#96 Team News and Links Page
A 2008 Paint Scheme - Click on Car to go to the Paint Scheme Gallery
LINKS
OFFICIAL - team/driver
Hall of Fame Racing
Joey Logano
Ken Schrader
Brad Coleman
SPONSORS
Primary:
Texas Instruments
DLP
Associates:
Hungry-Man
AER
UN-OFFICIAL team/driver
(not posting new unofficial sites anymore: too many have no updates, are old, driver bashing)
#96 Team Past News and Rumors
(NOTE: some older links may not work)
Drivers Scheduled to run the #96 after Yeley was released
Watkins Glen [8/10] - P.J. Jones
Michigan [8/17] - Brad Coleman
Bristol [8/23] - Ken Schrader
California [8/31] - Schrader
Richmond [9/6] - Schrader
New Hampshire [9/14] - Joey Logano
Dover [9/21] - Schrader
Kansas [9/28] - Logano
Talladega [10/5] - Schrader
Charlotte [LMS 10/11] - Logano
Martinsville [10/19] - Logano
Atlanta [10/26] - TBA
Texas 11/2] - Logano
Phoenix [11/9] - TBA
Homestead [11/16] - TBA
Contracts: Sponsor: 2009; Driver: ?
- Hall of Fame Racing looking at options UPDATE mergers and Mayfield? The joke among teams at the back of the garage is that it's the mergers and acquisitions section, a reference to all the talk of teams selling to investors or merging. "Just about everything you can imagine in this garage, people talking to people,'' said Tom Garfinkel, co-owner of Hall of Fame Racing [#96 Toyota], of all the possibilities. So, what about Hall of Fame Racing? "We're evaluating all our options for next year ... to be able to build a great team and be competitive in the future,'' Garfinkel said. Garfinkel said that the team would like to remain with Toyota, "but as we look at other team situations, some of them require different manufacturers and so we're having those conversations as well.''(Roanome Times)(8-24-2008)
UPDATE: Hall of Fame Racing doesn’t have a full-time driver for the rest of 2008, and the team is looking at a variety of options for 2009 on both who will drive and how many cars the team will have. Those options include a possible merger/acquisition of another team, Hall of Fame Racing co-owner Tom Garfinkel said Saturday. “As we look at other teams’ situations, some of them require different manufacturers and we’re having those conversations as well,” Garfinkel said. As far as a driver, the team had Ken Schrader in the car at Bristol. It likely will put Joey Logano in the car later this year, but Garfinkel said he would not comment on those reports until after Joe Gibbs Racing’s announcement Monday, where it is expected that Logano will be named the full-time driver of the #20 Cup car next year. The team used Brad Coleman at Michigan and plans to use him more. He will participate in a Goodyear tire test this week at Kansas Speedway. As far as 2009, it could depend on whether Hall of Fame increases to two or more cars with a merger or acquisition. “We obviously still think a lot of Brad and [are] trying to get him ready,” said Garfinkel, whose team is outside the top 35 by 241 points. “At the same time … we want to put ourselves in the best position every weekend.”(SceneDaily) and also hearing Jeremy Mayfield could run some races in the #96 this season.(8-24-2008) Comment here
- Schrader in the #96 at Bristol UPDATE2 Logano?: Ken Schrader is now listed on the Bristol entry list as the driver of the #96 Hall of Fame Racing/DLP Toyota for the Sharpie 500. Brad Coleman ran the car last week at Michigan and is scheduled to run in 7-10 races in the #96 for the rest of the season. See my updated Bristol Entry List.(8-20-2008)
UPDATE: Ken Schrader will drive the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota for Hall of Fame Racing in this weekend's Sharpie 500 Sprint Cup Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway. "Ken Schrader has a lot of experience at Bristol and we felt with as competitive as the field will be this weekend, he gives us the best chance to be successful," said Tom Garfinkel, co-owner of Hall of Fame Racing. "Brad Coleman will test for us next week at Kansas Speedway and we plan on having Brad compete in more races throughout the remainder of the year. We look forward to working with Brad as he continues to gain experience at the Sprint Cup level." Coleman, who has served as a test driver for Hall of Fame Racing since November 2007, made his Sprint Cup debut last weekend at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn [finished 38th.(True Speed Communications/Hall of Fame Racing PR), hearing Joey Logano could run a few races in the #96 also.(8-20-2008)
