Getting down to business, JJ Yeley and the No. 36 United Mining Equipment (UME) Chevy SS rolled off pit road 35th, for the start of the Food City 500. Dodging several accidents early in the race, Yeley was steadily climbing up the ranks during the first half. After 125 laps, Yeley had moved up to 14th position through great pit stops. The car seemed to be handling great.
Halfway through the race, the No. 36 UME Chevy SS started to get tight, causing Yeley to struggle with the handling of the car coming out of the turns. On lap 322, Yeley brushed the wall, leaving damage to the side of the car. Under caution, the team changed a track bar adjustment, four tires and gas. The car seemed to be handling a little better, but left Yeley several laps down.
Crew Chief Joe Lax, gave nothing but encouragement to Yeley all throughout the race. “We came in here with the big boys, let’s go out with the big boys.” Although luck was not on team No. 36’s UME Chevy SS this weekend, Lax took time at the end of the race to thank the entire crew for their continued fight all day. “Thanks for all your help boys. You work hard all week. Tough break this weekend.”
“That wasn’t the weekend we hoped for but the Tommy Baldwin Racing team showed huge improvements and never gave up,” Yeley said. “In the face of adversity, that’s all we can ask for. There are better weeks ahead, I know that and the team knows that. We’ll fight on!”
JJ Yeley finished the weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway’s FoodCity 500 in 27th. He is currently 91 points behind leader Brad Keselowski in the race for the Sprint Cup Championship. Next week, the entire Tommy Baldwin Racing Team is off to California for the Auto Club 400. Hopefully luck will be on their side this time!
About United Mining Equipment:
United Mining Equipment (UME) has been developing, repairing and supplying long wall equipment for 20 years. Together with their sister company PittLite they now offer low cost, leading technology cap lamps throughout the mining industry. UME has locations and representatives around the globe to better service the industry. For more information, go to www.umeinc.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.
For more information on Tommy Baldwin Racing, please visit them on Facebook,Twitter or their website.
