Photo – Matt Hazlett/Getty Images
Continuing to experience concussion-like symptoms, veteran NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver John Wes Townley will sit out Wednesday’s Aspen Dental Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway.
A spokesperson for Athenian Motorsports confirmed the news to CATCHFENCE.com, stating that Townley was not medically cleared to return to competition this week.
ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards driver Brady Boswell is expected to drive the No. 05 Athenian Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado in Wednesday night’s race, the first of two races this week for the Watkinsville, Georgia native. He announced his anticipated debut through Facebook Sunday night.
“I am honored to make my NASCAR Camping World truck debut with Athenian Motorsports,” Boswell told CATCHFENCE.com. “They highly value their performance and put great effort into their organization. I do not have dirt experience but I am grateful for the opportunity and ready to adapt quickly to the dirt side of racing.”
“I hope John Wes has a speedy recovery and gets back to racing soon,” Boswell added.
Brady Boswell
Boswell has competed in six ARCA Racing Series events this season driving for the potent Mason Mitchell Motorsports. He has earned one top-five and three top-ten finishes.
While the pairing of Boswell and Athenian Motorsports may seem surprising for some, Boswell resides in the same city as Townley linking a connection between the two.
In addition to Wednesday night’s race, the 21-year-old Boswell will compete in the ARCA race Friday night at Lucas Oil Raceway for Mason Mitchell Motorsports.
Athenian Motorsports, the family-owned team that Townley drives for issued a statement on July 6 that the 26-year-old was undergoing treatment for a possible concussion and would sit out the July 7 running of the Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway. Parker Kligerman stepped in for Townley at Kentucky and finished 19th after starting sixth.
Townley is the second driver to miss a NASCAR National Series event in the past week after Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. missed Sunday’s New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after suffering from concussion-like symptoms stemming from crashes at Michigan International Speedway and Daytona International Speedway in the past month.
The Athenian Motorsports spokesperson said Townley will be reevaluated on July 25 and hopes to be approved to return to competition at Pocono Raceway on July 30.
Kligerman will drive the team’s ARCA car (No. 05 Chevrolet) at Lucas Oil Raceway Friday night, the spokesperson added.