UPDATE 2: Between now and the end of the 2008 season, Joey Logano likely will make his Sprint Cup debut. Logano is expected to get his feet wet in a few races with the #96 Hall of Fame Racing team, which in the last four weeks has employed Ken Schrader, Brad Coleman, P.J. Jones and the since-sacked J.J. Yeley. Nothing is firmed up, HoF sources said, but a Logano debut later this season is likely as a prelude to the 18-year-old phenom taking over Tony Stewart’s #20 ride at Joe Gibbs Racing next season.(SPEEDtv)(8-23-2008) Comment here
- Coleman to make Cup debut: For 20-year old Brad Coleman, historic Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in Brooklyn, the 2-mile D-shaped oval nestled in the scenic Irish Hills region, will serve as the setting for his Sprint Cup Series debut. Coleman will drive the #96 DLP Hall of Fame Racing Toyota in 7-10 races in 2008 and starts from the 43rd place Sunday at MIS.(8-17-2008)
- Yeley to sit Watkins Glen out? UPDATE 5 Yeley released, Coleman in rest of year: hearing that P.J. Jones will drive the #96 DLP Hall of Fame Racing Toyota at Watkins Glen in place or regular driver J.J. Yeley. Yeley failed to qualify for the last road course race at Infineon Raceway in June. Jones recently tested the #96 at Road Atlanta.(8-5-2008)
UPDATE: Jones has replaced Yeley on the Watkins Glen Entry List.(8-5-2008)
UPDATE 2: P.J. Jones will drive the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota in Sunday's Centurion Boats at The Glen Sprint Cup Series race at the Watkins Glen International road course. Jones, who has seven Sprint Cup starts at The Glen with two top-10 finishes, takes over for Hall of Fame Racing's regular driver J.J. Yeley. "We appreciate P.J. helping out the team this weekend at Watkins Glen," said Tom Garfinkel, co-owner of Hall of Fame Racing. "P.J. is an experienced road racer and we look forward to having a great run with him in the DLP Toyota."(Hall of Fame Racing PR)(8-5-2008)
UPDATE 3: hearing that Yeley may not return to the #96 ride after Watkins Glen, no word if Jones takes over or if Tony Raines would come back or if the team has Brad Coleman take over.(8-6-2008)
UDPATE 4: hearing that Brad Coleman will drive the #96 starting at Michigan and for the rest of the year.(8-5-2008)
UPDATE 5: Hall of Fame Racing officials announced that Nationwide Series driver Brad Coleman, who has been under contract as a test driver for Hall of Fame Racing since November 2007, will make his Sprint Cup Series debut by piloting the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota in the Aug. 17 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. Coleman will replace J.J. Yeley who has been released by the team.(Hall of Fame Racing PR)(8-6-2008) Comment here
- Nice Gesture: A 10-year-old boy [from Rhode Island] who lost some very special NASCAR mementos in a house fire received a special gift Friday. Zach Gusasini was all smiles as the fire marshal presented him with decals, T-shirts, autographed hats and a special die-cast racing car with his favorite driver's signature. #96-J.J. Yeley's race team sent the items after hearing about Zach and the fire that destroyed nearly everything in his bedroom last month.(turnto10.com)(8-3-2008)
- "Mirrors" scheme for #96 at Pocono: DLP HDTV is teaming up with 20th Century Fox to support the upcoming action thriller, "Mirrors," in a promotional partnership for the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 Sprint Cup Series race Aug. 3 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. "Mirrors," starring Kiefer Sutherland, Paula Patton and Amy Smart and directed by Alexandre Aja, will be featured on J.J. Yeley's #96 DLP HDTV Toyota Camry during the race, while Sutherland will serve as grand marshal of the event and will give the "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines" command. Since DLP Technology uses millions of microscopic mirrors to produce stunning pictures on the best HDTVs, the connection with this new movie and the DLP HDTV Toyota Camry is particularly well-suited. In "Mirrors," which opens in theatres everywhere Aug. 15, Sutherland portrays a troubled ex-cop who must save his family from an unspeakable evil that is using mirrors as a gateway into their home. The movie will be shown nationwide in a digital format at select theatres on DLP Cinema projectors. DLP leads the cinema movement from film to digital movie theatres powered by DLP Cinema Technology with over 6,700 screens in more than 40 countries.(True Speed Communication/Hall of Fame Racing PR)(7-30-2008)
