Watkins Glen: Ron Fellows preview

FELLOWS WITH JRM - Fellows has one start and one win with JRM. It came at Montreal in 2008. He qualified sixth, and led seven laps en route to his fourth series victory. It marked his first Nationwide Series win since Watkins Glen in 2001, and made him the first Canadian to win a NASCAR event on Canadian soil. Additionally, it was the first road-course victory for JRM and the second win of the year for the No. 5 Chevrolet.

AT THE GLEN - In eight starts at the Glen, Fellows owns three wins (1998, 2000, and 2001), four top fives, and five top 10s. He earned two poles, along with an average start of 7.6, and an average finish of 13.1. Fellows holds the distinction of being the oldest winner of the 82-lap race at 41 years, nine months, and ten days old following his 2001 victory. The veteran leads the Nationwide Series with most laps led at the Glen with 189. That is the equivalent of leading 463 miles, or roughly the driving distance from Watkins Glen International to New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

NATIONWIDE SERIES STATS - Fellows' Nationwide Series history goes back 12 years to 1997. In his 13 career races, he's scored four wins, six top-five, and seven top-10 finishes. Fellows earned two poles, led 200 laps, and has an average finish of 16.6 with an average start of 7.2.

JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES - A longtime sports car and road-racing veteran, Fellows is credited with three class championships in the American Le Mans Series, two class wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and 19 overall victories in the Sports Car Club of America's Trans-Am Series as a member of the Corvette Racing Team. His NASCAR credentials include six overall wins (two in the Camping World Truck Series), and two runner-up finishes in Sprint Cup competition.

CHASSIS INFO - The Fastenal team will race chassis No. 389 this weekend. It last went to victory at Montreal in 2008 with Fellows. Dale Earnhardt Jr. also piloted this chassis at the Glen last year.

FELLOWS (on what it will take to get the Fastenal Chevrolet a win at the Glen this weekend) - "We had a fantastic weekend at Montreal last year, and we basically have the same crew headed up by Brian Campe and Cam Strader at Watkins Glen this weekend. They both have a pretty good idea what I'll need in the Fastenal Chevy. But for us to win this weekend, we need to have that great Hendrick horsepower, and be fast from turn one to the inner loop. Nothing else matters."

FELLOWS (on the characteristics of a solid road racer) - "A good road racer has to be very smooth with all car inputs - brakes, throttle, and steering. The biggest difference from an oval is the footwork approaching a corner. When you enter the corner on a road course you brake and also downshift the transmission. You're going from the gear you are in to the gear you need. Sometimes you'll even downshift through two gears. It can be a bit tricky as you need to match the rpm's from the gear you're in to the gear you need. If it goes wrong and you don't get it exactly right, that's when you see the dreaded rear-axle hop. That is usually followed by the back end of the car going into the corner first - never a good feeling."

FELLOWS (What kind of an advantage do you think you can give the 5 car over the competition at the Glen) - "My advantage with the Fastenal Chevy is the Fastenal Chevy! JR Motorsports put together a great crew, and they have excellent preparation. Hopefully my years of experience at Watkins Glen help as well and we'll be among the frontrunners in Saturday's race. I'd love to be the first to get Fastenal its first victory with JRM."

-credit: jrm