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Chris Fontaine finishes 20th in NASCAR Craftsman Trucks at Memphis. The
Crimson 125 is up next for C.F.I.Posted July 11th, 2007
After making his second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start of the season at
the Memphis (TN) Motorsports Park on June 30, 2007 Chris Fontaine (47) will
refocus his efforts on the ASALMS Southern Division’s Overall and Rookie of the
Year Championships, where he is Second in both, at the Birmingham (AL)
International Raceway this Saturday July 14, 2007 in the Crimson 125. (ASALMS
File Photo)
By C.F.I./John Barker
Lakeland, Florida (07/11/2007): Chris Fontaine of Lakeland, Florida; Currently
second in both the ASA Late Model Series Southern Division Overall and Rookie of
the Year title chases, finished 20th in the XPRESS Motorsports Chevrolet in the O’
Reilly 200 at the Memphis (TN) Motorsports Park on June 30, 2007 in the NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series.
Travis Kvapil sent Brad Keselowski into a spin to take the lead with nine laps
remaining and went on to win the O’Reilly 200, depriving Keselowski of an apparent
victory. Kvapil’s Roush Fenway Racing Ford ran a couple of truck lengths behind
Keselowski’s Germain Racing Toyota in a 40-lap chase on the .75-mile track.
In Turn Four on the 191st lap, of 200, Kvapil’s truck hit Keselowski’s left rear and
sent him into a 180-degree spin. It ruined a storybook type finishing race for
Keselowski, the pole sitter, who was subbing for the suspended Ted Musgrave.
Keselowski finished 16th.
As for Fontaine, he qualified 26th in a 36-truck field and completed 199 of 200 laps
and his driving skills continue to improve. Kvapil won by 2.320 seconds over
runner-up Jack Sprague, who passed Ron Hornaday for second with three laps
remaining. It was Kvapil’s second victory of the season and the seventh in his truck
career.
Fontaine will now head to the Birmingham (AL) International Raceway in
Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday July 14, 2007 for the Fourth Race of the 2007
season in the ASALMS Southern Division; The Crimson 125.
In ASALMS Southern Division competition so far, Fontaine sits second in both the
Overall and Rookie of the Year title chases with One Top Five, a season high
Fourth at the Bronson (FL) Motor Speedway in Bronson, Florida back on St.
Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2007.
Fontaine also won his first ARP Bodies/Florida Short Track Report Fast Qualifier
Award in the Camp Boggy Creek 100 back at Bronson. The Lakeland, Florida
Freshman also has Three Top 10 finishes, has not finished worse than Ninth all
season in South events, and sits 40 points behind fellow Sunshine State driver,
Sean Bass in both title chases.
In addition, in limited ASALMS Challenge Division appearances, Fontaine sits 20th
in the season long points chase with One Top 15 finish, a 13th place showing at
the Toledo (OH) Speedway in Toledo, Ohio during the Glass Breaker 200 back on
April 21, 2007.
During the 2006 season, Fontaine finished second in points in All American
Challenge Series at the Desoto (FL) Super Speedway in Bradenton Florida. In
addition, he competed in traveling FASCAR Sunbelt Series where he finished a
solid 10th in the final points standings. Overall in 2006, Fontaine recorded Two
Feature Wins, 12 Top Fives and an impressive 19 Top 10’s out of 25 races.
Fontaine began his racing career in 1998 at the age of 16 driving mini-cup cars.
He became interested in auto racing after spending three years playing ice hockey
on a junior league in his hometown of Lakeland, Florida. In his first year of racing,
he racked up Two Feature Wins, and finished in the Top Five in 13 of 14 races. In
1999, Fontaine won the MMRA Mini-cup National Indoor Championship as well as
the North Florida Region MMRA title.
In 2000, Fontaine moved up to Late Models and got his first win in a FASCAR
feature race at Orlando (FL) Speedworld. His record for that year stood at One
Feature Win, Five Top Fives and 11 Top 10 finishes out of 20 races ran. He took
3rd place in the 2000 FASCAR series points and 13th in the 2000 SARA series
points.
In 2001, the Lakeland, Florida driver moved up and ran a limited schedule in the
NASCAR All Pro Series where he finished 22nd and 26th place finish in limited
appearances both seasons. Also in 2002, Fontaine attempted to run in the
NASCAR Busch Series as the team purchased a car from veteran driver, Joe
Nemechek, and with the assistance of his team and driver Jeff Fuller, tried out for
races at Dover, Memphis, and Nashville.
In 2003, Fontaine returned to his home state of Florida and results were
immediate. With 11 Top Fives and an impressive 16 Top 10s out of 35 races. He
finished 13th in the 2003 FASCAR points, and Ninth in the Desoto (FL) Super
Speedway based All-American Challenge Series Points Standings, despite having
missed several races in each series.
Fontaine started the 2004 season off with a win in the first All-American Challenge
Series event and ended the 2004 season with another win in the next to last AACS
series race of the year. Throughout the season, he recorded Two Feature Wins,
Six Top Fives, and Nine Top 10 showings out of 16 total races in the series to
clinch fifth place in the 2004 AACS series points standings. He also appeared in
the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series and I-Power Dash Series.
In 2005, he finished Third in the Florida Triple Crown points. He also finished Ninth
in the 2005 AACS points and 10th in the FASCAR Sunbelt Super Series points,
despite not running the full schedule of races in each series. Fontaine
accumulated Five Top Five finishes and 12 Top 10s out 23 Super Late Model
races he raced in during 2005. He also made three appearances in the NASCAR
Craftsman Truck races driving for Bobby Hamilton Racing.
For the 2007 season, Fontaine will run a FLF Racecars (Formally Finish Line
Fabricating) House Car for the 2007 season in the ASALMS and will be gunning for
the ASALMS Southern Division Championship and Rookie of the Year title. In
addition, Fontaine will also run a partial schedule in the ASALMS Challenge
Division.
To learn more about Chris Fontaine and the C.F.I. Racing Team, log onto the
teams website at: C.F.I. Racing
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