Journeyman driver J.J. Yeley partners with Spire for Talladega Truck race

49-year-old J.J. Yeley will drive the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports later this month at Talladega Superspeedway, competing in the NASCAR Truck Series.

Yeley is a veteran journeyman driver with decades of experience. He made his Cup debut in 2004, and has since started 394 races. It’s a similar situation in the Xfinity Series, also making his debut in 2004 and going on to start 393 races.

Over the years, he has raced for various teams (including Spire), and while his career started with Joe Gibbs Racing, he has spent most of his time in NASCAR driver lower-tier equipment.

In the Truck Series, he has just 36 career starts and none since the 2020 season. He also attempted a race in 2021, but failed to qualify.

Spire Motorsports has utilized a variety of drivers in its No. 7 truck this year, including the following: Justin Haley, Kyle Busch, Carson Hocevar, Jordan Taylor, Corey Day, Sammy Smith, Patrick Emerling, and most recently Connor Zilisch.

The truck is fully capable of capturing checkered flags, as Busch won in a photo finish at Atlanta, and Hocevar also won with it at Kansas.

Despite over 800 starts through the three national divisions of the sport, Yeley has yet to win. He has two top tens in the Truck Series, placing as high as ninth at Daytona International Speedway in 2017. He has finished as high as second in the Xfinity Series back when he drove for JGR, and earned a runner-up finish in the 2007 Coca-Cola 600.

This year, Yeley has ran eight Cup races with NY Racing Team, and made one Xfinity start as well. He’s also a highly accomplished midget and sprint car driver. He even competed in the 1998 Indianapolis 500, finishing ninth.