Townley crashes in practice, AGAIN; RC takes him OUT

[TeamBlueOval]

John Wes Townley has wrecked in practice, again. Because of this, Richard Childress has pulled Townley from the car and replaced him with Clint Bowyer for tonight's race.

[RacingDude]

He has probably already beaten the record for most times taken out of his car. ;)

Seriously, other than a couple of decent finishes he's pretty much been the same as last year.

[TeamBlueOval]

I don't think he's ever been taken out before... normally, he just crashes and they go on with him in it to crash AGAIN. Guess his dad (owner of Zaxby's) even signed off on this one...

[TeamBlueOval]

Replacing him as a "precaution", eh? Sounds like a pretty good excuse to get him out of the car to me! :lol:


AVONDALE, Ariz. – Clint Bowyer will replace John Wes Townley for the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 today at Phoenix International Raceway, Richard Childress Racing officials confirmed.

The 20-year-old Townley crashed hard in practice Friday morning and although he was able to drive the car back to the garage, he was replaced as a precaution, a team spokesman said.

Townley is 17th in the Nationwide Series standings.

Rusty Wallace Racing’s Steve Wallace is expected to drive in tonight's race despite nursing a broken right foot. David Reutimann is available to the team as a backup driver, if needed.

[RacingDude]

I know he got taken out of the 09 for a week last year and Travis Kvapil drove.

[mattemmy99]

daddy probally can't afford anymore cars....LOL

[DeeDee]

Bowyer replacing Townley: UPDATE 2: Clint Blower will replace #21-John West Townley for the rest of the day at Phoenix. Townley wrecked midway through the day's only practice session.(4-9-2010)
UPDATE: Jamie Little reported during ESPN2's qualifying coverage that Townley has been fired from the team and the future of the #21 car is up in the air.(4-9-2010)~jayski

[TeamBlueOval]

Wow... that is interesting. Bet that means ZAXBY'S is going to be gone as well...

[RacingDude]

^ Yes. I don't know what RC is thinking with this one. I know Townley wrecks every week, but he also needs the sponsorship.

[TeamBlueOval]

It is probably costing RC MORE to keep building new cars every week than the sponsorship is paying... ;) lol

BUT...

UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing is denying that Townley has been released.(4-9-2010)

[DeeDee]

I was curious so I did some searching .... If Tony Townley is John's father (?) and "If" it is true that he was fired, then I think it's likely that RC will loose sponsorship.
Townley is co-founder of Zaxby's along with Zach McLeroy.

[mattemmy99]

Thats pretty sad for a dad to pull sponsor because HIS son can't drive....LET a good driver in there,and get that car on tv,and adverstising....If HE pulls out,thats a spoiled kid right there....

[RacingDude]

I wish RC would hire Scott Lagasse, he's shown that he can be a good driver.

[TeamBlueOval]

Lagasse is contracted to drive the 43 car for baker Curb all season--he's been doing pretty good for them.

[roosterrage]

Only a matter of time before he is fired- perhaps they are looking for some replacement sponsors so they can dump Townley. He just cannot drive.

[mattemmy99]

Whats Erik Darnell doing these days?

[TeamBlueOval]

Nothing, but he's still under contract with RFR, I believe.

[mattemmy99]

wonder if he could get out,if another team wanted HIM to drive for THEM...its a shame he isn't racing...

[TeamBlueOval]

I'm sure they would let him drive for someone else, because I don't think RFR has any plans for him in the foreseeable future.

[roosterrage]

Is Leicht still under contract with RCR? He has pretty much been screwed in his career. I mean the guy is one of very few NW only drivers to win and he has gotten a raw deal since.

[TeamBlueOval]

I'm not sure... I think he only had a 1-year deal last year, so he should be free now. He attempted a race for a start and park team earlier this year.

[RacingDude]

I forgot about Stephen Leicht. As long as they're sponsored, he would be a good choice.

[mattemmy99]

thats what I mean...here are TWO good drivers,who both got screwed,and yet they keep putting cup drivers in...Not fair...MHO....let someone else race,and get their seat time

[TeamBlueOval]

Looks like it will just be a timeout...

Sources tell Frontstretch.com John Wes Townley has NOT been released as driver of Richard Childress Racing's #21 Chevy in the Nationwide Series. After a hard wreck at Phoenix, Townley was replaced for Friday's race by Cup driver Clint Bowyer, leading to rampant speculation about his future. ESPN reported that Townley had been fired, a claim adamantly denied by Richard Childress Racing. Instead, the plan is to "put him in timeout," according to a source, making the 20-year-old sit and stew over an ugly early season start. So far this season, he's without a top 10 finish while spinning out in four of five races, picking up an underage drinking citation in Las Vegas along the way. So RCR has informed him someone else will drive the car at Texas, evaluating the program before Townley will return to the seat at Talladega the end of the month. There's no word yet on who that replacement will be, but it's widely expected to be RCR's Clint Bowyer or Jeff Burton. Zaxby's is also expected to continue funding the car for Texas and beyond. Townley's father is one of the founders of Zaxby's restaurants, which came over in a package deal with his son to keep Childress' Nationwide Series team afloat in 2010.(Frontstretch)(4-11-2010)
~Jayski

...but, Talladega?!? I don't know if that's the safest place to be putting him back on the racetrack! "The Big One" will be sure to happen! ;)

[roosterrage]

Spin out in 4 of 5 races + Come back at Dega = Disaster

[DeeDee]

Dega ... Oh my
that is a recipe for disaster :roll:

[RacingDude]

In John's defense, he didn't cause too much mayhem at Daytona. ;)

[mattemmy99]

well...anyone can cause the big one at Dega...Carl is notorious for that.......LOL

[TeamBlueOval]

Will NOT return at Dega:


UPDATE 5: Interviewed on ESPNs Nationwide Series qualifying, Richard Childress said that Townley is still employed by the team. Clint Bowyer will drive the #21 again next weekend. Beyond that, nothing has been set.(4-16-2010)

[roosterrage]

Good move.

[DeeDee]

Bowyer to run more races in the #21: As far as his Nationwide program, [Richard] Childress said discussions continue with development driver John Wes Townley, who is sitting out his third consecutive race. Clint Bowyer has driven the last two races and will drive the #21 RCR car again this weekend. "We're still talking," Childress said. "Clint is going to keep in it for a few more races before we decide [what to do]."(Scene Daily)(4-23-2010)~jayski

[DeeDee]

Bowyer to run more races in the #21: UPDATE: As far as his Nationwide program, [Richard] Childress said discussions continue with development driver John Wes Townley, who is sitting out his third consecutive race. Clint Bowyer has driven the last two races and will drive the #21 RCR car again this weekend. "We're still talking," Childress said. "Clint is going to keep in it for a few more races before we decide [what to do]."(Scene Daily)(4-23-2010)
UPDATE: Clint Bowyer said he hopes to be in Richard Childress Racing's #21 NASCAR Nationwide Series Chevy for seven more races, substituting for John Wes Townley. Bowyer spoke to reporters on a national teleconference Tuesday. He said he and the team are working on a schedule for him for the remainder of 2010. The Talladega race was Bowyer's second since taking over for Townley, whose status is still up in the air. Team owner Richard Childress said at Texas that Townley is still employed by the team, but his schedule is unknown. Bowyer is in the car for this weekend's race at Richmond.(NNS Racing)(4-28-2010)
Substituting....... ;) yeah right. I wonder how long is will be before Zaxby's realizes that the kid is OUT?

[RacingDude]

I bet RC told Zaxby's that John Wes will be back when he really has no intentions of bringing him back in order to keep the sponsor for at least a longer period of time. ;) :p