Template:NASCAR current driver
Ron Fellows (born September 28, 1959) from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada is an accomplished Sports Car driver, and a NASCAR Road Course Ringer.
NASCAR career[]
Ron has also had various stints in the Craftsman Truck Series, Nationwide Series, and Sprint Cup Series, as a "Road Course Ringer". He has 2 wins and 3 poles in the Craftsman Truck Series, winning twice at Watkins Glen. He has had even greater success in the NASCAR Busch Series, where he has 3 wins and two poles in 6 starts. He was also the first non-American to win a NASCAR Busch Series event.
In 2003 he was hired by Dale Earnhardt Inc. to drive the #1 Pennzoil car at Sonoma and Watkins Glen. Fellows was a person of interest by Dale Sr. to drive the #1 full-time after 2001 but Earnhardt died in the 2001 Daytona 500 before any deal could have been made. Since the team had evolved over the past couple years, they only hired Fellows for the road course races.
At Sonoma, Ron Fellows had his career's nearest-miss. He qualified 3rd and led a few laps. On lap 41, Fellows passed by Kevin Harvick and Robby Gordon to take the lead. From then on Fellows controlled the race and saw victory dead ahead, but failed to pit in time for an unexpected yellow with less than 30 laps to go. With Fellows restarting 31st on the final restart, he could only recover for 7th place. Notably, Fellows has stated that this is his actual near-miss that was most disappointing to him.
In 2004, Ron Fellows was picked up by DEI for only the Watkins Glen event. Fellows started 43rd at Watkins Glen and after charging through the field, finished 2nd to Tony Stewart. Fellows did have contention to beat Tony but he had used up his car trying to go through the field and he could only maintain his second spot.
From 2005-2006, Fellows drove for Cal Wells' #32 Tide Ride team and in 2007 competed 2 Cup series events for Hall of Fame Racing. He had another top five at Watkins Glen finishing 4th. In 2008 he reunited with DEI to run the road course races.
For 2006, Ron is back with Corvette Racing in the American Le Mans Series.
In 2004, Ron joined Kevin Harvick Inc. to drive the #33 car for the Busch Series events. Fellows ran quite well in the ride and had contention to win many races. In 2007, he had his outbreaking race with KHI in the inaugural race in Montreal. With 4 laps to go he was running 3rd but his boss Kevin Harvick intentionally wrecked Scott Pruett. Fellows was collected in the wreck and lost contention to win his home-town race. Kevin ultimately won.
Fellows recovered for 4th place, but he was not too happy with Kevin Harvick. During a wind-down lap, Fellows shoved Kevin;s winning car to retaliate and gestured the finger at Kevin. When Fellows tried to enter victory lane to confront Harvick he was escorted out by security. Fellows then personally confronted Harvick before the Pocono race the next morning. As a result of this dispute, Fellows left KHI, leaving hurt feelings on both sides.
In 2008, Ron Fellows won his 4th race in the NNS at Montreal.
Non-NASCAR career[]
He began his career in Karts, which lead to Formula Ford 1600 and Formula Ford 2000. When funds for these projects ran low, he left racing for a 9 year stint as gas pipeline worker. Fellows returned to the track in the 1980's with help from driving school instructor Richard Spenard. He made his professional debut in 1986 in the Player's GM Challenge, driving a showroom stock Camaro. He had a dominant 1989 season, capturing both the title at Mosport Park and his first SCCA Trans-Am Series race during the same weekend. His career skyrocketed as he became one of the most successful drivers in the history of Trans Am, with 19 wins in 95 starts.
Fellows then had 2 starts in the legendary Ferrari 333SP, including a 1997 win at Mosport Park in the FIA World Sports Car Series.
Family[]
He also supports many charities and programs and like many Canadians, he has a deep passion for hockey, namely in the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ron lives outside of Toronto with his wife, and three children.