Young's Motorsports Circuit of the Americas Team Preview

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

Circuit of the Americas | Focused Health 250

Fast Facts

No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Ryan Ellis  

Primary Partner(s): ROSCH Company

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro

Crew Chief: Eddie Troconis 

2026 Driver Points Position: 10th | 2026 Owner Points Position: 11th

Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing

Year Three, Driven Forward: In November 2025, Ryan Ellis was announced as Young’s Motorsports’ full-time driver in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series as the organization enters its third season of competition.

In a significant step for 2026, Young’s Motorsports will transition its flagship No. 02 — long synonymous with the organization’s success in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series — to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series full-time, underscoring the team’s continued growth at the national level.

Ellis will pilot the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro across the full 33-race schedule, continuing with Saturday afternoon’s Focused Health 250 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) and culminating with the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway in November.

● About Ryan: A respected veteran in the NASCAR garage, Ellis joins Young’s Motorsports with more than a decade of experience across NASCAR’s national ranks, including competition in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

The 2026 season will mark Ellis’ fourth full-time campaign in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

The 35-year-old Virginia native is coming off his first career NASCAR top-10 finish in 2025 and looks to build on that momentum while continuing to expand his résumé, which includes 166 career starts in series competition.

Known for his consistency, professionalism, and versatility both behind the wheel and in the garage, Ellis aims to apply his experience to elevate Young’s Motorsports’ competitive presence in its third season of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition.

● All-Aboard!: For the third of 33 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes ROSCH Company as the primary partner on the No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro for Saturday afternoon’s 65-lap event.

With over 30 years of experience, ROSCH is one of the largest retaining wall companies in the United States and has installed millions of square feet of walls and pavers.

We have vast experience with nearly all types of retaining wall and paver systems.

Our team of in-house engineers, executives, estimators, project managers, office and field staff, along with our significant resources nationwide, unmatched buying power, and state-of-the-art equipment, truly separate us from our competition.

● Ryan Ellis O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Circuit of the Americas Stats: Saturday afternoon’s lone race of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season from the Austin, Texas world-renowned road course will mark Ellis’ fifth career start at the 2.4-mile layout.

In his previous four COTA starts, Ellis’s best result during the 2025 edition of the Focused Health 250, where he earned a track-best 16th, driving for DGM Racing.

Overall, he holds an O’Reilly Auto Parts Series average finish of 23.3 at the famed course.

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series returns to action Saturday, February 28, for the third race of the 2026 season at Circuit of the Americas.

The 17-turn road course in Austin presents a technical challenge for teams as they navigate elevation changes, heavy braking zones and a diverse mix of high-speed straights and tight corners.

The weekend will also feature the NASCAR Cup Series, which headlines Sunday with the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne.

Ryan Ellis and Young’s Motorsports look to build on early-season momentum as the No. 02 team continues its push through the 33-race campaign.

With one of NASCAR’s premier road course venues on deck, the weekend provides another opportunity for Ellis to strengthen his position in the championship standings and showcase the organization’s continued growth at the national level.

● Ryan Ellis NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Career Stats: Entering Austin, Ellis has 166 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races to his credit, earning a career-best sixth-place finish after starting 32nd in the 2026 edition of the United Rentals 300 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway for Young’s Motorsports.

Since his 2012 debut, Ellis has averaged a 26.3 finish in series competition, including the past three seasons running full-time.

● EchoPark Speedway | Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 Race Recap: On the strength of a superb opening to the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, Ryan Ellis and Young’s Motorsports invaded EchoPark Speedway, looking to continue their early-season success.

Without the benefit of practice, Ellis qualified his No. 02  Pella Window & Door of Georgia Chevrolet 26th on speed.

From the drop of the green flag, Ellis kept his No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet positioned inside the lead pack, poised to capitalize on late-race chaos and contend for back-to-back top-10 finishes.

Unfortunately, the team’s strategic plan unraveled after Ellis became an innocent victim in a late-race crash. Still, the Young’s Motorsports team refused to give up, and despite falling two laps off the pace, Ellis persevered to record a respectable 22nd-place finish at the

checkered flag.

The valiant effort from the team and driver keeps Ellis ranked 10th in the championship standings with 31 races remaining in 2026.

● Calling the Shots: Guiding Ellis as crew chief of the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is longtime crew chief, engineer and industry veteran Eddie Troconis.

On Saturday afternoon, he will be crew chief in his 24th NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race. In his previous 23 races, he has two top-10 finishes, most recently in the 2026 season-opener at Daytona International Speedway.  

