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[/media-credit]CONCORD, N.C. (April 2, 2012) – John Wes Townley piloted the No. 09 Toyota Tundra to a 23rd-place finish Saturday afternoon in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. In his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway, Townley avoided several multi-truck incidents to record a solid finish for the team.
After two successful practice sessions on Friday, posting speeds fast enough for the 14th and 26th positions, respectively, Townley drove the No. 09 Toyota Tundra to a 30th-place starting position in Saturday morning’s qualifying session. When the green flag dropped for the start of the race, Townley worked his way steadily through the field. By lap 75, the Watkinsville, G.A. native had advanced seven positions to 23rd, despite battling tight handling conditions.
Following the instruction of crew chief Chris Rice, Townley remained patient and avoided several incidents around him, and took the checkered flag in the 23rd position.
“I thought it was a good run,” Townley said. “The goal, at the end of the day, was to bring it in with all four tires and fenders on it, and I think we accomplished that. We’ll learn from this and we’ll go to Rockingham and have a good showing. The guys did a great job and I think we’ll bring this Toyota Tundra to the track next week.”
The next stop for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be Rockingham Speedway on Sunday, March 15, 2012.
