PIT STRATEGY KEY TO A 21ST PLACE FINISH FOR TOWNLEY IN THE WINDY CITY
Joliet, IL (7-10-09) – A sound pit strategy and patience were key components to John Wes Townley’s 21st place finish in Friday night’s Dollar General 300 presented by Coca-Cola at Chicagoland Speedway. The top-25 finish was the Raybestos Rookies sixth of the season.

Due to Townley’s efforts the Zaxby’s Racing team advanced one position from 35th to 34th in the season long championship point standings with 1,111 points; 286 points outside the top-30.

Threatening skies cleared out for the 49 cars attempting to make Friday night’s main event. Townley was the 40th car to take time and his quick lap of 31.035 seconds (173.997 mph) was good enough to lock the Watkinsville, GA native into the field with a 22nd place starting position.

Rolling off the starting grid on the outside of row 11, Townley raced comfortably inside the top-25 for the opening laps of the 300-mile event.

Long periods of green flag action came into play including a round of green flag pit stops. It wasn’t until lap 93 that the 43 car field was slowed down due to debris. The yellow and blue Zaxby’s Ford Fusion was scored in the 24th position two laps down.

A majority of the field hit pit road during the caution period but crew chief Brad Parrott made the call to leave the No. 09 machine out on the track. When racing resumed on lap 97 Townley was scored 21st only one lap down to race leader Kyle Busch.

With more than 63 laps on his tires and inside his fuel window Townley was forced to pit on lap 119 under green. Parrott rolled the dice once again and only called for two right side tires and fuel. The Zaxby’s Ford was down and away and sitting in the 27th position following the stop.

Green flag conditions continued for another 66 laps as the leaders began pitting on lap 150. Townley was up to the 22nd position but down on fuel by lap 180 and was going to be forced to pit again on lap 186 under green. However, at lap 185 the second and final caution flag of the evening was displayed for debris.

The gamble paid off and Townley was able to bring his No. 09 machine down pit road under caution for four fresh Goodyear tires and a splash of Sunoco fuel. When the field returned to green on lap 191 Townley was scored in the 21st position which is where he remained over the closing nine laps.

Joey Logano would go on to win his first race at Chicagoland Speedway and Busch, Vickers, Leffler, and Harvick would round out the top-5.

Next up for the Townley and the Zaxby’s Racing team is the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway International Raceway beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET live on ESPN2.