Sat, 31 May 2003, 02:57 PM Yates in Stable Condition

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

JOLIET, Ill. -- Pro Stock driver Jim Yates, a two-time series champion, is in stable condition at Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, Ill., following an incident at Route 66 Raceway where he came in contact with an NHRA Safety Safari vehicle. Yates had just completed a qualifying pass in the pair of cars before Bruce Allen. Then at the end of Allen's pass the throttle on Allen's Reher-Morrison Pontiac became stuck open.

Yates stopped his SplitFire/Peak Grand Am, exited his vehicle, and rushed over to Allen's car to help him shut the motor off. A huge cloud of smoke was forming around the vehicle and Yates became enveloped in the smoke, which obscured the view of the Safety Safari personnel arriving at the scene to render aid.

"He's going to be fine," Yates' son and crew chief Jamie Yates said. "He bit through his lip and knocked a tooth loose but it looked worse than it was."

Yates is currently qualified in the No. 7 position. There is no information yet on whether he will be released and cleared to race in time for Sunday's eliminations.