Yeley Takes a NASCAR Break to Drive in Races at Irwindale

J. J. Yeley, the U.S. Auto Club’s midget car racing champion, will take time off from his duties as a rookie driver for Joe Gibbs’ NASCAR team to drive in the Mopar Twin 25s midget races tonight at Irwindale Speedway.

Yeley will be in the No. 9 midget, owned by Steve Lewis, that he drove to a record 24 victories in winning the USAC title last year. The Phoenix driver also won USAC championships in Silver Crown and sprint cars, a feat previously accomplished in the same year only by Tony Stewart.

“We’ve had Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne win USAC championships in our cars and you can count J.J. Yeley as the next one of our drivers to make a name for himself in the highest levels of NASCAR racing,” said Lewis, whose Premier Racing Entertainment group of Laguna Beach organized the twin 25s.

The winner of the first 25-lap race (12 1/2 miles) must start at the rear of the second one. If the same driver wins both, as Dave Steele did two years ago at Indianapolis Raceway Park, he will receive a $50,000 bonus.

Steele, who has won two Turkey Night Midget Grand Prix races at Irwindale, is also entered. He will be part of a three-driver team with Tracy Hines and Josh Wise. Lewis also has three entries, with two-time USAC champion Dave Darland and Bobby East, son of chassis builder Bob East, joining Yeley.

Besides the twin 25s, there will be a 25-lap Ford Focus midget race that will showcase Champ Car stars Michel Jourdain and Patrick Carpentier, who will make their next appearance April 18 in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

A “Festival of Speed,” featuring a number of famous racing cars on loan from Southern California museums and private collections, will begin at noon on the Irwindale parking lot. The festival, which will last until 4 p.m., is free.

There will also be an exhibition of drifting, the newest motor racing sport imported from Japan, at 5. Racing will start at 7.

-- Shav Glick