John Wes Out...???

[Chris]

Well.. Even though he's my cousin and I'd like to see him try and progress... IMO I think John Wes Townley will be pretty much done with his racing career.
I see Childress took him out of the #21 car this afternoon, after he crashed yet again this year.

In all honesty John Wes got the reputation of a 'crasher' last season.  Folks said in better equipment, he would do better.  He HAS done better this season, and been runing at the end of 4 of 5 races.  And he's finished inside the top 18 in two of the last three races.

But he's also torn up his share of RCR equipment.
This group is used to running up front and winning with this car over the last couple years... and not spending a lot of time havig to make repairs after races like this season..... and with the lucky Dog and wave around rule... If I was RCR I'd expect even a "decent" driver to be able to keep the car on the lead lap most races.
Thats not happening either.

SO with history being our teacher,.. I am expecting John Wes to lose his ride at RCR,.. and I don't think he'll EVER get a quality ride again. 
Look at Casey Atwood.. Got moved up into a good ride,.. did poorly, and that was that.  I kind of see the same thing happening here.  and something I think makes it worse is that JWT really didn't have any "big" expectations from him of setting the world on fire like Atwood.   You'd think someone would try out Atwood,.. but no one would touch him.

The only GOOD thing for John Wes is that the sponsor goes where he goes.  When Dad owns the whole company,.. that kind of happens.  So a team that NEEDS a sponsor to keep running, they might pick up John Wes.  Problem is that team probably won't be very good.. and as I see it; It will just be a matter of time.  I just can't see a "Roush, Gibbs, ect" picking him up after all this has happened.   

[CodeBlueEMT]

 There's always the truck series.

[FS_Amy]

I think they tried trucks, and he wrecked everything in sight there, too.  I hate to see a car as good as the No. 21 without a sponsor...hopefully Dad will wise up and realize that Zaxby's will get a whole lot of exposure if they stay on the car and let someone drive it who isn't going to wreck it.  It's not exactly great advertising when they only time your logo is on TV is when it's wrecked.  OTOH, they could go to victory lane with a better driver.

[KurtBuschFan]

He didn't wreck nearly as much in the Truck Series.....

[FS_Amy]

He didn't wreck nearly as much in the Truck Series.....

That's because he was busy wrecking other trucks...

[KurtBuschFan]

From the Breaking News Box on the front page...

Breaking News: John Wes Townley To Miss Texas
posted by Thomas Bowles

Sunday April 11, 2010

Sources tell Frontstretch.com John Wes Townley has NOT been released as driver of Richard Childress Racing’s No. 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.

[CodeBlueEMT]

 John Wes is young and brings big $$$ to the table. Depends if daddy wants to sponsor a winning car or a crashaholic son.

 Reminds me of Paul Menard.

[scott b]

At age 20, I don't think you necessarily have to give up on JWT's racing career completely.  But it's obvious he's been elevated to too high a level too soon, thanks to his family being able to fund his presence in those series.

Dollar for dollar, it's hard to imagine Zaxby's not coming out ahead with someone like Jeff Burton in a Childress car in the NW series.  John should probably be racing no higher than ARCA right now.

Their are other young prospects like Danny O'Quinn doing start and parks just to have a job, with stronger racing credentials.

[skool]

John Wes is young and brings big $$$ to the table. Depends if daddy wants to sponsor a winning car or a crashaholic son.

 Reminds me of Paul Menard.

Reminds me even more of Stephan Wallace!  And I do have to say (even though it pains me) Steve IS marginally better the JWT, but not by much.

[DougS]

Well some 20 year olds need to be grabbed by the short hairs and told this is how life works. Maybe the time out works, maybe a demotion is in order. But it all comes down to pay for play... When the money runs out who can blame Richard for shifting butt's in the seat.

While I'd love to see Danny O'quinn get another shot, I understand why he's being black-balled after walking out on a team last year. That being said neither the team or Danny stated what happed (with any real clarity) but obviously it wasn't under the best conditions.

[Chris]

well three weeks.. and no word here.
You'd figure you'd hear SOMETHING.. he is staying, he's been fired, etc.. but NOTHING
Leads me to belive he is done...

[south jersey girl]

this was the last thing I saw on Jayski prior to the Richmond race...looks like it's still up in the air...or is RCR just trying to get all of the Zaxby's $$$ they can before the cut JWT loose?

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)

[SMOKEN14]

From Jayski's nationwide page
Mears in the 21 for some races: Casey Mears finished 26th in his debut with Tommy Baldwin Racing at Richmond. He is slated to drive the #21 Zaxby's Chevy for RCR at the NNS stand-alone events at Nashville and Kentucky next month. He is also interested in running this year's Indy 500.(Hot Lap)

[Chris]

Well  Just reading what is coming in... I'd say JW is done at RCR... Gee I was hoping he was going to make it in NASCAR.  I always need an "in" for the races, and who knows maybe I could be spotter in NASCAR again....   looks like thats not gonna happen for now.  :-(

Bowyer is already slated to run 7 races,... and now Mears to run a few..  And they are still "working" on Bowyer a schedule for the rest of the season... subtract those races from how many are left in the 2010 NNS season, and you run out of race dates before JW can get back in the car..

I have a feeling Tony (his dad) has become concerned about getting mileage out of the money he is spending in advertising... more so than "buying" JW a ride.  Like they say.. spending BIG money to have your car crash out or run in the back is worthless.  At least with Bowyer driving the car runs up front, gets publicity, and has a shot of winning.

Tony and another guy (Zack) started Zaxby's restaurant chain... Zack probably has a say in how the francise money is spent (I would if I was part owner of a multi-million dollar business...).. So it's entirely possible the advertising and promoting the company is coming ahead of 'family'.  Nothing wrong with that.  Makes good business sense.

John Wes will have to bide his time and hope for the best.  One thing is certain... he's NOT getting any better sitting on the sidelines and watching.  SO I just can't see him doing any better than run the truck series for now,.. and he crashed a lot there last season.  ARCA seems to be the only place he is 1/2 way competative,.. and that seems to me to be because that series is all about who spends the most money.

[NSracing]

I think John is done at RCR no doubt. He is a nice guy in all. He can't drive simply as that. Put him in arca or something.