- Hall of Fame Racing facing penalty for lead water bottle: UPDATE: No The #96 team with driver J.J. Yeley was penalized before the first lap of Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway was completed. The team faces further penalties from NASCAR next week. Officials found two water bottles filled with lead weighing approximately 15 pounds each in the car as it was rolled onto pit road prior to the race. The move was done to make the car lighter when the bottles were replaced with water and skirt the mandatory weight minimum. The car was then put back through inspection and given a pass-through penalty on the first lap, putting Yeley a lap down.(ESPN.com)(7-12-2008)
UPDATE: After the race, NASCAR met with Hall of Fame racing co-owner Tom Garfinkel and apparently cleared the team of any wrongdoing. “NASCAR had reason to believe we were doing something we shouldn’t have been doing – and we weren’t doing it,” Garfinkel said. “But they had sufficient reason to believe that because of some mistakes in procedure that we made.” Yeley said that each week, his team uses a drink system that requires crew members to put a cold water bag into the car before the race. If they put it in early, it gets too hot and isn’t drinkable. But NASCAR apparently felt something was amiss, and ran the car through inspection both with and without the water bag to address weight concerns. Officials apparently suspected that the #96 team had gone to the old trick of putting lead in the water bag to make extra weight. After the race, Pemberton said the team had “served our penalties. We’re done with them,” he said. “We’re comfortable with that team and we feel like they weren’t trying to pull the wool over our eyes.”(SceneDaily.com)(7-13-2008) Comment here
- Yeley goes for a journey ay Daytona: In Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, J.J. Yeley’s #96 DLP HDTV Toyota will have a special paint scheme featuring the film “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” which is set to be released July 11. The film, based on the Jules Verne novel, is a co-venture between New Line Cinema and Walden Media and is the first live-action feature film to be shot and released entirely in digital 3-D. What does this have to do with DLP? Given that more than 700 theaters throughout the United States offer the digital 3-D experience powered by DLP Cinema technology, several Americans will watch this historic movie thanks to DLP products.(True Comminications/JGR PR)(7-3-2008)
- Wood Brothers' Salute the Troops Goes On; The #96 Car: Wood Brothers' "Salute the Troops" message will pay tribute this Memorial Day weekend, thanks to the generosity of Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel, co-owners of Hall Of Fame Racing and the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota Camry, driven by J.J. Yeley. On Thursday, the Wood Brothers #21 Air Force Ford Fusion failed to qualify for the Coca Cola 600. Immediately following qualifying, Tom Garfinkel offered to display the Salute the Troops decal, as well as the Air Force logo on their race car. Eddie Wood noted, "It's tough not being in the top 35. We felt Jeff and Tom truly appreciate our Armed Forces and the difficulty of this sport. We feel their offer to help came from the heart." The Salute the Troops decals were to be placed on the # 21 car this Memorial Day weekend to honor members of the Air Force, as well as the rest of the Armed Forces for their service to our country.(Wood Brothers Racing PR)(5-25-2008) Comment here
- Lopez and HOF Racing part ways? hearing that #96 Hall of Fame Racing and Competition Director [and former crew chief], Philippe Lopez parted ways on Tuesday.(5-8-2008) Comment here
- Diamondbacks logo on the #96: That weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, J.J. Yeley's #96 Camry will sport an Arizona Diamondbacks 10th anniversary logo. Hall of Fame owners are Diamondbacks chief executive officer Jeff Moorad and chief operating officer Tom Garfinkel.(USA Today)(4-3-2008)