The season's third race will be his first tango at Circuit of the Americas as crew chief in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

● Young's Motorsports' NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Circuit of the Americas: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ third start in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Circuit of the Americas.

In the organization’s two previous races, the team has earned a track-best 20th-place finish during the 2024 edition of the Focused Health 250, with rookie driver Leland Honeyman Jr. behind the wheel.

Last year, the Mooresville, N.C.-based team showed strong pace and a stellar 17th-place qualifying effort, but driver Anthony Alfredo could not avoid the late race shuffle, finishing 21st at the checkered flag.

In Austin, its two previous starts have resulted in an average starting position of 25.5 and an average finish of 20.5.

Beyond its O’Reilly Auto Parts Series efforts, the team has made 11 starts at COTA in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since 2021, producing a 25.8 average finish.

That stretch is highlighted by a team COTA-best second-place result with Kaz Grala in the inaugural 2021 Toyota Tundra 225.

The team also earned the pole with driver Sheldon Creed during the 2022 Truck Series event weekend.

● Young's Motorsports' NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series History: Since entering the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2024, the family-owned organization has logged 70 starts and earned one top-five and four top-10 finishes while maintaining an average starting position of 25.9 and an average finish of 23.3.

● Follow on Social Media: For more on Ryan Ellis, please visit ryanellisracing.com, like him on Facebook (Ryan Ellis), and follow him on Instagram (@ryanellisracing), TikTok (@ryanellisracing), and X | Twitter (@ryanellisracing).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Ryan Ellis Pre-Race Quotes:

On Circuit of the Americas: “Circuit of the Americas is one of the most technical tracks we go to all year. The 17 turns really challenge you as a driver — you have to manage braking zones, hit your marks and stay disciplined for the entire run.

“We’ve had a solid start to the season, and road courses are great opportunities to capitalize on execution. If we stay clean and put ourselves in position late, I’m confident our No. 02 ROSCH Chevrolet team can come away with a strong finish this weekend at Circuit of the Americas.”

On ROSCH Company Partnership: “I’m incredibly proud to continue our partnership with ROSCH Company. They’re a company built on precision and strength — and that mirrors what we aim to bring to the racetrack every weekend.

“COTA is a place where strategy and discipline matter and having a partner that believes in what we’re building at Young’s Motorsports means a lot. We’re focused on delivering a strong result for them in Austin this weekend and carrying that momentum into Pocono and Daytona later this year.”

On EchoPark Speedway Finish: “I’m really proud of the effort from everyone at Young’s Motorsports. We didn’t have practice, unloaded with decent speed and put ourselves in position to have a solid day.

“Unfortunately, we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time there late, and that’s part of superspeedway racing. The guys never gave up, though. Even being two laps down, we kept digging and salvaged what we could.

“It’s not the finish we wanted, but we’re still in a good spot in the points and that says a lot about the start we’ve had to the season.”

On 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Goals: “Our goal for 2026 and beyond is simple — keep improving every weekend and build something sustainable together.

“Young’s Motorsports has been putting in the work to establish itself in this series, and I want to help take that next step. If we can stay consistent, run competitively every week, and continue to close the gap to the front, the results will follow. It’s about progress, chemistry, and execution. I’m ready to get started!”

No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: J.J. Yeley

Primary Partner(s): DuraMAX

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro

Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott

2026 Driver Points Position: N/A | 2026 Owner Points Position: 21st

Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing

Year Three, Driven Forward: Young’s Motorsports continues its campaign in the newly rebranded NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, aiming to make an immediate impact with its second full-time entry, continuing this weekend at Circuit of the Americas.

NASCAR veteran driver J.J. Yeley will pilot the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro in the third of 33 races on the 2026 schedule.

About J.J.: J.J. Yeley is a veteran American motorsports driver whose career spans NASCAR’s national series and a championship résumé in open-wheel racing.

A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Yeley first rose to prominence in the United States Auto Club (USAC), where he became one of the few drivers to capture the prestigious “Triple Crown” — winning USAC’s Silver Crown, National Sprint Car and National Midget titles in the same season.

Yeley transitioned to NASCAR in the mid-2000s, competing full-time in the Cup Series with Joe Gibbs Racing before building a lengthy career across the Cup, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Truck Series.

Known for his versatility and willingness to adapt to a variety of teams and equipment, Yeley has earned respect throughout the garage for his experience, technical feedback and steady presence behind the wheel.

