Kansas: John Wes Townley preview

* John Wes Townley is heading to Kansas Speedway with confidence following a series best qualifying effort of 8th and his fourth top-20 (18th) in 20 starts last weekend at Dover International Speedway. The 19-year-old Watkinsville, GA native heads to Kansas, a track he is familiar with and finished 15th in the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series Kansas Lottery $150 Grand.

* David Green, John Wes' driving coach and spotter will have a lot of advice for the rookie this weekend. Green, the 1994 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion has one win (2003) and has led 15 laps at Kansas Speedway in just four series starts at the 1.5-mile oval.

This Week's No. 09 Zaxby's Ford: John Wes Townley will pilot chassis No. 027 in this weekend's Kansas Lottery 300. This was a new chassis built for the 2009 season and was last seen at Kentucky Speedway in June.

RAB Racing at Kansas: RAB Racing has a solid record at Kansas Speedway. In just three starts at the 1.5-mile oval, the team has one pole (Justin Marks, 2007), breaking Ryan Newman's track record. Two top-10 finishes, Damon Lusk (8th, 2006) and Justin Marks (6th, 2007). An average start of 12.67, average finish of 9.67 and has led a total of 21 laps.

Season Review: After 28 of the 35 scheduled events on the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule, John Wes Townley has 20 starts, four top-20 and eight top-25 finishes.

Points Check: Following a track best finish of 18th and his fourth top-20 finish at Dover International Speedway, John Wes Townley sits 30th in the 2009 driver point standings; up two positions from Atlanta Motor Speedway in September. The No. 09 entry gained ground on 32nd but remains 33rd in the 2009 owner point standings with 1,838 points; just 57 markers behind 32nd and 434 points outside the top-30.

-credit: rabr