Justin Fontaine (born October 18, 1997) is an American former professional stock car racing driver. He last competed full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports.
| Justin Fontaine | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Fontaine at Homestead–Miami Speedway in 2018 | |||||||
| Born | October 18, 1997 Fletcher, North Carolina | ||||||
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career | |||||||
| 26 races run over 3 years | |||||||
| 2018 position | 16th | ||||||
| Best finish | 16th (2018) | ||||||
| First race | 2016 Texas Roadhouse 200 (Martinsville) | ||||||
| Last race | 2018 Ford EcoBoost 200 (Homestead) | ||||||
| |||||||
| Statistics current as of November 16, 2018. | |||||||
Racing career
editBefore breaking into NASCAR, racing was a hobby for Fontaine.[1] He raced quarter midgets, Mini Cup cars, late models,[2] and drove a few races in the K&N Pro Series East.[3]
In 2016, Fontaine made his Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway, driving the No. 22 Toyota for AM Racing.[4] After starting 28th, he finished 26th, five laps behind race winner Johnny Sauter.[5] Fontaine remained with AM Racing in 2017, driving on a part-time basis.[6] His first race with AM was through a partnership with Bolen Motorsports, driving the No. 66 truck at Pocono Raceway. He then joined Niece Motorsports for a race later in the season.[7]
On February 18, 2017, Fontaine was racing in the Lucas Oil Complete Engine Treatment 200, an ARCA Racing Series event at Daytona International Speedway. With five laps to go, he was involved in a multi-car wreck that sent him sliding on his roof. His car hit the outside wall in the tri-oval hard, and he had to be extricated from the car and was taken to nearby Halifax Medical Center. Due to damage to the SAFER barrier caused by Fontaine's hit, as well as the looming threat of rain that ended up postponing the Advance Auto Parts Clash to Sunday, the race was called at lap 75, with Austin Theriault the winner. Fontaine ended up with a L1 compression fracture from the accident. [8] He was cleared to return to racing on May 30, 2017 and hinted at a schedule that included another ARCA race and more NASCAR races.[9] Fontaine ran most of the remaining ARCA events in Win-Tron Racing's No. 33 entry, running mostly just outside of the top ten. He scored a best finish of ninth at Winchester Speedway.[10]
On December 12, 2017, it was announced that Fontaine would pilot Niece Motorsports' No. 45 truck full-time in 2018, working alongside Austin Wayne Self.[11][12] In his first race in the 45, Fontaine scored his first top ten in the Truck Series, finishing tenth.[13] In an interview after the finish, Fontaine exuded happiness about the finish, saying in part "it’s nice because my Wikipedia stats are going to have one less zero in them!"[14]
Two races later at Las Vegas, Fontaine scored his second top-10. Fontaine and the team struggled throughout the rest of the year, with multiple incidents and other misfortunes plaguing the team, which led them to a final points position of 16th.
On September 17, 2018, Fontaine announced that after the conclusion of the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Season at Homestead–Miami Speedway he would step away from racing indefinitely.
Personal life
editFontaine's older cousin Chris has also competed in the Truck Series.[4] Fontaine attended UNC Charlotte.[15]
After ending his racing career, Fontaine interned for North Carolina Representative Patrick McHenry in 2019, and was promoted to deputy campaign manager for the following year's election cycle.[16]
Motorsports career results
editNASCAR
edit(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Camping World Truck Series
edit| NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | NCWTC | Pts | Ref | |||||||||||||||
| 2016 | AM Racing | 22 | Toyota | DAY | ATL | MAR | KAN | DOV | CLT | TEX | IOW | GTW | KEN | ELD | POC | BRI | MCH | MSP | CHI | NHA | LVS | TAL | MAR 26 |
TEX | PHO | HOM | 70th | 7 | [17] | |||||||||||||||
| 2017 | 66 | DAY | ATL | MAR | KAN | CLT | DOV | TEX | GTW | IOW | KEN | ELD | POC 15 |
MCH | BRI | MSP | 46th | 42 | [18] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Niece Motorsports | 45 | Toyota | CHI 17 |
NHA | LVS | TAL | MAR | TEX | PHO | HOM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Chevy | DAY 10 |
ATL 19 |
LVS 9 |
MAR 28 |
DOV 19 |
KAN 17 |
CLT 30 |
TEX 30 |
IOW 12 |
GTW 26 |
CHI 14 |
KEN 17 |
ELD 25 |
POC 17 |
MCH 25 |
BRI 24 |
MSP 18 |
LVS 14 |
TAL 21 |
MAR 27 |
TEX 19 |
PHO 24 |
HOM 22 |
16th | 386 | [19] | |||||||||||||||||
K&N Pro Series East
edit| NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | NKNPSEC | Pts | Ref | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Martin-McClure Racing | 39 | Toyota | NSM | MOB | GRE | BRI | VIR | DOM 13 |
STA 20 |
COL | NHA | GRE 16 |
NJE | DOV | 28th | 113 | [20] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 75 | IOW 14 |
GLN | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points
ARCA Racing Series
edit(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
| ARCA Racing Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | ARSC | Pts | Ref | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Win-Tron Racing | 33 | Toyota | DAY 13 |
NSH | SLM | TAL | TOL | ELK 11 |
POC 21 |
MCH 26 |
MAD 11 |
IOW 23 |
IRP 22 |
POC 26 |
WIN 9 |
ISF | ROA | DSF | SLM 11 |
CHI 15 |
KEN 10 |
KAN 14 |
14th | 2180 | [21] | ||||||||||||||||||
References
edit- ^ McCubbin, Ashley (2011-12-24). "ASHLEY ASKS…… Justin Fontaine". Popular Speed. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ^ "Justin Fontaine overcomes brake issues to complete NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Debut – DESTINATION: VICTORY LANE | www.RaceDayDVL.com". racedaydvl.com. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ "Driver Justin Fontaine 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ a b "JUSTIN FONTAINE SET TO MAKE NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES DEBUT AT MARTINSVILLE". Austin Wayne Self. October 25, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- ^ "2016 Texas Roadhouse 200". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- ^ "Justin Fontaine returns to AM Racing for limited 2017 Truck Series season". Catchfence. December 21, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- ^ "Driver Justin Fontaine 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ Reiman, Samuel. "Justin Fontained transferred to local hospital following ARCA crash". FOX Sports. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
- ^ Staff, SPEED SPORT (2017-05-30). "Justin Fontaine Cleared For Return To Racing | SPEED SPORT". SPEED SPORT. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
- ^ "Driver Justin Fontaine 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ "Justin Fontaine to run full season with Niece in 2018". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ "NASCAR: Justin Fontaine racing Truck Series full-time in 2018". Beyond the Flag. 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ "02/16/2018 race: NextEra Energy Resources 250 (Truck) - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ^ Catanzareti, Zach (2018-02-17). "Justin Fontaine Kicks Off Rookie Truck Season With Top 10". Kickin' The Tires. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ^ Pulver, Dinah Voyles. "Injured Fontaine leaves hospital after ARCA crash". Daytona Beach News. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ Catanzareti, Zach (March 15, 2020). "Former NASCAR Driver Justin Fontaine Pledges $15,000 to N.C. Women's Shelters". Kickin' The Tires. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ^ "Justin Fontaine – 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
- ^ "Justin Fontaine – 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
- ^ "Justin Fontaine – 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
- ^ "Justin Fontaine – 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
- ^ "Justin Fontaine – 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
External links
edit- Justin Fontaine driver statistics at Racing-Reference