John Wes Townley

John Wes Townley (born December 31, 1989)[1] is an American former professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 05 Chevrolet Silverado for Athenian Motorsports, and part-time in the Xfinity Series, driving the No. 05 Chevrolet Camaro for Athenian Motorsports. Townley's father Tony is a co-founder of the Zaxby's chain of chicken restaurants.

John Wes Townley
Townley at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2015
Born	December 31, 1989 Watkinsville, Georgia
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
76 races run over 8 years
2016 position	111th
Best finish	23rd (2009)
First race	2008 Camping World RV Sales 200 (Dover)
Last race	2016 Sparks Energy 300 (Talladega)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career
110 races run over 6 years
2016 position	17th
Best finish	8th (2015)
First race	2008 Ohio 250 (Mansfield)
Last race	2016 Texas Roadhouse 200 (Martinsville)
First win	2015 Rhino Linings 350 (Las Vegas)
Wins Top tens Poles 1 24 2
Statistics current as of October 29, 2016.

Racing career

Early career

Townley's 2009 Nationwide Series car

Townley drove in the American Speed Association prior to joining NASCAR. He began racing in the Nationwide Series in 2008 when he drove in three races for RAB Racing and had three DNFs. He also competed in 7 Craftsman Truck Series for Roush Racing with a best finish of 18th at both The Milwaukee Mile and Talladega Superspeedway. He returned to the Nationwide Series with RAB in 2009 and qualified for 26 races. He finished 16 races and finished 23rd in points. Townley's driving style proved controversial, resulting in numerous accidents; he received the nickname "John Wrecks Weekly" from fans.[2]

Townley joined Richard Childress Racing for 2010, but was released at the sixth race of the year at Phoenix International Raceway. That resulted in his replacement for the race by Clint Bowyer, and for the rest of the year by Bowyer and Morgan Shepherd. He rejoined RAB Racing for a few races later in the 2010 season.[2]

2012–present

Townley returned to RAB Racing for the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, competing for Rookie of the Year honors.[3]

On February 7, 2012 Townley was arrested and charged with a DUI following an automobile accident in suburban Oconee County, Georgia.[4][5] He was subsequently suspended by RAB Racing until an "appropriate" amount of time had passed,[6] and was placed on probation by NASCAR through the end of the year.[7] Townley would return to driving for the team in the Camping World Truck Series at the end of March at Martinsville Speedway, where he finished 23rd.[8] He would finish in the top 20 in the following three races, and would return to the Nationwide Series in RAB's No. 99 Toyota at Dover International Speedway[9] and Daytona International Speedway during the summer.

In August, Townley attempted to make his Sprint Cup Series debut at Pocono Raceway, driving for FAS Lane Racing with sponsorship from Zaxby's.[10] Townley hit the wall on his warm-up lap of practice out of the tunnel turn and was replaced by Jason White.[11] On the same weekend he scored his first career top-10 finish in NASCAR, finishing 8th in the Camping World Truck Series race at Pocono.[12]

Townley's 2013 ARCA car at Road America

Townley's 2013 truck at Rockingham Speedway

After the 2012 season, Townley signed with Red Horse Racing to drive the team's No. 7 Toyota in the Camping World Truck Series for 2013.[13] In addition, Townley drove for Venturini Motorsports in the season-opening race for the ARCA Racing Series at Daytona International Speedway. Starting from the pole, he went on to win the event,[14] running a partial schedule in ARCA and the NASCAR Nationwide Series for the team.[15] Townley finished 11th in Truck points.

For the 2014 season, Townley moved to Wauters Motorsports to drive the No. 5 Toyota in the Camping World Truck Series,[16] as well as running full-time in the ARCA Racing Series for Venturini Motorsports.[17] Mid-season, Townley moved to Athenian Motorsports, which is owned by his father Tony Townley, for the remainder of the Truck Series season as well as a partial Nationwide Series schedule.

At Pocono Raceway in August, Townley was involved in an accident during ARCA qualifying, and was forced to sit out the remainder of the weekend as a precaution.[18] In December, it was announced that Townley would return to the Truck Series full-time in the No. 05 for Athenian Motorsports while also running part-time in the Xfinity Series in the No. 25 for Athenian Motorsports.

In 2015, he won his first career truck race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when Matt Crafton pitted for fuel with 6 laps to go. Townley stayed out on the gamble and won in the process.

