A former NASCAR driver was shot to death in a dispute that involved a hatchet, his ex-wife, and another man

• Former NASCAR driver John Wes Townley was shot to death after a dispute with his ex-wife and another man.
• Police said a hatchet was involved and that the other man shot Townley on Saturday night.
• The 31-year-old died after being taken to hospital and the woman was seriously injured.
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Former NASCAR driver John Wes Townley has been shot dead after police say he attacked his ex-wife with a hatchet days after their divorce was finalized.

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department said Townley drove to a house in Georgia where he confronted his ex-wife, Laura, and another man, Zachary Anderson, with the hatchet.

During the altercation, Anderson shot Townley several times but also hit Laura.

-Athens-Clarke County Police Department (@accpolice) October 4, 2021

According to the New York Post, Townley was shot through the chest and Laura was hit in the abdomen at which point 911 was called.

The police arrived shortly after and both victims were transported to a local hospital.

The newspaper also reports that the couple's divorce had been finalized this week having initially been filed in February on the grounds they were living in separation and their marriage was irretrievably broken.

Townley drove in 186 races in NASCAR's XFinity and Truck series. He won one race in the Truck series, but never finished in the top 10 in XFinity and never raced in the Cup series. His last race was the 2016 Sparks Energy 300 in Talladega.