Former #NASCAR Driver Townley Killed

Update: Authorities in Georgia say former NASCAR driver John Wes Townley was fatally shot on Saturday as he attacked his estranged wife and another man with a hatchet.

 

According to Athens police, officers arrived at a residence and found Laura Townley, 30, and John Townley, 31, shot.

 

Police said John Townley showed up at the house occupied by Laura and Zachary Anderson, 32, with a hatchet.

 

 

Athens, Georgia Shooting Takes John Wes’ Life

 

John Wes Townley, a former NASCAR driver who enjoyed an extensive career across the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series from 2008 to 2016, was shot to death Saturday in a double homicide in the Five Points area of Athens, Georgia. He was 31.

 

According to a report by the Athens Banner-Herald, Athens-Clarke County police responded to a report of a shooting just before 9 p.m. Saturday night. Townley and a 30-year-old woman had been shot and both were transported to a local hospital, where Townley died of his injuries. The woman's injuries were described as "serious".

 

A police investigation is currently ongoing, with a 32-year old Dunwoody man known to the victim suspected in the case. The preliminary investigation suggests that the homicide was related to domestic violence.

 

Townley, the son of Zaxby's co-founder Tony Townley, raced in NASCAR throughout the late 2000s and 2010s mostly with the backing of his family's chain of fried chicken restaurants. After developing a penchant for crashing cars early in his career, Townley would eventually develop into a respectable driver that enjoyed most of his success in the Truck Series.

 

Townley had a best finish of 8th in the Truck Series points standings in 2015, a year which saw the proudest moment of his career when he took the checkered flag for his first and only victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Upon retiring at the end of the 2016 season, Townley was credited with one victory, five top 5s, 24 top 10s, and two poles in 110 starts. He also made 76 career starts in the Xfinity Series with a best finish of 13th on multiple occasions.

 

In addition to his NASCAR pedigree, Townley also enjoyed the thrill of victory at the Daytona International Speedway, winning at the speedway twice in the ARCA Menards Series. Townley won the ARCA race at Daytona in 2013 for his first career win, and then did so again in 2016.

 

John Wes Townley’s only NASCAR win came 6 years ago today… pic.twitter.com/QM8R4h1xR4

— Darian Gilliam (@BlackFlagMatter) October 3, 2021

 

 

source: CBS Sports

Starting to get more details on the John Wes Townley Story.

Very dark… pic.twitter.com/sjoxLtIuXK

— Darian Gilliam (@BlackFlagMatter) October 3, 2021

 

#NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Qualifying Rained Out

 Practice Speeds Set Line-Up

Saturday's schedule had to be adjusted due to an overnight rain which soaked the track at Pocono Raceway.  Therefore, the lineup for the 'Pocono Mountains 150' will be set by practice speeds. Rookie William Byron will start on the pole.

 

POS.	Car #	Driver
1	9	William Byron
2	8	John Hunter Nemechek
3	41	Ben Rhodes
4	29	Tyler Reddick
5	4	Christopher Bell
6	2	Austin Hill
7	17	Timothy Peters
8	51	Cody Coughlin
9	33	Ben Kennedy
10	13	Cameron Hayley
11	21	Johnny Sauter
12	23	Spencer Gallagher
13	5	John Wes Townley
14	19	Daniel Hemric
15	11	Brett Moffitt
16	0	Cole Custer
17	98	Rico Abreu
18	66	Jordan Anderson
19	86	Brandon Brown
20	88	Matt Crafton
21	22	Austin Wayne Self
22	49	Reed Sorenson
23	44	Tommy Joe Martins
24	71	Carlos Contreras
25	59	Kyle Martel
26	7	Todd Peck
27	63	Norm Benning
28	6	Sean Corr
29	28	Ryan Ellis
30	50	Travis Kvapil
31	1	Jennifer Jo Cobb
32	10	Caleb Roark

Welcome back John Wes Townley.  Townley missed a couple of races while receiving treatment for a possible concussion.  

Congratulations once again to Cameron Hayley on the birth of his daughter, Blakely Elizabeth Hayley.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

• Next Race: Pocono Mountains 150
• Distance: 150 miles (60 laps)
• The Place: Pocono Raceway
• The Date: Saturday, July 30
• The Time: 1 p.m. ET
• TV: NBCSN, 12:30 p.m. ET
• Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

John Wes Townley Hopes To Return To The Driver’s Seat Soon (#NASCAR #ARCA)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. might be the most famous NASCAR driver sidelined due to health concerns; however, he is not the only one. 

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Driver, John Wes Townley  remains under treatment for a possible concussion and did not compete in last Wednesday’s race at Eldora Speedway. Parker Kligerman substituted for the Arca race where he started on pole and finished eighth. Brady Boswell drove Townley’s Truck to a twenty-first place finish.

Townley is scheduled to be re-evaluated by his physician today, and anticipates gaining the medical clearance required to return to competition in both ARCA and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for events this week at the Tricky Triangle

NASCAR Race Mom will keep her fingers crossed – best of luck John Wes Townley.

 

 

 

About Athenian Motorsports

In July 2014, Athenian Motorsports began operating out of a new, state-of-the-art, 43,000 square foot facility in Concord, N.C. In 2016, the team will field full-time entries in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. AMS will also field a part-time entry in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Cool Photos from the Toyota Tundra 250 #NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR Race Mom loves the Truck Races.  Unfortunately, Oma (Grandma Duties) prevented me from watching the excitement via the television.  Thank goodness for these photos from nascar.com.

John Wes Townley, driver of the #05 Jive Communications Chevrolet, wins
the Keystone Light Pole Award for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
 Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway on May 6, 2016 in Kansas City, Kansas.
(Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images)

 John Wes Townley, after winning the Keystone Light Pole Award
(Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images)

John Wes Townley, leads the field to green during the
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra 250
(Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images)

William Byron, driver of the #9 Liberty University Toyota, comes in for a pit sto.
(Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images )

Johnny Sauter, driver of the #21 Allegiant Chevrolet, leads a pack of truck
(Jamie Squire/Getty Images )

Trucks race during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra 250
(Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

William Byron, driver of the #9 Liberty University Toyota, takes the checkered flag.
(Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images)

William Byron celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Toyota Tundra 250
(Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images)

K&N Pro Series Alumni Moves To Wauters Motorsports

John Wes Townley will move to Wauters Motorsports for the
2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. (NASCAR Photo)

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Wauters Motorsports announced Thursday that John Wes Townley will drive the No. 5 Zaxby’s Toyota Tundra during the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

“We are excited to have John Wes and Zaxby’s join us in 2014,” said team owner Richie Wauters. “He has made significant gains in his NASCAR career and we feel this is the right fit for him this season. We expect to have John Wes in the top-five in points and, hopefully, bring home some wins for Zaxby’s. And we are thrilled to be back fielding Toyotas with Joe Gibbs Racing Engines.”

Townley had a career year in 2013, which started with Townley winning the ARCA Racing Series opener at Daytona Int’l Speedway. In 22 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts last year with Red Horse Racing, Townley finished inside the top 10 seven times.

“I’m looking forward to working with a well-respected truck owner like Richie Wauters,” said Townley. “He builds some of the best trucks in NASCAR. I know together we will post some top-fives and, hopefully, a few wins this season.”