Veteran driver JJ Yeley will return to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series full time in 2020.
Rick Ware Racing will field Yeley, 43, in all 36 MENCS events next season, the team announced Thursday, Nov. 14.
Yeley’s entry will be flanked by two more full-time cars fielded by RWR, up from two full-time teams in 2019. The driver lineup for the two remaining rides will be announced at a later date.
“I am excited to have JJ Yeley on board with the Rick Ware Racing organization for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season,” RWR team owner Rick Ware said in a team release. “JJ is a great asset to any team and has a proven track record for bringing home solid finishes for RWR. I look forward to having him on board as we continue to grow this team.”
Since making his Cup debut in 2004, Yeley has made 290 starts for various teams, including Joe Gibbs Racing, Tommy Baldwin Racing and BK Racing. This season, he has driven part time in all three national touring series, including 14 Cup starts for RWR.
“I can’t thank Rick and Lisa Ware enough for the opportunity to be back behind the wheel of a NASCAR Cup Series car full time next year,” Yeley said. “They are a family-owned team who continues to grow and build new relationships with sponsors, and expand their efforts in NASCAR. Over the past couple weeks, we’ve accumulated some pretty solid finishes and can’t wait to see what we can accomplish in 2020.”
After jumping into Cup full time in 2017, RWR expanded to two full-time entries this season. The team has also fielded two additional part-time cars. A total of 14 drivers have wheeled RWR entries this season. Yeley gave the team its best finish this season entering the season finale, finishing 12th at Daytona International Speedway in July.
Sponsorship and crew chief information were not disclosed in the announcement, nor was a car number.
Never at a loss for words, Zach Gillispie is a young, talented marketing professional from North Carolina who talks and writes on the side about his first love: racing! Since joining Frontstretch in 2018, Zach has served in numerous roles where he currently pens the NASCAR 101 column, a weekly piece delving into the basic nuts and bolts of the sport. Additionally, his unabashedly bold takes meshed with that trademarked dry wit of his have made Zach a fan favorite on the weekly Friday Faceoff panel. In his free time, he can be found in the great outdoors, actively involved in his church, cheering on his beloved Atlanta Braves or ruthlessly pestering his colleagues with completely useless statistics about Delma Cowart.