Justin Fontaine
Fontaine at Homestead–Miami Speedway in 2018
Born (1997-10-18) October 18, 1997 (age 26)
Fletcher, North Carolina
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
26 races run over 3 years
2018 position16th
Best finish16th (2018)
First race2016 Texas Roadhouse 200 (Martinsville)
Last race2018 Ford EcoBoost 200 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 2 0
Statistics current as of November 16, 2018.

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.

Racing career

Before 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

Fontaine'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

NASCAR

(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

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

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

(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

  1. ^ McCubbin, Ashley (2011-12-24). "ASHLEY ASKS…… Justin Fontaine". Popular Speed. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "Driver Justin Fontaine 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "2016 Texas Roadhouse 200". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  6. ^ "Justin Fontaine returns to AM Racing for limited 2017 Truck Series season". Catchfence. December 21, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  7. ^ "Driver Justin Fontaine 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
  8. ^ Reiman, Samuel. "Justin Fontained transferred to local hospital following ARCA crash". FOX Sports. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  9. ^ Staff, SPEED SPORT (2017-05-30). "Justin Fontaine Cleared For Return To Racing | SPEED SPORT". SPEED SPORT. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
  10. ^ "Driver Justin Fontaine 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
  11. ^ "Justin Fontaine to run full season with Niece in 2018". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
  12. ^ "NASCAR: Justin Fontaine racing Truck Series full-time in 2018". Beyond the Flag. 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
  13. ^ "02/16/2018 race: NextEra Energy Resources 250 (Truck) - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  14. ^ Catanzareti, Zach (2018-02-17). "Justin Fontaine Kicks Off Rookie Truck Season With Top 10". Kickin' The Tires. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  15. ^ Pulver, Dinah Voyles. "Injured Fontaine leaves hospital after ARCA crash". Daytona Beach News. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "Justin Fontaine – 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  18. ^ "Justin Fontaine – 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  19. ^ "Justin Fontaine – 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  20. ^ "Justin Fontaine – 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  21. ^ "Justin Fontaine – 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 4, 2018.

External links

Niece Motorsports
Win-Tron Racing
Bolen Motorsports
AM Racing
Categories