Date: March 10, 2013
Event: Kobalt Tools 400 (Race 3 of 36)
Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Started/Finished: 35th/36th
Three races into the season and Tommy Baldwin Racing’s JJ Yeley is showing that despite adversity, he is a fighter.
After qualifying was rained out on Friday, per the NASCAR rule book, the field was set by 2012 points. Yeley and the Accell Construction Chevrolet SS started the Kobalt Tools 400 in the 35th position and prepared for battle.
At the drop of the green flag the consensus from all drivers was loose handling race cars, Yeley included. Fighting with his car and the set back with positioning, Yeley and crew chief Joe Lax were formulating a plan to get the No. 36 dialed in. Things went off schedule when completing a pit stop at Lap 45 Yeley was assessed a speeding penalty and had to serve a pass thru penalty.
Still fighting the loose handling, Yeley lost several laps throughout the race and ending up taking the checkered flag in 36th position, 8 laps down.
“I’m disappointed in myself for speeding on pit road,” Yeley said. “We had a car capable of a better finish than what we got but it was my error. The handling was a battle all day, we kept fighting, and I couldn’t be prouder of the TBR team for that. I am really looking forward to Bristol next week.”
“JJ felt bad about the speeding penalty, but we race as a team and understand that penalties happen,” Lax said. “We made great strides during practice and the race and this week we’re off to Bristol — one of JJ’s favorite tracks.”
About Accell Construction:
Accell Construction, Inc. operates as a full service site civil contractor for the petroleum terminal and bulk storage industries and specializes in tank farm construction, tank foundations and other related site civil construction. Accell Construction’s clients know they can expect excellent safety, reliability and top-notch job performance. Accell, whose projects are always in budget and completed early, enjoys a 20-year reputation that is second to none.
Oklahoma based Accell Construction operates civil construction projects in numerous states across the U.S. and has constructed some of the largest petroleum storage facilities built in the U.S. in the last 15 years.
Accell benefits from a team of employees who bring decades of civil experience. The Accell team, many of whom have been with the company since inception, is committed to excellence and safety. All field personnel are also required to be TWIC certified. Accell has a well-known reputation in the petroleum storage industry for performing the highest quality work-always in an expedient, but safe manner.
For more information on Accell Construction, please visit www.accellconstructioninc.com.
About Tommy Baldwin Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Crew Chief Tommy Baldwin formed Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) in 2009. Baldwin utilized a declining economy to open a NSCS team with a stringent budget. The team worked to build to full-time competition, and by the 2011 season, the team’s third season, TBR competed in every race and locked the No. 36 Chevrolet in the top-35 in NSCS Owner Points. Dave Blaney drove the No. 36 Chevrolet to TBR’s highest finish of third in the October 2011 event at Talladega Superspeedway. In 2012 both cars fielded by TBR finished in the top-35 in points.
Based in Mooresville, N.C., TBR will compete in the NSCS in 2013 with NASCAR veteran Dave Blaney driving the No. 7 Chevy SS and JJ Yeley piloting the No. 36.
