Ron Fellows facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ron Fellows
Fellows in 2007
Born	(1959-09-28) September 28, 1959 (age 65) Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Achievements	2001 24 Hours of Daytona co-winner 2003 American Le Mans Series GTS class champion 2001, 2002 24 Hours of Le Mans GTS class winner 2002, 2004 12 Hours of Sebring GTS class winner
NASCAR Cup Series career
25 races run over 16 years
2013 position	44th
Best finish	43rd (2007)
First race	1995 The Bud At The Glen (Watkins Glen)
Last race	2013 Cheez-It 355 at The Glen (Watkins Glen)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 5 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
25 races run over 14 years
2013 position	123rd
Best finish	39th (2011)
First race	1997 Lysol 200 (Watkins Glen)
Last race	2013 Nationwide Children's Hospital 200 (Mid-Ohio)
First win	1998 Lysol 200 (Watkins Glen)
Last win	2008 NAPA Auto Parts 200 (Montreal)
Wins Top tens Poles 4 15 2
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career
15 races run over 4 years
Best finish	35th (1999)
First race	1997 Pronto Auto Parts 400K (Texas)
Last race	2000 Bully Hill Vineyards 150 (Watkins Glen)
First win	1997 Parts America 150 (Watkins Glen)
Last win	1999 Bully Hill Vineyards 150 (Watkins Glen)
Wins Top tens Poles 2 5 3
Statistics current as of November 17, 2013.

Ronald Charles Fellows CM (born September 28, 1959) is a Canadian retired auto racing driver. He is known for his success in sports car racing and as a "road course ringer" in NASCAR races.

About Ron Fellows

Early Life and Inspiration

Ron Fellows was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, on September 28, 1959. From a young age, he loved auto racing. His biggest hero was French-Canadian Formula 1 driver Gilles Villeneuve. Ron has one of the largest collections of Gilles Villeneuve items in Canada.

To watch races, Ron went to a track on an island in Montreal. This track was later named "Circuit Gilles Villeneuve" after his hero passed away in 1982. Ron dreamed of winning a race at this special track. He made that dream come true in 2008, when he won a NASCAR Nationwide Series race there.

Beyond the Race Track

Besides racing, Ron Fellows owns the Ron Fellows Performance Driving Schools. He is also part-owner of the Corvette car brand and its racing teams. He started a charity called the Sunoco-Ron Fellows Karting Championship. This program helps young kids learn to become race car drivers.

In 2013, Ron bought the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park racetrack. He hopes to bring the top-level NASCAR Cup Series to his track one day. Ron is married to Lynda Fellows and they have three children: Lyndsay, Sam, and Patrick. He is also good friends with famous drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jacques Villeneuve.

Racing Career Highlights

Starting Out

Ron Fellows began his racing journey in small kart races. He then moved up to Formula Ford 1600 and Formula Ford 2000 cars. When he ran out of money for racing, he worked for nine years laying gas pipelines. He returned to racing in the 1980s with help from a driving instructor. Ron made his first professional race in 1986.

Sports Car Success

Ron Fellows had a fantastic year in 1989. He won a title at Mosport Park and his first SCCA Trans-Am Series race on the same weekend. He became one of the most successful drivers in Trans Am history, with 19 wins. He also raced the famous Ferrari 333SP, winning a race in 1997.

Corvette Racing Era

In 1998, Ron joined the Corvette Racing team, driving the Chevrolet Corvette C5R. This was a very important part of his career.

• 2001: Ron and his team won the overall race at the 24 Hours of Daytona. They also achieved a big goal by winning the GTS class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. Corvette Racing also won the American Le Mans Series GTS title that year.
• 2002-2004: The Corvette C5R continued to dominate. They won the GTS class at the 12 Hours of Sebring and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans GTS class again in 2002. In 2003, Corvette Racing won the American Le Mans Series GTS title. They also won the 12 Hours of Sebring GTS class in 2004.
• 2005: Corvette Racing introduced a new car, the Chevrolet Corvette C6R. They won their third Le Mans class title in six years.
• 2006: Ron had a full season with Corvette Racing. Despite some rule changes that made it harder for Corvettes, the team won their fifth ALMS championship. They also won their fourth Le Mans class title in six years.
• 2007: Ron took on a smaller role with Corvette Racing. He raced in the three long-distance races and at his home track, Mosport. He also helped the team with his experience.

NASCAR Road Course Specialist

Ron Fellows raced in various NASCAR series, including the Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series, and Sprint Cup Series. He was known as a "road course ringer" because he was very good at racing on tracks with turns, not just ovals.

He won two races and three pole positions in the Truck Series, both wins at Watkins Glen. He had even more success in the Nationwide Series, with four wins and two pole positions. He was the first non-American driver to win a NASCAR Nationwide Series event.

Memorable NASCAR Moments

Ron made his first NASCAR Cup Series race in 1995. He returned to the Cup series in 1998. In 1999, he had his best Cup Series finish at Watkins Glen, coming in second place. He led some laps but was passed by Jeff Gordon at the end.

In 2003, at a race in Sonoma, Ron led many laps and was close to winning. However, a pit stop during a caution flag dropped him back. He finished seventh, but he felt this was his best chance to win a Cup Series race.

In 2004, Ron had an amazing drive at Watkins Glen. He started in 43rd place and drove all the way to second place, finishing behind Tony Stewart.

Montreal Victory

In 2008, Ron Fellows won the 2008 NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. This race was shortened due to rain and was the first NASCAR points race to use rain tires. Ron was very emotional about this win. It was his fourth Nationwide Series win, all on road courses. This victory was special because it fulfilled his childhood dream of winning a professional race at the track named after his hero, Gilles Villeneuve.

He continued to race for JR Motorsports in 2009 and 2010. In 2010, he finished second at Road America. In 2011, he was in a position to win at Road America but was penalized for passing cars too fast under a caution flag. He finished second, and later agreed that NASCAR made the right decision. Ron raced his last race with JR Motorsports in 2013.

Other Activities

Fellows during the 2013 Toyota/Save Mart 350

In 2007, GM created a special "Ron Fellows edition" Corvette Z06. This car had unique white paint and special markings.

Ron Fellows at Road America in 2012 with his youngest son

Ron Fellows supports many charities. Like many Canadians, he loves hockey, especially the Toronto Maple Leafs. He lives near Toronto with his family and has a second home near Las Vegas because his driving school is there.

In 2011, Ron and his partners bought Mosport International Raceway in Ontario, Canada. On December 31, 2019, Ron Fellows was given the Order of Canada. This award recognized his "outstanding work in multi-disciplinary roles in motor-racing."

Images for kids

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  2011 Nationwide car at Road America

• 

  Fellows during the 2013 Toyota/Save Mart 350

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  Ron Fellows at Road America in 2012 with his youngest son

See also

In Spanish: Ron Fellows para niños

• List of Canadians in NASCAR