John Wes Townley

Townley is currently in his first full-season of NASCAR Nationwide Series competiton driving the No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford Fusion. In his inaugural season, the Georgia native has qualified for 23 of 32 races and collected a season-best 16th at Bristol Motor Speedway in the Spring. Townley notched an impressive eighth place qualifying run at Dover International Speedway in September.

The former late model driver advanced with RAB Racing owned by Robby Benton from the ARCA RE/MAX Series last year where Townley posted one top-five and eight top-10 runs in 21 starts en-route to a seventh place championship finish in his rookie season.

No word on what car number Townley would drive or who would crew chief should Townley make the move.

UPDATE:

In response to the recent rumors swirling about John Wes Townley’s possible departure from RAB Racing and the future of the Zaxby’s sponsorship, Catchfence.com caught up with RAB Racing’s Co-Owner/General Manager, Robby Benton, for comment. “The rumors are true,” stated Benton. “I have been informed that both Zaxby’s and driver John Wes Townley will be moving on. We are currently entertaining other opportunities for 2010, as we would like to remain a fulltime competitor in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.”

Benton went on to say, “I’m sure they will make an announcement regarding their new home in the coming weeks and I will leave that news for them to announce. The Townley’s are great people and Zaxby’s has been an outstanding partner. We are grateful for the relationship we had with them and wish both John Wes and Zaxby’s the best of luck in their future endeavors.”

- CATCHFENCE.com

No. 09 Zaxbys Ford Fusion

The solid effort was Said’s fourth top-15 finish in seven NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at The Glen. Additionally, the Carlsbad, CA native closed the gap on 33rd in the 2009 championship owner point standings. The No. 09 entry currently sits 34th in points; just 159 points out of 33rd and 286 markers outside the top-30.

Said was part of group six in the five-car packs to take time during the European-style qualifying on Saturday morning; touring the 2.45-mile road course in 73.184 seconds (120.518 mph). The No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford would post its best qualifying effort in 22 attempts; starting 9th in the 82-lap feature later that afternoon.

Starting on the inside of row five in the first of two road course events on the 2009 schedule, Boris put a fuel strategy to work before he even took the green flag. Crew chief Brad Parrott had decided before the race that the No. 09 machine would pit around laps 13 and 46 and that is exactly what they did.

On lap 14 Said was one of the first drivers to make the trip down pit road, bringing the yellow and blue Zaxby’s machine in under green for gas only and would return to the racing surface 39th. Just one lap later the leaders began making their way down pit road.

When the second of six yellow flags were displayed on lap 35, Said was running just inside the top-20. Parrott opted to bring Said down pit road for 4 tires and an air pressure adjustment, the No. 09 machine would be scored 23rd when racing resumed on lap 37.

Said would gain one more position before the yellow flag would be displayed on lap 45 for a spin in the inner loop. Parrott would bring the No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford down pit road inside their pit window for fuel only. Seven out of the top-10 drivers to leave pit road took four tires so when racing resumed on lap 47 the No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford would restart 10th; gaining nine spots on pit road.

While the Zaxby’s Ford would be good on fuel over the closing 35 laps, other teams were right outside their fuel windows. However, three caution flags for 10 laps would give the leaders the few extra laps they needed to finish the race.

Said would run competitively inside the top-15 over the final laps and be scored 12th on the final restart at lap 76. On the final lap of competition Said would gain two positions to finish 11th and Marcos Ambrose would go on to win his second consecutive race at Watkins Glen.

Next up for Boris Said and RAB Racing is the Napa Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada on Sunday, August 30th. Said has made two starts at the 2.71-mile road course bringing home one top-5 finish.

Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender, John Wes Townley will be back behind the wheel of the No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford Fusion next weekend at Michigan International Speedway. The 19-year-old rookie has one start at the 2-mile D-shaped oval starting 8th and finishing 13th in the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series Racing for Wildlife 200.

For more information on RAB Racing please visit: www.teamrab.com

For more information on Zaxby’s please visit www.zaxbys.com

For more information on SPS please visit: www.southernpanservices.com

No. 09 Zaxbys Ford Fusion

Event: Kroger 200 benefiting Riley Hospital for Children

Date/Time: Saturday, July 25th/8:00 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, 7:30 p.m. ET

Distance: 200 laps/137.2 miles

Track: 0.686-mile oval

2008 Winner: Kyle Busch

Fast & Fun Facts:

· John Wes Townley will be making his debut at O’Reilly Raceway Park this weekend in the Kroger 200 benefiting Riley Hospital for Children.

· David Green, Townley’s driver coach and spotter currently holds the NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying record at ORP (113.461 mph, 1994).

· Keeton Hanks finished 2nd in the No. 09 Zaxby’s Late Model in Saturday’s nights Georgia Asphalt Series race in Cordele, GA.

This Week’s No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford: Townley will pilot chassis No. 025 in this weekend’s event at ORP. This is a previous Roush Fenway Racing chassis and was last seen at Gateway Int’l Raceway where the Watkinsville, GA native brought home his seventh top-25 finish; finishing 21st in the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250.