During the 2016 Drivin' for Linemen 200 at Gateway Motorsports Park, Townley was involved in an altercation with Spencer Gallagher, after the two crashed during on lap 154.[19] Townley was eventually fined $15,000 and placed on probation until the end of the year. He missed the following race at Kentucky Speedway for concussion treatment and was replaced by Parker Kligerman.[20] Townley also missed another race when he skipped the Texas Motor Speedway truck race to treat an injured left ankle, with Cody Coughlin taking over the No. 05 for the event.[21]

In January 2017, it was announced Townley was retiring from motorsports and Athenian Motorsports would subsequently be shutting down operations.[22]

Personal life

A native of Watkinsville, Georgia, Townley participates in mountain biking and enjoys playing the piano and guitar.[23] He announced his engagement to girlfriend Laura Bird in the fall of 2016.[22]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings. * – Most laps led.)

Sprint Cup Series

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	NSCC	Pts	Ref
2012	FAS Lane Racing	32	Ford	DAY	PHO	LVS	BRI	CAL	MAR	TEX	KAN	RCH	TAL	DAR	CLT	DOV	POC	MCH	SON	KEN	DAY	NHA	IND	POC Wth	GLN	MCH	BRI	ATL	RCH	CHI	NHA	DOV	TAL	CLT	KAN	MAR	TEX	PHO	HOM	NA	-	[24]

Xfinity Series

NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	NXSC	Pts	Ref
2008	RAB Racing	09	Ford	DAY	CAL	LVS	ATL	BRI	NSH	TEX	PHO	MXC	TAL	RCH	DAR	CLT	DOV	NSH	KEN	MLW	NHA	DAY	CHI	GTY	IRP	CGV	GLN	MCH	BRI DNQ	CAL	RCH	DOV 30	KAN	CLT 27	MEM DNQ	TEX DNQ	PHO 38	HOM DNQ	92nd	204	[25]
2009				DAY 21	CAL 22	LVS 38	BRI 16	TEX 36	NSH 18	PHO 36	TAL 18	RCH DNQ	DAR 34	CLT DNQ	DOV 38	NSH 42	KEN 32	MLW DNQ	NHA 28	DAY 36	CHI 21	GTY 21	IRP DNQ	IOW 29	GLN	MCH DNQ	BRI 33	CGV	ATL DNQ	RCH	DOV 18	KAN 31	CAL 17	CLT 28	MEM 40	TEX 18	PHO 23	HOM 24	23rd	1989	[26]
2010	Richard Childress Racing	21	Chevy	DAY 23	CAL 30	LVS 15	BRI 26	NSH 18	PHO Wth^†	TEX	TAL	RCH	DAR	DOV	CLT	NSH	KEN	ROA	NHA	DAY	CHI	GTY	IRP																47th	866	[27]
	RAB Racing	09	Ford																					IOW 24	GLN	MCH 17	BRI 27	CGV	ATL 22	RCH	DOV	KAN	CAL	CLT	GTY	TEX	PHO	HOM
2012	RAB Racing	24	Toyota	DAY	PHO	LVS	BRI	CAL	TEX	RCH	TAL 15	DAR	IOW	CLT																									126th	0^1	[28]
		99													DOV 20	MCH	ROA	KEN	DAY 25	NHA	CHI	IND	IOW	GLN	CGV	BRI 23	ATL	RCH	CHI	KEN	DOV	CLT 32	KAN	TEX	PHO	HOM
2013	Venturini Motorsports	25	Toyota	DAY	PHO	LVS	BRI 17	CAL	TEX	RCH	TAL DNQ	DAR	CLT 35	DOV	IOW	MCH	ROA	KEN	DAY	NHA	CHI	IND	IOW	GLN	MOH	BRI	ATL	RCH	CHI	KEN	DOV	KAN	CHA	TEX	PHO	HOM			114th	0^1	[29]
2014	Athenian Motorsports			DAY	PHO	LVS	BRI	CAL	TEX	DAR	RCH	TAL 13	IOW	CLT 22	DOV	MCH	ROA	KEN Wth	DAY 18	NHA	CHI 27	IND 28	IOW	GLN	MOH	BRI 18	ATL 32	RCH	CHI	KEN	DOV	KAN 31	CLT	TEX 23	PHO 23	HOM 33			100th^1	0^1	[30]
2015			Chevy	DAY 33	ATL 27	LVS 19	PHO	CAL 23	TEX 17	BRI 14	RCH	TAL 15	IOW 13	CLT 29	DOV 15	MCH	CHI	DAY 19	KEN 32	NHA	IND	IOW	GLN 39	MOH	BRI 23	ROA	DAR 26	RCH 30	CHI 13	KEN	DOV	CLT 22	KAN	TEX	PHO	HOM			97th	0^1	[31]
2016		05		DAY 17	ATL	LVS	PHO	CAL	TEX	BRI	RCH	TAL 26	DOV	CLT	POC	MCH	IOW	DAY	KEN	NHA	IND	IOW	GLN	MOH	BRI	ROA	DAR	RCH	CHI	KEN	DOV	CLT	KAN	TEX	PHO	HOM			111th	0^1	[32]
^† - Replaced by Clint Bowyer

Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	NCWTC	Pts	Ref
2008	Roush Fenway Racing	09	Ford	DAY	CAL	ATL	MAR	KAN	CLT	MFD 27	DOV	TEX	MCH	MLW 18	MEM	KEN 21	IRP	NSH 30	BRI 35	GTW	NHA	LVS	TAL 18	MAR	ATL	TEX	PHO 24	HOM	39th	622	[33]
2009	Billy Ballew Motorsports		Toyota	DAY	CAL	ATL	MAR	KAN	CLT DNQ	DOV	TEX	MCH	MLW	MEM	KEN	IRP	NSH	BRI	CHI	IOW	GTW	NHA	LVS	MAR	TAL	TEX	PHO	HOM	120th	0	[34]
2012	RAB Racing	09	Toyota	DAY	MAR 23	CAR 20	KAN 16	CLT 16	DOV 16	TEX 27	KEN 31	IOW 20	CHI 14	POC 8	MCH 25	BRI 24	ATL 19	IOW 15	KEN 10	LVS 14	TAL 25	MAR 18	TEX 16	PHO 13	HOM 32				16th	521	[35]
2013	Red Horse Racing	7	Toyota	DAY 21	MAR 32	CAR 11	KAN 32	CLT 8	DOV 11	TEX 15	KEN 11	IOW 12	ELD 22	POC 17	MCH 7	BRI 30	MSP 12	IOW 11	CHI 6	LVS 7	TAL 7	MAR 13	TEX 9	PHO 27	HOM 6				11th	641	[36]
2014	Wauters Motorsports	5	Toyota	DAY 14	MAR 20	KAN 11	CLT 4	DOV 12	TEX 5	GTW 8	KEN 21																		15th	499	[37]
	Athenian Motorsports	05	Toyota									IOW 22	ELD 19	POC	MCH	BRI 29	MSP	CHI 15	NHA 18	LVS 11	TAL 8	MAR 33	TEX 20	PHO 33	HOM 35
2015			Chevy	DAY 22	ATL 12	MAR 8	KAN 12	CLT 6	DOV 18	TEX 3	GTW 11	IOW 10	KEN 8	ELD 14	POC 17	MCH 17	BRI 11	MSP 25	CHI 10	NHA 26	LVS 1	TAL 16	MAR 11	TEX 17	PHO 3	HOM 10			8th	730	[38]
2016				DAY 26	ATL 7	MAR 21	KAN 26	DOV 29	CLT 16	TEX 17	IOW 19	GTW 23	KEN	ELD	POC 29	BRI 10	MCH 12	MSP 12	CHI 20	NHA 12	LVS 13	TAL 28	MAR 21	TEX	PHO	HOM			17th	255	[39]

Busch East Series

NASCAR Busch East Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	NBEC	Pts	Ref
2007	STI Motorsports	3	Chevy	GRE 10	ELK	IOW 23	SBO	STA	NHA	TMP	NSH	ADI	LRP	MFD	NHA	DOV	42nd	228	[40]

^* Season still in progress
¹ Ineligible for series points

ARCA Racing Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Racing Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	ARSC	Pts	Ref
2008	RAB Racing	09	Ford	DAY 11	SLM 7	IOW 12	KAN 15	CAR 12	KEN 5	TOL 16	POC 20	MCH 13	CAY 9	KEN 34	BLN 8	POC 9	NSH 33	ISF 15	DSF 11	CHI 40	SLM 7	NJE 18	TAL 7	TOL 6	7th	4540	[41]
2009				DAY 4	SLM	CAR	TAL 17	KEN	TOL	POC	MCH	MFD	IOW	KEN	BLN	POC	ISF	CHI	TOL	DSF	NJE	SLM	KAN	CAR	75th	355	[42]
2010	Venturini Motorsports	35	Toyota	DAY 3	PBE	SLM	TEX	TAL	TOL	POC	MCH	IOW	MFD	POC	BLN	NJE	ISF	CHI	DSF	TOL	SLM	KAN	CAR		84th	215	[43]
2012	Venturini Motorsports	35	Toyota	DAY	MOB	SLM	TAL	TOL	ELK	POC	MCH	WIN	NJE	IOW	CHI	IRP	POC	BLN	ISF	MAD	SLM	DSF	KAN 28		129th	100	[44]
2013		15		DAY 1	MOB		TAL 34	TOL	ELK	POC	MCH													KAN 3	25th	1095	[45]
		55				SLM 13						ROA 15	WIN	CHI	NJE	POC	BLN	ISF	MAD	DSF	IOW	SLM	KEN
2014		15		DAY 11	MOB 8	SLM 21	TAL 2	TOL 5	NJE 14	POC 3	MCH 4	ELK 9	WIN 8	CHI 22	IRP 6	POC INQ^†	BLN	ISF	MAD 10	DSF 12	SLM	KEN	KAN 6		8th	3295	[46]
2015	Mason Mitchell Motorsports	88	Chevy	DAY	MOB	NSH	SLM	TAL	TOL	NJE	POC	MCH	CHI	WIN	IOW	IRP	POC	BLN	ISF	DSF	SLM	KEN	KAN 5		89th	210	[47]
2016	Athenian Motorsports	05	Chevy	DAY 1	NSH 4*	SLM 7	TAL 29	TOL	NJE	POC 19	MCH	MAD	WIN	IOW	IRP	POC 2	BLN 15	ISF 20	DSF	SLM 5	CHI 2	KEN 23	KAN 7		12th	2125	[48]
^† – Qualified but replaced by B. J. McLeod.

