Kristen Yeley fastest so far in 'Better Half Dash' qualifying

    Kristen Yeley, wife of NASCAR driver J.J. Yeley, clocked the fastest time in Monday’s qualifying session and will be among the favorites to win the fourth annual Better Half Dash Thursday night on Charlotte Motor Speedway’s frontstretch quarter-mile oval. 

   “Three years of experience,” she said. “I’m a lot more comfortable. I need to find my groove a little bit It takes me to find my groove, but when I do, I’m completely comfortable and I know my limits.”

   Despite running the only sub 20-second lap, Yeley won’t know until Thursday if she’ll start from the pole when the 25-lap charity race supporting Motor Racing Outreach and Speedway Children’s Charities goes green. That honor will be determined by fan donations. Fans can make a donation to their favorite Better Half Dash driver at www.betterhalfdash.com. The driver with the most individual donations will have the option of choosing her starting spot. 

   Melanie Self, Heidi Stoddard, Ashton Bayne and Karlee Hensley rounded out the top five, while Ashley Deihl Stremme, Ashley Allgaier, Jenna Robinson, Adriene Pattie and Jordan Fish finished 6-10. Amy Reimann did not qualify.