, a fellow competitor spun in front of J.J. and in his effort to avoid him he endured a cut front tire on his No. 28 Toyota. 

Yeley experienced no symptoms of the cut tire until it was too late as he entered into a high speed corner shortly thereafter.  As his No. 28 Toyota went off course it sustained significant front end damage sending J.J. to the garage on lap seven.  The JGL Racing crew would work to repair the damage and return Yeley to the track but unfortunately not before losing nine laps to the field.  The end result was Yeley's worst finish of the 2015 XFINITY Series season.

"This is one of those tough ones to swallow," added Yeley.  "All we can do is put it behind us and move forward to Darlington next week.  This JGL Racing team does a tremendous job and I have no doubt we will rebound in a big way from this race."

Despite the 35th-place finish, Yeley remained in the 12th position in the overall NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers' standings - just 86 points away from the top-10.

Yeley and his JGL Racing team will set their sights next on Darlington Raceway.  The running of the VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 will be Saturday September 5th and can be seen LIVE on NBC at 3:00 pm ET.  It can also be heard on Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius Channel 90.