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Lakeland’s own, Chris Fontaine aims for success in the Crate Late Model
Challenge 100.Posted January 24th, 2008
Lakeland, Florida driver, Chris Fontaine will go after the 2008 ASA Late Model
Series Southern Division Championship. But first he’ll compete at his home
track of the USA (FL) International Speedway in the Crate Late Model
Challenge 100, which is part of SpeedFest 2008 on January 24-26, 2008.
(Chris Fontaine.com Photo)
By Donna Fellows-Lakeland Ledger
Lakeland, Florida (01/24/2008): During his rookie season on the ASA Late
Model Series circuit in 2007, Chris Fontaine finished fifth overall in the
standings. While most racers would consider that a successful season, the
Lakeland native was not satisfied with his finish.
“Overall, it looked all right,” said Fontaine of his freshman season. “We were
disappointed with it. We want to win some races and win the championship.”
Fontaine, 26, will have his first opportunity to chase a checkered flag this
weekend during Speedfest 2008 at USA International Speedway in Lakeland.
“We’re going to try to go for the pole and go for the win and see how it turns
out,” Fontaine said. Fontaine will participate in the South ASA Late Model
Series Crate Late Model 25 on Friday night and attempt to race his way in to
the Crate Late Model Challenge 100 on Saturday night.
“I like the track because it’s my hometown track but it’s one that I haven’t had
the success at that I’m looking for,” Fontaine said. “We think that we finally
have a car that can put us up front and contend for the win.”
A strong finish at USA Speedway would give Fontaine momentum going into
the season. Fontaine has practiced and tested at USA Speedway recently in
hopes of performing well during the ASALMS “Non-Point” season opener.
“We think we can do better and we’re looking to prove that,” Fontaine said. “I
think we established that we can be a team that can run up front and we just
have to put together the finishes to prove it.”
Fontaine isn’t the only local racer hoping to do well at Speedfest. Kevin Macy
(Bartow), Steve Smith (Lakeland), Wayne Morris (Mulberry) and Travis Wilson
(Bartow) are expected to compete with Fontaine in the Late Model division.
George Crenshaw (Lakeland) is entered to compete in the Super Late Model
division against a group that includes NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch and David
Stremme.
The NOS Energy Drink 200 presented by Goodyear will be the second main
event race during Speedfest on Saturday night, starting immediately after the
Crate Late Model Challenge 100, and will showcase the Super Late Models.
Busch has tested at USA Speedway several times in the past few weeks, as
well as at Daytona International Speedway, and may be a force to reckon with
on the 3/4-mile oval. Busch will drive his own Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota
for the Speedfest event.
The gate opens at 3:30 p.m. Thursday for practice, which will last until 8 p.m.,
with divisions switching out every 30 minutes.
On Friday, the grandstands open at 1 p.m., which also marks the start of
practice, which runs until 4 p.m. Super Late Model qualifying begins at 5 p.m.,
with the South qualifying first. The South will also qualify first in the Crate Late
Models, which begins at 6:15 p.m. pre-race ceremonies kick off at 7:30 p.m.
The green flag drops for the South Crate Late Model 25 at 8 p.m., followed
immediately by the North Crate Late Model 25, the South Super Late Model
100, then the North Super Late Model 100.
On Saturday, the grandstands open at 2 p.m. Practice runs from 2-3:30 p.m.,
followed by a tire scuff session for all cars at 4:30 p.m. Qualifying for remaining
cars will be at 5:30 p.m.
The on-track autograph session is slated for 6:30 p.m., followed by pre-race
ceremonies at 7:30 p.m. and Last Chance races. The Crate Late Model
Challenge 100 is scheduled for an 8 p.m. start, followed by the Speedfest
Super Late Model NOS Energy Drink 200.
Thursday’s practice sessions are free to the public, but pit admission is $25.
For Friday and Saturday, frontstretch tickets are $30, backstretch tickets are
$20 and children under 10 are admitted for $10. Pit admission for Friday and
Saturday is $35.
Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster or by calling 1-800-984-RACE.
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