Gateway Gives Townley and Wauters Motorsports Third Top-10 Finish of 2014 in Zaxby’s Toyota

John Wes Townley posted an eighth-place finish in the running of the Drivin’ for Linemen 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in the No. 5 Zaxby’s Toyota Tundra at Gateway Motorsports Park Saturday night.

Townley missed the first session of practice due to racing in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Friday at Michigan International Speedway.  Nelson Piquet Jr shook down the Wauters Motorsports entry during the two extended sessions on the Madison, Illinois track.

Townley placed the Zaxby’s Toyota Tundra in the 15th-place position on the starting grid on the 1.25-mile Gateway Motorsports Park during the qualifying rounds Saturday afternoon. Due to adjustments after qualifying the No. 5 Zaxby’s Tundra was placed at the rear of the field for the the beginning of the 160-lap Drivin’ for Linemen 200.

Townley immediately advanced the Wauters Motorsports NASCAR Camping World truck from the back of the pack moving into the 16th place by lap 43 running times comparable to the leaders.  The team discovered that Townley was able to hear the spotter but was unable to communicate back.  The team brought the Zaxby’s tundra down pit road under the green flag on lap 62 where the jack man had difficulty causing a slow stop sending the driver back out in the 18th place.  The caution flag flew on lap 74 where the Wauters Motorsports team brought Townley back down pit road to top off the fuel and change out the radio. 

Once communication was reestablished Townley continued to advance up to the ninth place position.  The caution flag flew on lap 124 where the team came back down pit road on lap 126 for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment to help the Tundra’s handling.  Townley restarted in the eighth-place position on lap 133 and was able to maintain the position posting his third top-10 finish of the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. 

“We struggled with the truck Saturday,” John Wes Townley said. “The NCWTS teams haven’t been at Gateway since 2010 so it was hard to get a good balance.  Richie (Wauters) and all the guys on the Wauters Motorsports team never stopped working to make the Zaxby’s Tundra better and the efforts really paid off with another top-10 finish.   I have to thank the crew guys, Joe Gibbs for the horsepower, Mike Beam for keeping me out of the accidents on the track, Nelson Piquet, Jr for shaking the truck down for us and especially Zaxby’s for their support.  It ended up being a good point’s night moving us up into seventh place in Driver Points and 10th in Owner Points!”

Wauters Motorsports PR