John Wes Townley proved RAB Racing’s No. 09 ToyotaCare Toyota Tundra was fast in the early laps of Saturday’s VFW 200 at Michigan International Speedway. Lamentably, the team was unable to prove it in finishing position after a mid-race incident relegated Townley to a 25th-place finish.
Townley competed in two of the three scheduled NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practices leading up to the 100-lap event, posting speeds fast enough for 15th position in both. In Saturday morning’s qualifying session, he drove the No. 09 ToyotaCare Toyota Tundra to 16th on the starting grid.
From the drop of the green flag later that afternoon, Townley wasted no time advancing position, breaking into the top 10 by lap 40. Following a debris caution on Lap 42, Townley restarted on the front row in the second position. Finding a drafting partner in the No. 11 truck of Todd Bodine, the two circled the Brooklyn oval with Townley pushing.
Unfortunately, Townley got loose coming out of Turn 4 and spun his Toyota Tundra, making heavy contact with the outside retaining wall. After a thorough investigation, the Chris Rice-led RAB Racing team determined the damage was too severe to repair, ending their day early.
Despite finishing in the 25th position, Townley advanced one position, to 18th, in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series point standings.
The next stop for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
RAB Racing PR
