Montoya's win stirs vivid memories for Earl Ross

In the sun soaked hills of California's wine country Juan Montoya was basking in the glory of his remarkable breakthrough win. Buzzing with the taste of victory, a celebration took place for Montoya and many who've become fans of the aggressive and confident Colombian-born driver.

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At the same time, in a remote corner of North America -- world's away, on 50 acres of quiet rolling countryside in Ailsa Craig, Ontario, Canada, a wizened 66-year-old watched on his television set, keen with interest. Blessed to have his family sitting alongside him, the man had a unique perspective on the events unfolding on the screen. Indeed, there is a personal connection.

"This might happen ... how do you feel?" asked his son-in-law Trevor Moore. "It's about bloody time," he roared. And as the laps wound down and the remaining uncertainty became certain he yelled at his set "Finally!" In the world of racing, 33 years is an eternity.

The man is Earl Ross. Prior to Sunday's road course victory for Montoya, Ross was the most recent non-American born driver to win on NASCAR's highest circuit.

The year was 1974 and Martinsville, Va., was the site. "I won that race in Martinsville and it was an experience I certainly won't forget," Ross said. And who could blame him? "The truth is I ran the last 100 laps with no brakes. I told my crew chief Gord McKichan and he hopped in the car to move it then hopped right back out and said, 'You aren't kidding.'"

Ahhh, those were the days in NASCAR. Back when men with names like Petty and Pearson ruled the roost -- and the venerable veteran from Canada raced them all. He's got a few good stories to tell too. "I can remember at Charlotte there was a

caution one day and I pulled up alongside of David Pearson and he was just sitting in his car smoking a cigarette," Ross said. "He was a pretty cool customer in those situations."

Then there was the time at Michigan when he finished second to King Richard and just behind Ross was Pearson -- no doubt already drawing on a smoke.

Before jumping into the big league of NASCAR, Ross turned laps mainly in Ontario, but he also ran his car in places like Delaware and Fort Wayne. However, like his successor Montoya, Ross had a dream. "The first time I ever saw a superspeedway was in 1971," he said. "The guy that helped me out said, 'Let's go to Daytona.' When I first saw the place I thought, 'Oh man is that unbelievable.' And just a few years later I was there. It was a dream." (Continued)