Justin Fontaine (racing driver) explained

__FORCETOC__

Justin Fontaine
Birth Date:18 October 1997
Birth Place:Fletcher, North Carolina
Total Truck Races:26
Years In Truck:3
Prev Truck Pos:16th
Prev Truck Year:2018
Best Truck Pos:16th (2018)
First Truck Race:2016 Texas Roadhouse 200 (Martinsville)
Last Truck Race:2018 Ford EcoBoost 200 (Homestead)
Truck Wins:0
Truck Top Tens:2
Truck Poles:0
Updated: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. 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
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920212223PtsRef
2016AM Racing22ToyotaDAYATLMARKANDOVCLTTEXIOWGTWKENELDPOCBRIMCHMSPCHINHALVSTALMAR
26
TEXPHOHOM70th7[17]
201766DAYATLMARKANCLTDOVTEXGTWIOWKENELDPOC
15
MCHBRIMSP46th42[18]
Niece Motorsports45ToyotaCHI
17
NHALVSTALMARTEXPHOHOM
2018ChevyDAY
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
16th386[19]

K&N Pro Series East

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314PtsRef
2016Martin-McClure Racing39ToyotaNSMMOBGREBRIVIRDOM
13
STA
20
COLNHAGRE
16
NJEDOV28th113[20]
75IOW
14
GLN

Season still in progress
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.)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ASHLEY ASKS…… Justin Fontaine. McCubbin. Ashley. 2011-12-24. Popular Speed. en-US. 2018-02-22.
  2. Web site: Justin Fontaine overcomes brake issues to complete NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Debut – DESTINATION: VICTORY LANE www.RaceDayDVL.com. racedaydvl.com. en-US. 2017-12-13.
  3. Web site: Driver Justin Fontaine 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results - Racing-Reference.info. racing-reference.info. 2017-12-13.
  4. Web site: JUSTIN FONTAINE SET TO MAKE NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES DEBUT AT MARTINSVILLE. Austin Wayne Self. October 25, 2016. January 4, 2017.
  5. Web site: 2016 Texas Roadhouse 200. Racing-Reference. January 4, 2017.
  6. Web site: Justin Fontaine returns to AM Racing for limited 2017 Truck Series season. Catchfence. December 21, 2016. January 4, 2017.
  7. Web site: Driver Justin Fontaine 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results - Racing-Reference.info. racing-reference.info. 2017-12-13.
  8. Web site: Reiman. Samuel. Justin Fontained transferred to local hospital following ARCA crash. FOX Sports. 19 February 2017.
  9. News: Justin Fontaine Cleared For Return To Racing SPEED SPORT. Staff. SPEED SPORT. 2017-05-30. SPEED SPORT. 2017-06-06. en-US.
  10. Web site: Driver Justin Fontaine 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results - Racing-Reference.info. racing-reference.info. 2017-12-13.
  11. News: Justin Fontaine to run full season with Niece in 2018. ESPN.com. 2017-12-13.
  12. News: NASCAR: Justin Fontaine racing Truck Series full-time in 2018. 2017-12-12. Beyond the Flag. 2017-12-13. en-US.
  13. Web site: 02/16/2018 race: NextEra Energy Resources 250 (Truck) - Racing-Reference.info. racing-reference.info. 2018-02-22.
  14. News: Justin Fontaine Kicks Off Rookie Truck Season With Top 10. Catanzareti. Zach. 2018-02-17. Kickin' The Tires. 2018-02-22. en-US.
  15. News: Injured Fontaine leaves hospital after ARCA crash. Pulver. Dinah Voyles. Daytona Beach News. 2017-12-13. en.
  16. News: Catanzareti. Zach. Former NASCAR Driver Justin Fontaine Pledges $15,000 to N.C. Women's Shelters. Kickin' The Tires. March 15, 2020. August 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200421155427/https://kickinthetires.net/feature/former-nascar-driver-justin-fontaine-pledges-15000-to-n-c-womens-shelters/. April 21, 2020.
  17. Web site: Justin Fontaine – 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results. Racing-Reference. November 4, 2018.
  18. Web site: Justin Fontaine – 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results. Racing-Reference. November 4, 2018.
  19. Web site: Justin Fontaine – 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results. Racing-Reference. November 4, 2018.
  20. Web site: Justin Fontaine – 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results. Racing-Reference. November 4, 2018.
  21. Web site: Justin Fontaine – 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results. Racing-Reference. November 4, 2018.