Fellows to drive No. 5 car for JRM at road courses

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- JR Motorsports announced Thursday that accomplished road-course racer Ron Fellows will return to drive its No. 5 Chevrolets in Nationwide Series races at Watkins Glen International on Aug. 8 and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Aug. 30, with Fastenal on board as the primary sponsor.

A native of Windsor, Ontario, Fellows is the defending race winner at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, as he drove JR Motorsports to its first road-course victory in the No. 5 Chevrolet last August. It was a historic win at the Montreal road course, as Fellows became the first Canadian to win a NASCAR event on Canadian soil. It was Fellows' fourth series victory. His other three wins came at Watkins Glen in 1998, 2000 and 2001.

"Ron is one of the best road racers of our time, plain and simple," said JR Motorsports owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who co-owns the No. 5 team with Rick Hendrick. "I've known Ron since 2001 when we raced the Corvette in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. It is an honor to have him drive our cars. I'm not sure there is anyone better at Watkins Glen, and what he did last year at Montreal was incredible."

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. With his four Nationwide Series victories, he also has six top-fives, seven top-10s and two poles in 13 starts.

"I'm honored to have another opportunity to drive for JR Motorsports and represent Fastenal," Fellows said. "Montreal was a special win for us last year. It was not only a great day for Canadian race fans, but to win that close to my home was a thrill. Watkins Glen, likewise, has always been a special track for me. I'm hoping we can get the Fastenal Chevy to Victory Lane in both road-course races this year."

Fellows is one of six drivers that make up the 21-race schedule for the No. 5 team in 2009, joining Earnhardt (seven races), Scott Wimmer (six), Ryan Newman (four), Mark Martin (one) and Tony Stewart (one). Fellows is one of four drivers representing Fastenal Racing, which serves as primary sponsor for the No. 5 team in 14 of its 21 races.

Fellows' victory last season was one of two wins by the No. 5 team in 2008, with Mark Martin capturing the other at Las Vegas on March 1. This year the No. 5 team has competed in nine events, scoring two top-fives and five top-10s.