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Dover: John Wes Townley preview

* Dover International Speedway was the site of John Wes Townley and RAB Racing's very first NASCAR Nationwide Series start in 2008. Last Time Around-Lowe's: The 19-year-old Raybestos Rookie Contender was the 39th of 51 cars to take time ...

Published: Jun 19, 2009, 7:56 PM

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* Dover International Speedway was the site of John Wes Townley and RAB Racing's very first NASCAR Nationwide Series start in 2008.

Last Time Around-Lowe's: The 19-year-old Raybestos Rookie Contender was the 39th of 51 cars to take time during Saturday afternoon's time trials at Lowe's Motor Speedway. His lap of 30.76 seconds was not good enough to lock the No. 09 Zaxby's Ford into the field and Townley was one of seven drivers that failed to qualify. This is the second race in 2009 that John Wes Townley and RAB Racing missed.

John Wes Townley at Dover International Speedway: Townley has one career start at Dover Int'l Speedway. He started 21st and finished 30th following engine woes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200 on September 20, 2008.

This Week's No. 09 Zaxby's Ford: Townley will pilot chassis No. 024 in the Helluva Good! 200 at Dover Int'l Speedway. This is a previous chassis from the Roush Fenway Racing stables that Matt Kenseth drove to victory lane in 2006. This also happens to be the same chassis Townley piloted at Dover in 2008 and most recently at Darlington in May finishing 34th.

Points Check: John Wes Townley currently sits 31st in the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver point standings with 650 points. Owner Jay Robinson fell one spot to 36th following the Carquest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The No. 09 team currently has 697 points; 193 makers outside the top-30.

Rookie Race: Townley remains 6th in the 2009 Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings with 64 points; just 17 markers behind 5th place, Michael Annett and 48 points behind leader, Justin Allgaier.

After 11: After 11 of the scheduled 35 events on the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule, Townley has three top-20 and five top-25 finishes. The 19-year-old rookie has an average starting position of 26.55 and average finish of 27.2 and has completed 84.26% of all laps attempted (1500 out of 1780).

Truckin' It: John Wes Townley will run the No. 15 truck for Billy Ballew Motorsports in the Milwaukee 200 at The Milwaukee Mile on Friday, June 19th. Townley will be joining Billy Ballew on the pit box this weekend at Dover for the AAA Insurance 200; giving the rookie driver a chance to observe the communication with crew chief Richie Wauters and Brian Ickler in preparation for his run in June.

John Wes Townley Live: Townley is scheduled to participate in the NASCAR Nationwide Series autograph session on Saturday morning May 30th. The event will be held at the NASCAR Nationwide Series merchandise trailer from 8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the "Fan Zone" at Dover International Speedway.

John Wes Townley:

After failing to qualify for the second Nationwide Series event this year, what is your approach to Dover knowing there are 49 cars on the preliminary entry list and you are required to enter the field on time?

"Well, I made my first career Nationwide start at Dover Int'l Speedway last year, so for starters I have seat time there which is more than I can say for a lot of the tracks on the NASCAR Nationwide Series circuit. Secondly, we qualified really well, 21st; the third fastest go-or-go home car behind Kyle Busch and Jamie McMurray. Finally, we had a really good run going last year until a spoiled engine left us with a 30th place finish. Therefore, I feel like Dover will be a challenge because I don't have much experience there and we do have to beat six cars but I feel like the goals of making it into the event and having a solid showing for Zaxby's won't be out of reach for me".

-credit: rabr

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