John Wes Townley and Spencer Gallagher have been two of the more lovable drivers in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series paddock for the past few seasons. Townley, with his #JWT-tweeting fanbase and enduring career, and Gallagher, with a personality that often brings laughter from his fans, have typically been good, if quiet, fixtures of the series.
However, on a wild Saturday night in Gateway Motorsports Park, they were the stars of the show – not because of their results on-track, but because of their fight in turn 1.
Contact between the two drivers left Townley in the outside wall late in the race. Thrush with anger, Townley decided to take out his frustration by taking Gallagher out, both on the track and off it.
Townley took out Gallagher to cause the penultimate caution of the race. Then, as their two cars stalled next to each other in smoking heaps on the 1.25-mile oval’s first turn, Townley jumped out of his No. 05 Zaxby’s Chevrolet, ran around to Gallagher – who was also out of his truck – and proceeded to attack him.
The result? A fight fit for WWE – DDT and fan screaming included.
Watch as John Wes Townley and Spencer Gallagher fight at @GatewayMSP.@NASCAR_Trucks video» https://t.co/ghVLVsXVjZ pic.twitter.com/6cbFNq13fR
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 26, 2016
It started with Townley punching Gallagher. Gallagher then responded by grabbing Townley. The two had a power struggle, and Townley ultimately prevailed with a legitimate DDT.
The two drivers then struggled a bit longer, with Townley landing a couple punches, before the fight ultimately fizzled out.
Both drivers declined to comment on the situation after the race.
This isn’t the first time that Townley and Gallagher have found themselves at a disagreement. The two drivers had similar, though not as intense, squabbles often in the ARCA Racing Series as they rose up the racing ladder.
While the fight may have died quickly, the reactions to it did not. Twitter took the fight and ran with it, resulting in some of the funniest tweets of the season, along with a few moments of utter confusion.
Idk what's happening here https://t.co/o2LT8LJzb6
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) June 26, 2016
BAH GAWD HE'S GOT A FAMILY SOMEONE STOP THIS. #NCWTS #NASCAR https://t.co/xYSVgfsqtN
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) June 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/AlexBRacing/status/746932358692102145
https://twitter.com/DustinAlbino/status/746924244710338562
Well @JWTownley is now officially my newest hero. It's about time someone had the balls to do what they thought was right ????
— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) June 26, 2016
Aaron Bearden is a Frontstretch alumnus who’s come back home as the site’s Short Track Editor. When he isn’t working with our grassroots writers, he can be found talking about racing on his Morning Warmup newsletter, pestering his wife/dog or convincing himself the Indiana Pacers can win an NBA title.
The funniest thing I have seen in weeks. That was not a fight….lol.
They watched Harvick’s “fight.”