Ever wanted to “beat the s**t” out of a teenager for pulling a boneheaded move? Back in November, JJ Yeley sure did. After a moment straight out of NASCAR’s wildest archives—where he swapped a helmet for a steering wheel in his own take on Tony Stewart’s infamous throw—Yeley didn’t just stop at throwing hardware. He launched into a fiery, expletive-laden tirade that’s still the talk of the pits. Now, in a recent FloRacing interview, Yeley finally sheds light on what really happened and why the younger generation of racers is driving him up the wall.

When tempers explode: Yeley vs. Gasper at Ventura Speedway

The USCS Sprint Car portion of the ‘Turkey Night Grand Prix’ at Ventura Speedway was supposed to be a stage for great racing. Instead, it turned into a theater of frustration and fiery tempers. JJ Yeley, running fifth with just two laps to go, was unceremoniously taken out by David Gasper, a young Rookie of the Year hopeful. Gasper’s overzealous dive bomb didn’t just wreck Yeley’s car—it detonated his patience.

Yeley’s response was a two-stage missile attack with his steering wheel. First, he hurled it at Gasper’s car, then picked it up and threw it again, for good measure. In the FloRacing interview immediately after the race, Yeley didn’t hold back: “You know, yesterday we spun out, and I got in a wreck. He hit me head-on, wide open, never lifted. And then, right there, I don’t know what he was thinking. I mean, we’re running fifth, there’s two laps to go, and he just threw a dive bomb in there and wrecked me. So, you know, he’s Rookie of the Year, but someone needs to beat the sh*t out of him. If they don’t stop me, I’ll be the first one to f*ing do it.”

Things escalated even further in the pits, with security stepping in to keep the two drivers apart. Yeley later posted on social media, apologizing for his colorful language but making no excuses for his frustration.

Looking back on the incident a couple of months later, he explained why his fury was so unbridled, “I was very f****** salty. Not to mention, it hurt. Like I hit head on, just destroyed a race car and my neck. It just wasn’t necessary.”

His main gripe, however, wasn’t just about the crash—it was about a deeper issue with young racers today.

“You watch young kids, and they wanna make a name for themselves, but they want to do it on day one, and that’s difficult to do,” Yeley explained. “The struggles are the parenting… the kid doesn’t know. They’re always being pushed: you gotta win, no matter the cost. Now that cost is destroying people’s race cars.”

Yeley’s old-school values shone through as he lamented the shift in racing culture. “I was brought up to learn that you have to respect your competitors, your cars, your equipment. That’s not out there anymore.”

Trending

1

Richard “The King” Petty’s Hall of Famer Crew Chief Unleashes Truth Behind Championship Wins and Relentless Pit Decisions

2

Days After Receiving Death Threats, Katherine Legge Becomes Enemy of the People After Talladega Crash

3

Ex-NASCAR Champion & Motorsports Hall of Famer’s Death Leaves Racing World Mourning

4

Jeff Gordon Mourns Death of ‘Most Trusted’ Partner, Sharing Heartfelt Tribute for the NASCAR’s Unsung Legend

5

“Straight Up Race Manipulation” – Fans Accuse NASCAR of Cheating After Controversial Talladega Photo Finish

The helmet toss that started it all: Stewart vs. Kenseth

JJ Yeley’s steering wheel throw drew immediate comparisons to Tony Stewart’s legendary helmet toss back in 2012. During the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Stewart and Matt Kenseth were battling for the lead when contact on lap 333 sent both cars careening into the wall. Stewart’s #14 machine was too damaged to continue, but Kenseth’s #17 Ford soldiered on—until Stewart made his feelings crystal clear.

As Kenseth cruised past pit lane, Stewart hurled his helmet at the moving car, striking it squarely. The dramatic gesture became one of NASCAR’s most iconic moments. Kenseth finished 25th, Stewart 27th, and NASCAR chose not to penalize Stewart, though they did confiscate the now-famous helmet.

Stewart, never one to mince words, vented his anger after the race: “We’re not going to give him that chance again. I’m going to run over him every chance I’ve got from now until the end of the year.”

Time eventually cooled tempers, and the feud ended on an unexpectedly heartwarming note. In 2016, as a retirement gift, Kenseth returned the helmet to Stewart, quipping, “Hey Tony, for your retirement, I wanted to get you something. I think this accidentally slipped out of your hand at Bristol a couple of years ago. Thought you should have it back.”

Moments like Yeley’s outburst and Stewart’s helmet toss show the raw emotion that fuels motorsport.

For fans, these intense, unfiltered moments are part of what makes racing so compelling. They remind us that, beneath the helmets and fire suits, drivers are as human as anyone else—prone to passion, anger, and the occasional steering wheel toss.