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Family run businesses are becoming a thing of the past, but with the NHRA Wiley X Racing Team and the Yates family, it is definitely something that works like a well oiled machine. The entire Yates family is involved with the team, each family member performing tasks that led to driver Jim Yates, 327th career qualifying race at the O'Reilly Spring Nationals.

March 28-30, Houston hosted the O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park. Jessica Southwick, FrameFinder Virtual Try-On Manager, and Lewis Southwick, Business Development Manager for FramesDirect.com, were the guests of the NHRA Wiley X Racing Team on Saturday, March 29th for the qualifying rounds. Wiley X Eyewear, entering its third year sponsorship of the Yates Racing Team, chose its top two accounts in Texas to attend the event with VIP treatment.

"This was my first time to experience an NHRA event from a 'behind the scenes' perspective. I learned a great deal about racing and the VERY technical preparations that are involved in Pro Stock drag racing. What stood out most to me was the family atmosphere," Lewis Southwick commented. Jim Yates drives the Wiley X car. His son, Jamie Yates, is the crew chief. Toni Yates, Jim's wife, is an expert mechanic. Melissa Yates, Jim & Toni's daughter, is the Wiley X Director of Sports Marketing, and works on the pit crew preparation team. Al Waters, is the suspension and drive train technician. Although Al is not a part of the Yates family, he has been with the Yates Family Racing Team for over 20 years. "Everyone worked together so perfectly. Nobody had a more important role than the other. When it came time for lunch, I thought it was great that Jim Yates, put down his wrench, and picked up his spatula and grilled burgers for everyone."

This is the third year for Wiley X to sponsor NHRA driver Jim Yates. "This is an exciting time for Wiley X Eyewear as we're not only celebrating 20 plus years as a family-owned business, but we are also coming off our biggest growth year in the commercial market," said Myles Freeman, vice president of sales and co-owner of Wiley X Eyewear. The 2008 Wiley X Pontiac GXP recorded a 6.692 second run in the ¼ mile track at a speed of 205.69 MPH at the O'Reilly Spring Nationals. Jim Yates is currently ranked 14th by NHRA in the Pro Stock division. This will mark the 23rd year of professional racing for the Yates Racing Team. Over the past 16 years, Yates has won two PowerAde Pro Stock Championships, finished in the Top 2 five times, the Top 5 eight times and the Top 10 fourteen times. He has won 25 NHRA national events and finished runner-up at an additional 33 events to date and captured 29 poles. His quickest elapsed time is 6.625 seconds and his fastest speed is 208.17 MPH.

"We were really made to feel welcome by everyone. Visiting with Melissa Yates, and her mom Toni, was great. In the middle of this very intense time for them, we sat in the Wiley X Tour bus and had girl time. We talked about their daily routine on the road and what it is like to be a part of a drag racing family," said Jessica Southwick. Wiley X sunglasses are very much a part of this racing team. "I was really impressed with the support Wiley X sunglasses were given. Each member of the racing team really stood behind the product and talked about the benefits and features of Wiley X. Everyone was like a walking advertisement for Wiley X."

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