Photo Credit: Robert Laberge/Getty Images for NASCAR
(Concord, N.C. Jan. 16, 2016) – Athenian Motorsports is pleased to announce it will field full-time entries in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards in 2016. The organization will also campaign a part-time entry in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Fresh off a popular win in Las Vegas in October and an eighth-place finish in the NASCAR Truck Series driver standings, John Wes Townley will return behind the wheel of the company’s No. 05 Chevrolet Silverado.
Townley will also pilot the majority of the upcoming season’s ARCA races in AMS’ No. 05 Chevrolet. For the second consecutive season, the team will compete with Chevrolet engines supplied by Hendrick Motorsports.
“I’m very excited about this season because I’m confident we’re going to be fast off the trailer in the Truck Series each week and I get a chance to run most of the ARCA races at some of many of my all-time favorite race tracks,” the 26-year-old Townley said.
Townley’s Truck Series effort will once again be led by veteran crew chief Michael Shelton, who guided James Buescher to the 2012 Truck Series championship. Former Truck Series driver Terry Cook will once again be Townley’s exclusive spotter in all three series.
“On the Truck side, the entire band is back in place,” said Townley, a lifelong resident of Watkinsville, Ga. “Everybody is back. That’s pretty impressive in this day and age when guys jump around during the offseason.
“But I believe in this team and they believe in me. I really think we’re in position for a breakout season.”
Veteran crew chief Kevin Reed and Townley will be reunited in ARCA this season. The two teamed to win ARCA’s 50th race in Daytona Beach, Fla. in Feb. 2013. Reed comes to AMS to lead the organization’s first venture into ARCA.
“I’m happy to be working with Kevin Reed again,” said Townley, who is participating in the ARCA test in Daytona today. “We won Daytona back three years ago and, honestly, we should have won four or five other ARCA races over the past couple of years. Kevin and I seem to have good chemistry.
“Our goal is to go out and run up front at each ARCA race. I’m sure the competition will be top-notch. But with my experience, Kevin’s experience, the team we have in place and Terry Cook in the spotters’ stand, I know we can challenge for the victory each week.”
Because Townley will be racing for the championship in the Truck Series, he will be forced to miss five to seven of this year’s ARCA events. Beginning with the ARCA race at Michigan International Speedway in June, Athenian Motorsports is looking for a qualified and self-funded driver to compete in the races Townley will miss. Inquiries can directed to team president Mike Hamlin at mike.hamlin@athenianms.com.
There are also sponsorship opportunities available in all series. Interested parties should contact Hamlin.
Townley is also scheduled to compete in three Xfinity Series races, two in Daytona and one in Talladega, Ala., in AMS’ No. 25 Chevrolet Camaro.
