Townley Settles for Seventh After Nearly Winning on Home Track

After starting second and racing around 10th much of the afternoon, John Wes Townley’s No. 05 ESPFANCLUB.org Chevrolet sprang to life late in the going during Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Great Clips 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and left the Watkinsville, Ga. native sitting second on a late-race restart with two laps remaining.

But the tires spun on his Silverado as the green flag waved, which was enough to allow John Hunter Nemechek to speed away to victory while Townley was left to battle a hungry group of competitors.

“What a topsy-turvy race,” said Townley, who finished seventh. “I enjoy racing in Atlanta but we had so much difficulty getting going on restarts, especially when we started in the outside lane.

“But overall, this Athenian Motorsports team didn’t give up. (Crew chief) Michael Shelton took big swings on setup changes during all three of our pit stops and he hit it right on the money during that last stop. My guys always give me a chance to be in contention to win each week. And that’s all I can really ask.

“I just know that our second career win in the Truck  Series is right around the corner.”

Townley, who is running full-time in the Truck Series and at least 15 ARCA races this season, will enjoy some downtime in March before returning to racing action during the first weekend of April when the Trucks visit Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.

Athenian Motorsports PR