Moving Forward: Townley tied for his best finish in eight starts last weekend at Gateway; finishing 21st. The Raybestos Rookie contender also took the checkered flag for the fourth consecutive week in last weekend’s Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway; Townley has seven DNF’s to his credit in 2009.

Season Review: After 19 of the scheduled 35 events on the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule, Townley has three top-20 and seven top-25 finishes. The 19-year-old rookie has an average starting position of 25.31 and average finish of 28.81 and has completed 75.22% of all laps attempted (2337 out of 3107).

Last Time Around-Gateway: Despite setbacks including a wreck on lap 74 and a broken sway bar link, John Wes Townley held on for a 21st place finish in the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 last weekend at Gateway Int’l Raceway.

Points Check: Due to Townley’s top-25 efforts at Gateway the Raybestos Rookie gained two spots from 27th 25th in the 2009 driver point standings. Jay Robinson, owner of the No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford remains 34th in the season long championship point standings with 1,211 points; 271 points outside the top-30.

Rookie Race: Townley remains 6th in the 2009 Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings with 101 points.

Said In At The Glen: RAB Racing announced Monday that road course specialist, Boris Said will pilot the No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford Fusion in the upcoming Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International on August 8th. Said, who has six NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at The Glen including one top-5, two top-10’s and one pole to his credit will be making his debut for RAB Racing at the 2.45-mile road course filling in for rookie John Wes Townley.

Testing One, Two, Three Testing: John Wes Townley turned laps in a passenger vehicle with Boris Said on Tuesday morning at Road Atlanta. Townley has one start at a road course to his resume; finishing 18th in the ARCA RE/MAX Series Loud Energy Drink 250 at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2008.

A Proven Champion: David Green, the 1994 NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion has been working with John Wes since Dover (May, 2009) as his driver coach and spotter. Green has worked with other rookie drivers such as Stephen Leicht and Landon Cassill.

And The Voting Begins: You can now log onto www.nascar.com and vote for your favorite NASCAR Nationwide Series driver. Only one vote per day but you are encouraged to vote throughout the remainder of the season. Results of the voting will be announced at the awards banquet at the end of the year.

News from the ARCA RE/MAX Series Garage: ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Tom Hessert III brought the No. 09 Cherry Hill Classic Cars Ford home with a 10th place finish after Saturday night’s Click It or Ticket Buckle-Up Kentucky 150 at Kentucky Speedway. Hessert, who ran in the top-five for much of the night, restarted 12th following the evening’s final caution before battling for his first top-10 finish with RAB Racing.

John Wes Townley

You have never been to ORP, what have you been doing to prepare yourself for the short track?

“Brad (Parrott) gave me an in-car camera video from last year when he was at ORP with Bryan Clauson so I have been watching that. David Green will take me around the track when we get to the track on Friday and I also plan to stay Friday night and watch the truck race. The ban on testing sure makes it hard for rookies like myself that have never been to these tracks, but between the two practice sessions we have on Friday and the great Zaxby’s team I have beside me I know that we can qualify well and bring the Zaxby’s Ford home with a good finish and continue our march forward.”

- RAB Racing Press Release

No. 09 Zaxbys Ford Fusion

Due to Townley’s efforts the Zaxby’s Racing team advanced one position from 35th to 34th in the season long championship point standings with 1,111 points; 286 points outside the top-30.

Threatening skies cleared out for the 49 cars attempting to make Friday night’s main event. Townley was the 40th car to take time and his quick lap of 31.035 seconds (173.997 mph) was good enough to lock the Watkinsville, GA native into the field with a 22nd place starting position.

Rolling off the starting grid on the outside of row 11, Townley raced comfortably inside the top-25 for the opening laps of the 300-mile event.

Long periods of green flag action came into play including a round of green flag pit stops. It wasn’t until lap 93 that the 43 car field was slowed down due to debris. The yellow and blue Zaxby’s Ford Fusion was scored in the 24th position two laps down.

John Wes Townley

With more than 63 laps on his tires and inside his fuel window Townley was forced to pit on lap 119 under green. Parrott rolled the dice once again and only called for two right side tires and fuel. The Zaxby’s Ford was down and away and sitting in the 27th position following the stop.

Green flag conditions continued for another 66 laps as the leaders began pitting on lap 150. Townley was up to the 22nd position but down on fuel by lap 180 and was going to be forced to pit again on lap 186 under green. However, at lap 185 the second and final caution flag of the evening was displayed for debris.

The gamble paid off and Townley was able to bring his No. 09 machine down pit road under caution for four fresh Goodyear tires and a splash of Sunoco fuel. When the field returned to green on lap 191 Townley was scored in the 21st position which is where he remained over the closing nine laps.

Joey Logano would go on to win his first race at Chicagoland Speedway and Busch, Vickers, Leffler, and Harvick would round out the top-5.

Next up for the Townley and the Zaxby’s Racing team is the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway International Raceway beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET live on ESPN2.

For more information on RAB Racing please visit: www.teamrab.com

For more information on Zaxby’s please visit www.zaxbys.com

For more information on SPS please visit: www.southernpanservices.com