(By Greg Engle)
Posted: Sunday,August 30th, 2009
(By Sarah Farlee, NASCAR Daily News Staff Writer)
Canadian Ron Fellows will try and impress his home crowd once again Sunday.
Fellows and the NASCAR Nationwide Series will run north of the border at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Sunday in the Napa Auto Parts 200. This will be the third trip to the 2.709-mile road course in Montreal. Fellows is a familiar face at Sonoma and Watkins Glen and will be filling the seat of the No. 5 JR Motorsports entry. The 50 year old has been around the NASCAR scene for quite some time, but his commitment to racing road circuits for Corvette was not accommodating to the grueling NASCAR schedule. However Fellows said he still has dreams of competing full time.
MONTREAL, QC - AUGUST 29: Ron Fellows, stands beside the #5 Fastenal Chevrolet during the Napa Auto Parts 200 Qualifying on August 29, 2009 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images)
“Would I like to do it? Absolutely,” said Fellows.
Fellows is a seasoned driver, however, seasoned drivers are not always picked for full-time Cup rides. He understands this, but also sees the success Mark Martin has had at 50.
“There’s a reason Mark Martin and I share the No. 5, and it’s because our birthdays actually start with a 5, as well,” said Fellows. “We’re in our fifth decade. But right now Mark is proving that to be very fashionable. So, hey, let me at it.”
Sunday’s race will have an international flavor with nine Canadians and three other drivers from outside the U.S. Fellows thinks this is a big opportunity for drivers to showcase their talents to an international audience.
“This is one of the biggest racing events in Canada,” said Fellows.
The big event will not have a cup race to compete with this weekend, that means more cup regulars making the trip north. Fellows welcomes the competition. In recent years Cup drivers have been hit and miss on practices and qualifying because of their Cup commitments, this year they will be in Montreal the entire weekend. Fellows thinks that may make racing them more of a challenge.
“They’ll be tuned up and ready on Sunday,” said Fellows.
Fellows looks back to past road races to evaluate the competition. He knows which teams ran well and if Watkins Glen was an indication of how some teams will roll of the truck that translates to an ultra competitive field.
“I think the guys who were in the top 10, some of those guys in the top 10 at the Nationwide race at Watkins Glen would certainly lead you to believe they’re going to be a threat on Circuit Giles Villeneuve,” said Fellows. “No question.”
Fellows is confident in his team to show up competitive. They have worked hard to improve an already strong entry. Fellows hopes that strong entry will propel him to a repeat win, a win he was proud to bring home to owners Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Rick Hendrick in front of his home crowd.
“Certainly it was a special win for me being Canadian and having grown up watching Circuit Giles Villeneuve,” said Fellows. “Having raced on that track back in the late ’80s, a very special win.”
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