Juan Montoya looked to NASCAR for an opportunity and a challenge in a driving career that had already yielded open wheel championships and victories.
And as he settled into the Nextel Cup Series, Montoya, who in the last two years has adapted to the triplicate role of husband to wife, Connie, father to son, Sebastian, and daughter, Paulina, and driver for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, has also found NASCAR an ideal place for a family man.
And make no mistake, that role fits Montoya, 31, as well as that of champion driver.
"It's been great," Montoya said of fatherhood. "It's something that, as a man, you always want to accomplish when you get married, and it's been really good for us, so I really can't complain."
Juan Montoya grew up at racetracks as his father, Pablo Montoya, involved Juan in kart racing at an early age. Juan's uncle, Diego Montoya, was a standout North American GT racer in the early 1980s with IMSA.
"My father used to race go-karts himself," Montoya said. "And he was the guy who always took me to the tracks with him."
Montoya absorbed his father's love for the sport and the ability to pass it on, very well. There's no misreading the joy that Montoya now feels as a parent.
At a recent Nextel Cup test session at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the Colombian pilot reveled in playful moments with Sebastian.
He twirled his son in the air and held him in his arms as the driver, who has become an instant celebrity in the stock car realm, conversed with numerous visitors and associates.
"Sebastian has been really good as a kid -- and he loves the cars as well," Montoya said. "So I can't complain about that, it's been good."
Given their exposure at such an early age, Montoya says he has no qualms about the career paths either of his children might take, including racing.
"Whatever they want to do [would be fine to me]," he said. "You have to support them in whatever they want to do."
As much as the Nextel Cup Series will involve trials on the racetrack and in the garage area, Montoya knows the drivers' motorhome lot, a fixture at each venue the series visits, will be a definite comfort zone.
"It's a lot easier to bring families to NASCAR races, than Formula One," Montoya said. "And I think this is a lot more family focused here, because, you know, you have your own motorhome and you can have your family there.
"And I think the atmosphere in the motorhome lot, among all the drivers [and their families] is really nice."
And even with his family growing, there's no sign that Montoya's commitment to children is lessening. With Connie, years ago he established their Formula Smiles Foundation, which conducts fund-raisers to build and maintain athletic facilities for underprivileged children.
"Yeah, the foundation continues [and] we're just trying to keep it growing," Montoya said. "We [had] a golf tournament in Colombia to raise some money and I think we'll be working with the NASCAR Foundation a little bit, as well, to help the Formula Smiles Foundation and to give us a hand.
"But it's good, because we're looking after 10,000 children already, in Colombia. The children have always been very special to me."
That's one thing he knows will continue as he traverses the United States with NASCAR.
"Yeah, this will be like a home away from home, because with your motorhome, you're really not away from home," Montoya said. "Because you're really not away from home.
"Your motorhome becomes like a different house to you."
And as he settled into the Nextel Cup Series, Montoya, who in the last two years has adapted to the triplicate role of husband to wife, Connie, father to son, Sebastian, and daughter, Paulina, and driver for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, has also found NASCAR an ideal place for a family man.
And make no mistake, that role fits Montoya, 31, as well as that of champion driver.
"It's been great," Montoya said of fatherhood. "It's something that, as a man, you always want to accomplish when you get married, and it's been really good for us, so I really can't complain."
Juan Montoya grew up at racetracks as his father, Pablo Montoya, involved Juan in kart racing at an early age. Juan's uncle, Diego Montoya, was a standout North American GT racer in the early 1980s with IMSA.
"My father used to race go-karts himself," Montoya said. "And he was the guy who always took me to the tracks with him."
Montoya absorbed his father's love for the sport and the ability to pass it on, very well. There's no misreading the joy that Montoya now feels as a parent.
At a recent Nextel Cup test session at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the Colombian pilot reveled in playful moments with Sebastian.
He twirled his son in the air and held him in his arms as the driver, who has become an instant celebrity in the stock car realm, conversed with numerous visitors and associates.
"Sebastian has been really good as a kid -- and he loves the cars as well," Montoya said. "So I can't complain about that, it's been good."
Given their exposure at such an early age, Montoya says he has no qualms about the career paths either of his children might take, including racing.
"Whatever they want to do [would be fine to me]," he said. "You have to support them in whatever they want to do."
As much as the Nextel Cup Series will involve trials on the racetrack and in the garage area, Montoya knows the drivers' motorhome lot, a fixture at each venue the series visits, will be a definite comfort zone.
"It's a lot easier to bring families to NASCAR races, than Formula One," Montoya said. "And I think this is a lot more family focused here, because, you know, you have your own motorhome and you can have your family there.
"And I think the atmosphere in the motorhome lot, among all the drivers [and their families] is really nice."
And even with his family growing, there's no sign that Montoya's commitment to children is lessening. With Connie, years ago he established their Formula Smiles Foundation, which conducts fund-raisers to build and maintain athletic facilities for underprivileged children.
"Yeah, the foundation continues [and] we're just trying to keep it growing," Montoya said. "We [had] a golf tournament in Colombia to raise some money and I think we'll be working with the NASCAR Foundation a little bit, as well, to help the Formula Smiles Foundation and to give us a hand.
"But it's good, because we're looking after 10,000 children already, in Colombia. The children have always been very special to me."
That's one thing he knows will continue as he traverses the United States with NASCAR.
"Yeah, this will be like a home away from home, because with your motorhome, you're really not away from home," Montoya said. "Because you're really not away from home.
"Your motorhome becomes like a different house to you."