NASCAR News: Ex-Pro Driver Allegedly Wielded Hatchet To Attack Wife

Ex-NASCAR driver John Wes Townley passed away last weekend in an apparent shooting incident in Georgia.

Based on new reports that have surfaced, it appears the 31-year-old retired racecar athlete made an odd visit to his former wife’s home in Georgia that cost him his life.

Based on new documents obtained by TMZ Sports, Townley allegedly showed up in Athens, Georgia. He reportedly attacked his former wife, Laura, and the woman’s live-in partner, Zachary Anderson.

In what was deemed a domestic violence case, Anderson reportedly shot Townley in reaction to the attack.

A bullet punctured Townley's chest, and he then died after he was brought to a local hospital, Yahoo reported.

Laura was also accidentally shot in the incident in the abdomen but is expected to fully recover.

It turns out that John and Laura had recently finalized their divorce. However, it remains unclear why the ex-husband went to the home and attacked the couple.

Townley was a pro racecar driver for over a decade and is best known for winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2015.

In his NASCAR Xfinity Series career, he has had 76 races run over eight years. Townley last raced at the 2016 Sparks Energy 300.

When word got out that Townley had died, several other NASCAR personalities were shocked at the news. That included Bubba Wallace and Todd Bodine.

"Damn. Rest Easy JWT. Heartbreaking," Wallace tweeted.

"Absolutely devastating news about John Wes Townley,” Bodine posted on his social media account. "Praying for his family and friends."

Looking at his career, Townley had his share of off-track incidents.

In 2012, Townley was arrested for DUI following an incident in Oconee, Georgia. That led to him getting suspended by RAB Racing and placed on probation by NASCAR through the end of that year.

Things appeared to be better from there until 2016. Townley was involved in an altercation with Spencer Gallagher after the two crashed on a lap at the Drivin' for Linemen 200 held at Gateway Motorsports Park.

Townley was fined $15,000 for that incident and again placed on probation until the end of that year.

He never raced again after the incident and subsequently announced his retirement in January 2017.