Joe Gibbs Racing signs Yeley

Yeley will replace former champion Bobby Labonte, who has signed with Petty Enterprises. In addition to a full season in Nextel Cup, Yeley will run a minimum of 22 Busch Series races for JGR.

Yeley has been sharing the number 11 car with Denny Hamlin and Terry Labonte after Jason Leffler was axed from the team midseason.

In four starts in the car, Yeley's best finish was 25th at Dover in Septemeber, and he is currently 11th in the Busch series standings. Hamlin will stay in the number 11 next season.

"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 Stewart is 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 Hamlin means the sport is edging towards younger drivers.

"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."