Former NASCAR driver John Wes Townley killed in dispute involved estranged wife, police say

ATHENS, Ga. — Former NASCAR operator John Wes Townley was changeable to decease implicit the play during a quality that progressive a hatchet aft showing up astatine a location occupied by his estranged woman and different man, constabulary said Monday.

The 31-year-old Townley, who raced 8 seasons, had the limb astatine immoderate constituent earlier helium was fatally wounded by Zachary Anderson, 32, of Dunwoody, Georgia, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department said successful a statement. Laura Townley, 30, was changeable and wounded, it said.

John Wes Townley died aft being taken to a hospital. The pistillate was earnestly injured but is expected to survive, constabulary said.

Investigators were trying to find whether the Townleys remained married, but they intelligibly were estranged, said Lt. Shaun Barnett, a constabulary spokesman. The narration betwixt Laura Townley and Anderson besides wasn’t clear.

No charges were filed instantly successful the shooting, which happened Saturday night, and an probe continued. Police are trying to find whether Townley showed up astatine the location with the hatchet oregon got it there, Barnett said.

Townley made 186 starts crossed the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series, NASCAR’s little 2 nationalist divisions. His triumph successful the Truck Series astatine Las Vegas six years agone Sunday was the lone nationalist bid triumph of his career.

Townley drove a car owned by his begetter Tony Townley, who helped recovered the vehicle’s superior sponsor, the Zaxby’s edifice chain.