- TI DLP to re-sign with HOF Racing, Staubach retiring UPDATE: DLP HDTV is expected to sign a contract extension through 2009 to continue as the primary sponsor of the #96 car. Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman became minority owners in Hall of Fame Racing, a Sprint Cup organization, when a group led by Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel bought controlling interest late last season. Aikman plans to invest in the team and attend some races every year. Staubach said he's ready to retire from racing, probably after this season. "It's not a goal of mine to continue," said Staubach, who made it clear he likes the new management of Hall of Fame Racing. "They've given me an opportunity to stay involved, but I told them I've got a lot going on. I don't like to be partly involved in things." Aikman also has other business interests, including his job as analyst for Fox's No. 1 announcing team. He said his role this Cup season isn't much different than what it was the first two years of the team's existence. Aikman was a majority owner, but Bill Saunders ran the daily operations. Now Garfinkel handles much of that role. Aikman will also be around at least through 2009 because he trusts and respects Moorad, Aikman's agent and longtime friend. Aikman said he's proud of what the one-car team has done. But to consistently finish in the top 20, it needs to get a second car and more resources. Moorad and Garfinkel plan to provide that. The second car could run as early as next season [supposedly with Brad Coleman as the driver].(Dallas Morning News)(4-1-2008)
UPDATE: DLP HDTV officials announced that they will extend their sponsorship of the #96 Hall of Fame Racing Toyota driven by J.J. Yeley in the Sprint Cup Series. DLP HDTV, which has been the primary sponsor on the #96 car since its inception in 2006, will remain in that role through the 2009 season. "We've been extremely pleased with our sponsorship of the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota," said Dave Duncan, sponsorship marketing manager, DLP Products, Texas Instruments.(Hall of Fame Racing PR)(4-2-2008) Comment here
- Changes at the #96? UPDATE 3 Boyer Named Crew Chief: hearing there could be a crew chief change coming at the #96 Hall of Fame Racing team...Slugger Labbe could be coming over from the now idle #27 Bill Davis Racing team. Brandon Thomas is the current crew chief for J.J. Yeley at Hall of Fame Racing. There tend to be some changed during the first of weekend every season.(3-16-2008)
UPDATE: been told thatLabbe was seen at Bristol in a Bill Davis Racing sweatshirt and been told by BDR rep that Labbe is still with BDR and will help out the #22 CAT team in testing the next couple weeks.(3-17-2008)
UPDATE 2: Richard “Slugger” Labbe, who was crew chief of the #27 Bill Davis Racing car, has parted ways with the team, a BDR spokesman confirmed Monday.(SceneDaily)(3-18-2008)
UPDATE 3: Hall of Fame Racing officials announced that Steve Boyer will serve as crew chief for driver J.J. Yeley and the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota Camry beginning with the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend March 29-30 at Martinsville. Boyer, who has worked within the engineering department at HoFR since December 2007, takes over for Brandon Thomas, who had served as crew chief since October 2006. Boyer is no stranger to the top of the pit box, as he was Sterling Marlin’s crew chief at Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates for the last six races of the 2004 Sprint Cup Series season and the entire 2005 campaign.(HOF PR)(3-18-2008)
- Sadler's and Yeley enter Horsepower Series UPDATE: Elliott and Hermie Sadler, and J.J. Yeley will join a cast of eight stock car personalities [five to be named later] as they will team with Power Golf Professionals Sean Fister, Brooks Baldwin, Danny Luirette, Kevin Bullard, Vince Howell, Scott Ionno, JD Murkerson, and Carl Wolter in the 2008 HorsePower Tee Shot Tour. The Horsepower Tee Shot Tour (HTST) will include six events being played under the lights during race weeks next season. The scoring format will not only reward length off the tee, but accuracy as well. SPEED TV will be airing all the HTST events during the summer and early fall of 2008. Jeff Hammond is the spokesman for the HTST and NASCAR on FOX broadcaster. In addition to the “Power Golf” competition, each stop on the Tour also will include a golf trick-shot exhibition, fan participation and a charity event to benefit the Petty’s Victory Junction Gang Camp.(HTST PR)(12-30-2007)
