By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer
Justin Fontaine called his NASCAR career complete when the checkered flag flew at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the Ford EcoBoost 200.
In September, Fontaine announced on social media that he would be stepping away from NASCAR full-time in 2018.
After he hopped out of this No. 45 Niece Motorsports Truck, the emotions began to flow.
“I’m really blessed to have got to have done this. I am a little bit emotional. I am blessed to do what I have gotten to do over these last three years,” Fontaine stated.
For Fontaine, the thing he will miss the most about racing in NASCAR is the people. For him, some of his best friends came from racing. With fellow drivers wishing him the best of luck in his next chapter, Fontaine also had the support of his family.
“My brother came home from Raleigh to come. My other brother took off work. They wanted to be a part of it. They know how much this has meant to me. They’ve been there from the start. To have them here means a lot.”
What is the next phase for the 21-year-old driver? Well, the goal is to become a politician by starting out in the U.S Congress and then hopes to become the president of the United States.
Fontaine is still open to running in NASCAR but wants to take a year off to focus on family and school, but a sponsor has to be present with the budget.
“I won’t do anything in 2019, I know that. If there is a sponsor out there that wants to do it, give me a year off, get your budget together, and we will talk in fall 2019. I want a year to get back to my family, my school. 2020, who knows? I am pretty happy.”
At the end of the day, Fontaine loved what he got to do in auto racing.