NASCAR Update: Former Cup Series Star Teases Xfinity Opportunity as He Cuts Ties With Rick Ware Racing

Once touted as the next great one and often compared side by side with the legendary Tony Stewart, the 47-year-old Cup racing star has revealed his plans for 2024. Speaking to Fronstretch’s reporter in Tulsa, the veteran has made it clear that he will move down to the Xfinity Series, revealing that he has something lined up for him, leaving the elite faction since his joining in the late 2000s.

Young fans might know JJ Yeley as an old driver past his prime, trying to make the most of this faltered Cup Series. But long before the racer got a pass into the elite division, he was a phenom in the dirt racing circle, accomplishing something only Stewart had done prior: winning all three USAC championships in a single season. However, despite all his success, the racer just couldn’t find the right footing in the Cup Series. Following the Chili Bowl prelims disappointment, Yeley confirmed his “plan and goal” for 2024 after being with Rick Ware Racing for the past six seasons.

JJ Yeley verifies his “plan and goal” for 2024, leaving the Cup side for the Xfinity Series

In his six years in the organization, 2023 was the year JJ Yeley competed for the most number of races for Rick Ware Racing, 26—his highest since 2020. The veteran driver did not have a great season with the Ford-partnered team, is looking for a major changeup, and is dropping down to NASCAR’s second-tier division to try his luck and get back in rhythm.

Unlike his illustrious USAC open-wheel dirt racing resume, Yeley could never rise to the occasion but kept grinding away in the elite division filled with absolute killers. However, as we cross into 2024, the driver himself has reconsidered his options and confirmed the news, reaffirming his decision to leave RWR and landing some opportunities in the second-best division to take a shot at the Xfinity Series title.

When asked about his NASCAR plans for 2024, he said, “I’ll be going  Xfinity racing, working through a couple of different sponsor opportunities, waiting for them to get their duck in a row so we can make the announcement but the plan, and goal is to go full-time Xfinity racing for 24, excited about the opportunity, it’ll be to me its a little less stressed, lot more fun you know.” 

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Yeley details his Tulsa “tough night”

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After Chase Briscoe‘s blitzkrieg went out, finishing fourth before Saturday’s main event, dirt racing veteran, another Cup Series driver had a tough time in the indoor Midget racing extravaganza finding the sweet spot. While the SHR driver was able to finish the race, Yeley had to go out limping after a wreck damaged his car’s shock, delivering a knockout to the veteran.

The 47-year-old said before he got down to dissect his decision to drop down to Xfinity Series on his Tulsa tough night. He compared both the Cup and Xfinity Series cars and shared his excitement, saying, “I think you have the capabilities to take it far, less quality but you can get more out of a race car in Xfinity Series than Cup cars. Cup cars are they’re put in such a box with the way the rules are if you’re missing anything you know it’s a tenth or two tenths and unfortunately, I feel separated why you’re less and a half second more so you really have to be underneath the Cup cars and I had some good ones last year but knowing that you’re gonna have more tough weekends than good weekends, you know it takes a bit of fun out, so excited for the opportunity in the Xfinity Series.” 

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Reflecting on his Chili Bowl disappointment, the veteran maintained his composure, saying, “It’s just Chili Bowl, lucky to draw and how things go. In my heat race, someone drove into turn 1, parked in the no parking zone, here I come, got him with the right front, really didn’t think I had much damage but the guy behind me never lifted and drove me into the wreck, created a lot of damage.”