● All-Aboard!: For the third of 33 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes DuraMAX as the primary partner on the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro for Saturday afternoon’s 65-lap event.

DuraMAX, Powered by RelaDyne, offers high-quality personal vehicle maintenance solutions, including full synthetic, high mileage, and synthetic blend motor oils, as well as antifreeze, filters, wiper blades, and more.

DuraMAX provides a 10-year, up to 500,000-mile engine protection warranty and has been recognized as the best-selling oil brand in the industry by fast lube operators since 2018.

For more information, visit DuraMAX.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram and X.

● J.J. Yeley NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Circuit of the Americas Stats: Saturday afternoon’s lone race of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season from the Austin, Texas world-renowned road course will mark Yeley’s second career NOAPS start at the 2.4-mile layout.

In his previous start, Yeley earned an NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series track-best 29th in the 2022 edition of the Pit Boss 250, driving for MBM Motorsports.

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series returns to action Saturday, February 28, for the third race of the 2026 season at Circuit of the Americas.

The 17-turn road course in Austin presents a technical challenge for teams as they navigate elevation changes, heavy braking zones and a diverse mix of high-speed straights and tight corners.

The weekend will also feature the NASCAR Cup Series, which headlines Sunday with the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne.

In his first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start since Charlotte Motor Speedway in May 2025, J.J. Yeley and Young’s Motorsports look to deliver a strong performance that will help evaluate and strengthen the team’s No. 42 Chevrolet full-time program ahead of the upcoming West Coast swing.

With one of NASCAR’s premier road course venues on deck, the weekend provides another opportunity for Yeley to bolster his road course résumé while showcasing the organization’s continued growth at the national level.

● J.J. Yeley NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Career Stats: Entering Austin, Yeley has 393 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races to his credit, earning three poles, 15 top-five and 48 top-10 finishes, including a career-best second-place finish twice at Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park and Kentucky Speedway.

Since his 2004 debut, he has averaged a 23.1 finish in series competition.

● Calling the Shots: Guiding Yeley as crew chief of the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is longtime crew chief Andrew Abbott.

On Saturday, he will be the crew chief in his 165th NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race. In his previous 164 races, he has four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes.  

The season's first race will be his fourth tango at Circuit of the Americas as crew chief in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

● Young's Motorsports' NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Circuit of the Americas: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ third start in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Circuit of the Americas.

In the organization’s two previous races, the team has earned a track-best 20th-place finish during the 2024 edition of the Focused Health 250, with rookie driver Leland Honeyman Jr. behind the wheel.

Last year, the Mooresville, N.C.-based team showed strong pace and a stellar 17th-place qualifying effort, but driver Anthony Alfredo could not avoid the late race shuffle, finishing 21st at the checkered flag.

In Austin, its two previous starts have resulted in an average starting position of 25.5 and an average finish of 20.5.

Beyond its O’Reilly Auto Parts Series efforts, the team has made 11 starts at COTA in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since 2021, producing a 25.8 average finish.

That stretch is highlighted by a team-best second-place result with Kaz Grala in the inaugural 2021 Toyota Tundra 225.

The team also earned the pole with driver Sheldon Creed during the 2022 Truck Series event weekend.

● Young's Motorsports' NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series History: Since entering the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2024, the family-owned organization has logged 70 starts and earned one top-five and four top-10 finishes while maintaining an average starting position of 25.9 and an average finish of 23.3.

● Follow on Social Media: For more on J.J. Yeley, follow him on Instagram (@jjyeley1) and X | Twitter (@jjyeley1).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

J.J. Yeley Pre-Race Quote:

On Joining Young’s Motorsports for Circuit of the Americas: “I’m really excited to join Young’s Motorsports this weekend at Circuit of the Americas. COTA is such a technical place, and road courses are always a fun challenge because you’re constantly managing braking zones and track position.

“It means a lot to represent DuraMAX during a weekend where they’re such a big part of the event with the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne.

“When a partner is investing in the entire NASCAR weekend, you want to make sure you deliver a professional, competitive performance that reflects that commitment.

“I’m looking forward to getting on track and making the most of the opportunity.”

Race Information:

The Focused Health 250 (65 laps | 156 miles) is the third of thirty-three (33) NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races on the 2026 schedule. Practice will occur on Fri., February 27, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 5:05 p.m. The field will take the green flag the next afternoon, Sat., February 28, shortly after 2:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. ET), with live coverage on The CW Network, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. All times are local (CT).

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