JJ Yeley openly expressed his disappointment with his Talladega Superspeedway finish in the Truck Series, marking a turbulent return after five years away, as the result fell far short of expectations. The JJ Yeley Talladega race result became a talking point after the journeyman NASCAR driver finished only 13th following promising stage runs.
JJ Yeley Returns to Truck Series Amid High Hopes
Making his first Truck Series start since 2020, JJ Yeley took on the Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway. Yeley, aged 49 and known for regularly switching between series, last drove the No.00 Toyota Tundra at Dover Motor Speedway before focusing on the Cup Series with a part-time schedule. For Talladega, he joined Spire Motorsports for a special one-off race, taking the wheel of the No.7 Chevy.
Despite starting mid-pack in 16th, Yeley managed to secure fourth place at the end of both race stages, suggesting he had sufficient speed and strategy early on. However, during the race’s final segment, he slipped through the field and ultimately crossed the finish line in 13th place, a result he admitted left him dissatisfied.
JJ Yeley Voices Frustration Over Race Outcome
Yeley candidly discussed his experience and frustrations with NASCAR reporter Peter Stratta, highlighting both his disappointment and his struggles with drafting and car setup during the race.
“It sucked. It was horrible. I mean. Yeah, just super disappointed the Delaware Life Car, the thing had a ton of speed, 4th in both segments. Just, you know, just kind of work with teammates and was, say, riding, but just trying to get idea what these trucks didn’t draft, what I needed to do. You know, there’s a lot of switches to play with and then you know….we had good speed.”
— JJ Yeley, Driver
“I mean to get back to 13th is kind of amazing because back the last of the group, but again, just super disappointing because you know, I could’ve just rode where I was and easily finished fifth. Thought that was the goal for this team and obviously it wasn’t my goal either, but took a chance at it and didn’t work out,” he added. [0:56 onwards]
— JJ Yeley, Driver
Fan Support for Yeley After Game Ratings Dispute
Following the Talladega result, NASCAR fans rallied around Yeley on social media after his relatively low driver rating appeared in the NASCAR 25 video game. Many supporters felt his rating did not accurately reflect his versatile skills and long-standing commitment to motorsports, a sentiment shared after the emotional Talladega race.
Yeley Sits Out Cup Series Race at Talladega
After a recent strong effort at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Yeley took the No.44 Chevy for NY Racing from 37th to finish 30th in the South Point 400, he will be absent from the upcoming Yellawood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The NY Racing team did not field an entry, meaning Yeley will miss the event despite his veteran status.
The Cup Series race will instead see Austin Hill participate with Richard Childress Racing. In addition, B.J. McLeod replaces Katherine Legge in the No.78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevy. Casey Mears and Anthony Alfredo will join as part of open teams, rounding out the lineup of part-time competitors hoping to make an impact at Talladega.
What’s Next for JJ Yeley in the 2024 Racing Season?
With disappointment behind him at Talladega and after sitting out the Cup Series event, JJ Yeley is slated to return for the Phoenix Raceway season finale, an event particularly special as it takes place in his hometown. The finale provides Yeley an opportunity for redemption and a strong close to a season marked by both emotional highs and setbacks.
As Yeley continues his journey through NASCAR’s demanding circuits, his Talladega race result serves as a testament to both the unpredictable nature of superspeedway racing and his resilience, with fans and the NASCAR community watching closely to see what he can achieve in his upcoming efforts.
.@jjyeley1 says his first outing with @SpireMotorsport could have been a 5th-place truck, but he says 13th sucked.
I asked him if we could see him return to the 7 in the future. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/Lwtw9edc3k
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) October 17, 2025
