NASCAR Cup Series driver and team return for rare appearance

When JJ Yeley confirmed that he would not return to Rick Ware Racing in 2024, the team he drove select races for over the past six NASCAR Cup Series seasons, he indicated that he would seek a competitive full-time ride in the Xfinity Series rather than a part-time ride in the Cup Series.

Unfortunately, this endeavor has not been crowned with great success for the 47-year-old from Phoenix, Arizona. He has competed a total of five times this year with SS-Green Light Racing and Joey Gase Motorsports at the second-highest NASCAR level.

Yeley returned to the Cup Series after all, making the 2024 season his 20th season with some level of competition in the series. But he encountered another obstacle early on, as his No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet was one of two entries that failed to qualify for the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

But that didn’t stop the team from returning to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March and making its first start since April 2022, again with Yeley behind the wheel of the No. 44 Chevrolet. A few months later, they returned to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600.

Now Yeley is set to make his third start of the season with the team at the Great American Getaway 400, presented by VISITPA, this Sunday afternoon at Pocono Raceway.

As the only non-chartered car on the entry list, the No. 44 Chevrolet has secured a spot in the 160-lap race on the 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) three-turn Tricky Triangle in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.

The NY Racing team hasn’t competed at Pocono since 2014, when Yeley finished 38th behind the wheel of the No. 44 Chevrolet. Yeley’s most recent start at the track was last year, when he drove Rick Ware Racing’s No. 15 Ford to a 26th-place finish.

The Great American Getaway 400, presented by VISITPA, will be broadcast live from Pocono Raceway on the USA Network this Sunday, July 14, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET. Start a Try FuboTV for free now and don’t miss it!