Justin Fontaine reflects on 2018 season, turns focus toward politics

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Justin Fontaine made his final scheduled start in Camping World Truck Series competition Friday in the Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“[The race] was fun,” Fontaine said. “We got it right this weekend. We’ve been off the last couple weeks and I was worried this weekend because we didn’t practice that great but man this thing came alive and when we took the green, we were passing trucks left and right. That was the most fun we’ve had in awhile.

“I’m a little emotional. But I’m really blessed to have gotten to do what I’ve gotten to do the last three years. There’s a lot of people that want to do this and don’t get the opportunity, so to those people, ‘don’t give up, you can make it. Just keep at it’. I wish we could have gotten a few more good finishes this year, but this is fun. I love it.

Fontaine says that the people is what he will miss the most at the racetrack.

“I’ve made some of the best friends I’ve got doing this, whether it was late models or doing this truck stuff. I got some really good friends now and I’m gonna miss that a lot.  Not going to miss the traveling, but I’m going to miss the people.”

But what is next for Fontaine?

“Running for office!” Fontaine exclaimed. He says his goal is to run for U.S. Congress and then eventually for president after receiving a political science degree from the University of North Carolina.

The driver even wore a shirt under his fire suit campaigning for the 2036 election.

Fontaine, 21, made his first Truck Series start at Martinsville Speedway in 2016 with AM Racing. The Fletcher, N.C.-native made two starts in 2017 and has competed full-time this year with Niece Motorsports.

Fontaine opened up his 2018 campaign with top-10 finishes in two of the first three races this year. Since Las Vegas this spring, the driver has struggled to finish inside the top 10. His best finish since was a 12th-place effort at Iowa in June.

The driver left the door open for a future return to racing in 2020.

“I’m not gonna give up on ya!” Fontaine said on why a sponsor should partner up with him. “I don’t think you’ll ever meet someone that loves this [sport] as much as I do, even when we were running not so great.

“I love what I’ve gotten to do. If there’s a sponsor out there that wants to [partner], give me a year off. Get your budget together, and we’ll talk in the Fall of 2019 and get something together.”