Earl Ross died on Thursday at age 73.

earlrossphotoWho was Earl Ross? He was the only Canadian driver to ever win a race in NASCAR’s top series. He made 26 starts in what was then the Winston Cup series during his career, recording his only victory on September 1974 at the Martinsville, Virginia, Speedway. In that race he led the final 79 laps and beat the much-better-known Buddy Baker by a full lap.

Ross also won the 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year Award. He was inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2011.

Ross’s car carried the colors of Carling beer, a Canadian-based brand.