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Former Gibbs driver JJ Yeley on comeback trail after accident
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JJ Yeley raced for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2006-2007
I once tried to interview J.J Yeley. We were at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Yeley took me for a few laps on the legendary track in a new Chevy Corvette. At the time I was working in radio and taping the interview. My intention was to ask him questions while the sweet sound of a V-8 at full song hummed in the background.
By the time we were at the end of pit road however we were doing 120 miles per hour and accelerating. The ‘interview’ turned into Yeley talking about the track, it’s nuances and the fastest way around it. It turned out to be one of the best ‘interviews’ I was ever a part of.
A former USAC Triple Crown champion Yeley was a staple on the NASCAR Sprint Cup series circuit primarily in 2006 and 2007 racing for Joe Gibbs. And while he never set the NASCAR world on fire, he was well liked and when he lost his ride with first Gibbs then Hall Of Fame racing in 2008 many hoped he could make a comeback.
That hope almost ended this past August when the Sprint Bandit car he was racing at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City Kansas nearly tumbled at least eight times. Although he felt ok other then a sore neck, Yeley found out he had actually fractured tow vertebrae in his neck.
As he went into the corner, his car caught the track, flipped and barrel-rolled at least eight times.
“For the most part it was a typical Sprint Car type of accident,” Yeley recalls. “It was actually the third restart from cars that had already flipped. I just went in the corner by myself, caught a rut, the car bicycled and started flipping off the left side of the cage. It did a good amount of barrel rolls, probably close to eight or 10.
Although Yeley thought he had nothing more than a sore neck following the crash, he soon learned that he had fractured two vertebrae.
“It hit two or three times really hard,” Yeley said. “I’m thinking the next to last hit was the one that jarred me in a way that was kind of like a major whiplash that would have stretched my neck and fractured the vertebrae.”
Yeley’s treatment included having doctors fuse two vertebrae with screws and a metal plate and wearing a neck collar. A month after surgery though Yeley is progressing better then expected. He’s working out daily and hopes to be cleared to race in December.
“From talking to some of the different doctors and people who have been in related situations to what I’ve been in that a lot of people are surprised of how far along I already am with my recovery.” Yeley said. “I’m back to doing all the things I’ve always been able to do. With regard to lifting weights, I’m just taking it easy. I don’t want to push myself too far, too fast. But as far as everyday stuff, I’m able to do regular yard work. I’ve played golf a couple of times and I play just as bad now as I did before I hurt myself, so I guess I’m back to as normal as possible.”
If Yeley does get cleared to race again in December, it will be just in time for him to participate in one of his favorite events, the indoor midget race known as the Chili Bowl and perhaps shortly after back into NASCAR.
“It is my plan,” Yeley said. “I’ve been spending a lot more time on the phone, talking with different sponsors and scouting out different opportunities. Getting back into NASCAR, it does look like there are some pretty good possibilities for getting back into a Nationwide ride next season. I have some meetings in the next couple of weeks that could secure the sponsorship and make that all happen. As far as looking forward to the Chili Bowl and some of the bigger races that guys always get a chance to go do, I would probably be healed by then. We will just kind of play it by ear and see how things go as far as the big plans for next year.”
While Yeley may face an uncertain future in NASCAR, his accident hasn’t tempered his enthusiasm
“It makes the passion for me even stronger,” he said. I had some opportunities coming up that I basically had to abort because of the injury. It’s different when you’re forced not to be able to do something versus not having the opportunity or the chances or passing up on different rides. Being told that you have to sit idle, that you can’t do something, I guess makes you want it even more.”
It’s also allowed him to take a different view of life.
“It’s easy to take for granted just the simple things in life when you’re not allowed to do them.” he said. “For so long I was told not to lift anything over five pounds. I couldn’t do certain things and different activities. It really makes you think about the things you love and the things you want to do. But it’s time for me to get back into a racecar and prove myself and get back to doing what I always loved, and that’s trying to win races and go out and do a good job.”
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