J.J. Yeley poses with his 2006 ride. Credit: Autostock

Yeley to replace Labonte in Gibbs' No. 18 Chevy

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Joe Gibbs Racing's youth movement continued Saturday when the team announced J.J. Yeley as the driver of the No. 18 Chevrolet for the 2006 Nextel Cup season.

In addition to a full season in Nextel Cup, Yeley will run a minimum of 22 Busch Series races for JGR.

	J.J YELEY •   Career Nextel Cup stats

"I've got some big shoes to fill out there with Bobby Labonte, past champion and a guy that's won 20 races," Yeley said. "Obviously the equipment is there, Tony leading the points and Denny Hamlin doing very well here lately. So, I'm just very excited for the opportunity they've given me and proud that they have the confidence in me."

Team president J.D. Gibbs said the addition of Yeley and Denny Hamlin represents a change in direction.

"Really, if you look back at the sport the last four years, the whole sport has changed," Gibbs said. "We've grown so fast. The sport has grown so fast. The people we have working on the cars.

"I'm excited about growing with some younger drivers, and for us, we wouldn't have made this change if we didn't have the faith in Denny and J.J. You have to match it up with good crew guys and crew chiefs, which I think we have."

In the past two seasons, Yeley has six Nextel Cup starts. His best finish was a 25th at Dover this fall.

"I'm glad I got to run two years in the Busch Series," Yeley said. "Those cars, being underhorsepowered, you have to have momentum. You take those things and you apply them to the Cup car. It's going to help tremendously."