UPDATE: HorsePower Sports Marketing (HSM), the sanctioning body of the 2008 Horsepower Tee Shot Tour (HTST), proudly welcomes Brian Vickers, its fifth stock car personality, to the upcoming 2008 HTST season. The six "Power Golf" events constituting the HTST take place during Sprint Cup race weeks at select venues in close proximity to the race tracks between May and October. All events are scheduled to air on SPEED.(SPEED PR)(3-11-2008), for the tour schedule and more info, see hpteeshottour.com.
- Hall of Fame Racing Forms Board of Advisors: Hall of Fame Racing officials announced today the formation of a Board of Advisors to serve as conduits for excellence in business practices and driving more value for sponsors. Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel own Hall of Fame Racing and field the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota Camry in the Sprint Cup Series for driver J.J. Yeley. "The concept of an Advisory Board for a race team is something that we believe can help us in the development and execution of our plan for successful growth," Garfinkel said. "In an effort to add more value to sponsors and operate with transparency about how their investments in our team are deployed, we've invited executive leadership from our sponsors to participate on the Board as well."
"This is a virtual dream team of successful business leaders and entrepreneurs who will assist us in our quest for building a great organization," Moorad said. "Their vast experience and unparalleled integrity will be invaluable to us and our partners as we move forward."
The Board of Advisors will consist of: Bob Damon, President of Korn/Ferry International; Tom Davin, CEO of Panda Restaurants Inc.; Mike Gray, most recently President and CEO of Sweet Life Enterprises; Ken Kendrick, Managing General Partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks; Bob Piccinini, Chairman and CEO of Save Mart Supermarkets; Stephen Prough,
retired Chairman and CEO of Long Beach Acceptance Corporation; Conrad Wetterau, President and CEO of Quality Beverage Inc., Mark Wetterau, Chairman and CEO of Golden State Foods.(Hall of Fame Racing PR)(2-13-2008)
- Hall of Fame Team members suit up, play ball on MLB field: t's not unusual for a softball game to break out during a company picnic. But when management also owns a Major League Baseball team, you can count on your corporate outing to be a little different.Consider the case of Hall of Fame Racing's little get-together last month at Phoenix, hosted by new team owners Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel. The team gathered at Chase Field on Saturday evening, expecting to take a routine photo. Instead, they were ushered into the visitor's clubhouse, where each locker contained a Arizona Diamondbacks uniform, complete with each team member's name on the back. nd that was only the beginning of what turned out to be a once-in-a-lifetime event for the crew of the #96 car, as they not only got to experience what it feels like to be on the field at a major-league stadium, but to play a four-inning game -- including a public address announcer, scoreboard and video highlights.(NASCAR.com)(12-12-2007)
- Hall of Fame Racing to Partner with Toyota Hall of Fame Racing (HoFR) officials announced today at Phoenix International Raceway that the team will partner with Toyota and Toyota Racing Development (TRD) in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. J.J. Yeley will drive the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota Camry in 2008 for HoFR, and the team will continue their strategic alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) - leasing engines and receiving manufacturing support from JGR. "I've had the good fortune of working with Toyota in the past. Toyota