References

1. "John Wes Townley team bio". RAB Racing. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
2. Minter, Rick (September 3, 2010). "John Wes Townley gives Nationwide team a boost". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta, GA. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
3. "Townley To Drive RAB Racing Entry In 2012". SPEED Channel. Fox Sports. January 13, 2012. Archived from the original on January 15, 2012. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
4. "Oconee Blotter". Athens Banner-Herald. Athena, Georgia. February 10, 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
5. Pockrass, Bob (February 10, 2012). "RAB Racing's John Wes Townley arrested on DUI charges in Georgia". SceneDaily.com. The Sporting News. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
6. "RAB Racing suspends driver John Wes Townley". News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
7. Utter, Jim (March 22, 2012). "Townley placed on probation by NASCAR through Dec. 31". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
8. Dryden, Cortney (March 23, 2012). "John Wes Townley Returns to Driver's Seat of RAB Racing's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Entry at Martinsville". RAB Racing. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
9. "John Wes Townley, No. 99 Barberitos Southwestern Grille Toyota Camry, Dover Preview". RAB Racing via Speedway Media. May 29, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
10. Turnbull, Doug (July 31, 2012). "What's the points, Danica demo-derby, and Cup team expansion". WSB Radio. Atlanta, GA. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
11. Gluck, Jeff (August 3, 2012). "Jason White To Replace John Wes Townley In No. 32 Sprint Cup Car At Pocono". SB Nation. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
12. "Toyota NCWTS Pocono Post-Race Notes & Quotes". Toyota Racing via Speedway Media. August 4, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
13. Gluck, Jeff (December 18, 2012). "John Wes Townley joins Red Horse Racing in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series". SBNation. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
14. Gelston, Dan (February 16, 2013). "John Wes Townley wins 1st ARCA race at Daytona". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
15. "Townley Inks Partial Season Race Deal". SPEED Channel. Fox Sports. March 12, 2013. Archived from the original on March 15, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
16. "John Wes Townley to Wauters Motorsports for 2014". Yahoo! Sports. December 19, 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
17. "John Wes Townley". Automobile Racing Club of America. February 27, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
18. Pennell, Jay (August 1, 2014). "John Wes Townley hospitalized after Pocono ARCA wreck". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2014-08-02.
19. Bonkowski, Jerry (June 26, 2016). "Townley, Gallagher wreck, wrestle and then slug it out after Gateway wreck". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
20. "POSSIBLE CONCUSSION SIDELINES TOWNLEY AT KENTUCKY". NASCAR. July 6, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
21. "JOHN WES TOWNLEY RULED OUT FOR TEXAS RACE". NASCAR. November 2, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
22. Wilhelm, Chase (12 January 2017). "John Wes Townley ends racing career, family team shuts down". FOX Sports. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
23. Gluck, Jeff (July 30, 2013). "12 Questions with John Wes Townley". USA Today. McLean, VA. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
24. "John Wes Townley – 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
25. "John Wes Townley – 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
26. "John Wes Townley – 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
27. "John Wes Townley – 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
28. "John Wes Townley – 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
29. "John Wes Townley – 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
30. "John Wes Townley – 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
31. "John Wes Townley – 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
32. "John Wes Townley – 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
33. "John Wes Townley – 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
34. "John Wes Townley – 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
35. "John Wes Townley – 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
36. "John Wes Townley – 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
37. "John Wes Townley – 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
38. "John Wes Townley – 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
39. "John Wes Townley – 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
40. "John Wes Townley – 2007 NASCAR Busch East Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
41. "John Wes Townley – 2008 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
42. "John Wes Townley – 2009 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
43. "John Wes Townley – 2010 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
44. "John Wes Townley – 2012 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
45. "John Wes Townley – 2013 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
46. "John Wes Townley – 2014 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
47. "John Wes Townley – 2015 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
48. "John Wes Townley – 2016 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2020.

External links

• Official website
• John Wes Townley driver statistics at Racing-Reference