is an industry leading company and an exceptional partner who is committed to winning," said Tom Garfinkel, owner of HoFR. "We're also thrilled to continue our relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing - a first-class organization who has been supportive of us from day one." Yeley's first appearance in a Toyota in Sprint Cup competition will come in the Feb. 9 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. Yeley earned his way into the non-points paying event via his first career Cup pole on June 15, 2007 at Michigan International Speedway.(Hall of Fame Racing PR)(11-9-2007)
- Looks like HOF Racing going to Toyota UPDATE: Expect an announcement from Hall of Fame Racing in the next seven to 10 days that it is switching to Toyota for 2008, sources said. HOF is a satellite outfit to Joe Gibbs Racing, which already has confirmed that it will move next year. The team will add a second full-time Spring Cup car in 2009 for 19-year-old phenom Brad Coleman. J.J. Yeley will drive for HOF next season, with Coleman doing as many as seven Cup races in 2008.(Ford Racing)(11-3-2007)
UPDATE: Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel, the new majority owners of Hall of Fame Racing, said they'll make a decision within a few weeks on an engine manufacturer. Hall of Fame has always used Chevy engines, but it has also maintained a working agreement with Joe Gibbs Racing, which will switch to Toyota next season. "If we continue the Gibbs alliance, certainly it would be Toyota," Garfinkel said. "That would be our preference. But we're investigating all opportunities." Moorad and Garfinkel, who are members of the Arizona Diamondbacks' ownership group, took over Hall of Fame in September from the original group headed by former Cowboys star quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.(Dallas Morning News)(11-5-2007)
- Coleman Signs with Hall of Fame Racing: Rookie driver Brad Coleman, only a few short weeks after signing for a full-time ride with Brewco Motorsports in the Busch Series, has turned around and signed another contract to go Sprint Cup racing in 2008 with Hall of Fame Racing. The 19-year-old Texas native has agreed to become a full-time test driver for the team and run at least seven Cup races at the end of the 2008 season; meaning Hall of Fame will add a second car along side the #96 piloted by J.J. Yeley. Following proper development, Coleman will pilot the Cup ride at Hall of Fame Racing full time in 2009, although a sponsor and number for the entry has yet to be determined.(NASCAR.com)(11-2-2007)
- Gibbs expects Hall of Fame to remain affiliated, join Toyota: Hall of Fame Racing officials have not informed Joe Gibbs Racing whether the team will remain affiliated with JGR and move to Toyota next season, but JGR has no indication that it won't. Hall of Fame Racing buys chassis, bodies and engines from JGR, which announced last month that it was switching to Toyota. Hall of Fame has yet to make a final decision, according to the team. "The conversations we've had so far would indicate they will be back with us," JGR Senior Vice President Jimmy Makar said Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. "I'm expecting them to be there. I think they are still looking at some different options, but from what I understand, we're probably going to be where they will end up."(SceneDaily.com)(10-28-2007)
- Yeley to test at Atlanta in the #96: on Monday and Tuesday next week, J.J. Yeley will work toward getting 2008 off to a good start by testing the #96 DLP HDTV Chevrolet for Hall of Fame Racing (HoFR) at Atlanta. Yeley will drive for HoFR beginning in 2008 and will test for the team during NASCAR’s two-day open test at Atlanta with the Car of Tomorrow (CoT). Teley tested the #96 recently at Kentucky Speedway.(JGR PR), Kyle Busch will test the #18 car for JGR, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will test for Hendrick Motorsports, could see other dirvers in their 2008 rides in the Atlanta COT test.(10-25-2008)
- Hall of Fame Undecided on Manufacturer: #96-Hall of Fame Racing is still trying to decide on a manufacturer next year, according to new team co-owner Tom Garfinkel. Garfinkel said discussions continue with Toyota so that his team could continue its alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. "We don't have a manufacturer yet at this point," Garfinkel said Sunday at Kansas Speedway. "We should know in the next week or two. We're working on it. ... We expect to be with Gibbs and we're hopeful that we get everything worked out in the next week.(SceneDaily.com)(10-1-2007)
- Raines Looking, maybe other NASCAR series: Hall of Fame Racing driver Tony Raines, who will not drive the #96 next season as J.J. Yeley takes over, said he knows the chances of earning a Cup ride in 2008 are slim. He hopes to drive in one of NASCAR's other series. "I'm disappointed, but I understand the decision," said Raines, who ran into Jeff Green on the eighth lap of Saturday's race and finished 35th. "When you don't have the results that are expected, changes are made. It's tough, but that's what happens."(Dallas Morning News)(9-10-2007)
- Hall of Fame Racing to name 2008 driver today....Yeley UPDATE: Hall of Fame Racing hold a Driver Announcement for #96 Nextel Cup Series Team on Tuesday afternoon at their shop in Huntersville, NC. This press conference is CLOSED to the public.(PR)
AND hearing that J.J. Yeley will be named the driver.(9-4-2007)
UPDATE: Hall of Fame Racing has signed J.J. Yeley to drive for the #96 team in the Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2008. Yeley's debut in the #96 DLP HDTV car [rumored to be Toyota in 2008, now a Chevy] will come in February's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. His entry into the prestigious event came via his first career pole at Michigan International Speedway this past June. "In 23 years of being involved in professional sports, I have worked with many great athletes," said Jeff Moorad, owner of Hall of Fame
Racing. "J.J Yeley's determination to succeed reminds me of many of the championship athletes that I have been around in my career. He is hungry and determined to win races and championships and to do it with class. We look forward to J.J. being an integral part of Hall of Fame Racing and to winning with him going forward." Yeley comes to Hall of Fame Racing from Joe Gibbs Racing, the team for which he drove full-time in the Nextel Cup Series beginning in 2006. Yeley will take over for Tony Raines, current driver of the #96
DLP HDTV Chevy, following the conclusion of the 2007 season. "After meeting with Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel it was easy to see why both of them have been so successful with the Arizona Diamondbacks and their other past ventures," said Yeley, whose contract with Hall of Fame Racing runs through the 2010 season. "Both of them are very determined
to be successful. They know you can't just come in and throw money at the team and expect to win races. The benefit of this team is that there's already a great history and foundation in place with equipment from Joe Gibbs Racing, which is equal to the best equipment in the sport. All those things added up to make me feel that Hall of Fame Racing and DLP will be the best fit for me."
"When you leave an organization like Joe Gibbs Racing, one of the top teams in NASCAR, you want to try to make the right step to be more successful," said Yeley, who finished a career-best second in May at the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "I've never had to make a decision this difficult in my life, but I'm confident that Hall of Fame Racing will be competitive week-in and week out and build the future team around me as their driver. The affiliation with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the great people in Phoenix was just an added bonus that makes it the perfect fit for me."
"We are very much looking forward to J.J. representing DLP and our retail partners," said Dave Duncan, sponsorship marketing manager for DLP Products and Texas Instruments. "We've had a relationship with J.J. the past two seasons as an associate sponsor on the #18 car and look forward to working with him in the future."
Yeley replaces Tony Raines, who has driven for Hall of Fame Racing the past two seasons and will drive the final 11 races in 2007. "I very much enjoyed working with everyone at Hall of Fame Racing and DLP," Raines said. "I can't thank them enough for everything they did for me and both companies are class organizations. We had some success, especially in the Car of Tomorrow (COT) races and I look forward to running the final 11 races, including the five COT races. We're going to do our best to finish out strong before we go our separate ways. I wish them the best of luck in 2008 and beyond."(True Speed Communication/Hall of Fame Racing PR)(9-4-2007)
