By accessing/using The Crittenden Automotive Library/CarsAndRacingStuff.com, you signify your agreement with the Terms of Use on our Legal Information page. Our Privacy Policy is also available there.

Chris Fontaine NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares® QQQ 300 Preview

Topics:  Chris Fontaine, PowerShares® QQQ 300

Chris Fontaine NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares® QQQ 300 Preview

Chris Knight
Knight Motorsports Management
B.J. McLeod Motorsports
19 February 2016

Chris Fontaine, No. 99 RackTails Gear / Glenden Enterprises Ford Mustang PowerShares® QQQ 300 Fast Facts

NASCAR XFINITY Series Race No. 1, PowerShares® QQQ 300, Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida

Race Information: Event: PowerShares® QQQ 300, Saturday, February 20 at 3:30 p.m. Local Time Track: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Qualifying: Saturday, February 20 at 10:00 a.m. Local Time Track Length: 2.5-mile paved oval.

Welcome To 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series Season: The first of 33 races on the NASCAR XFINITY Series tour kicks off Saturday, February 20 for the PowerShares QQQ 300. The event marks the first of three superspeedway tracks in 2016.

New XFINITY Series Flavor: Last month, B.J. McLeod Motorsports announced the formation of two-full NASCAR XFINITY Series teams for the 2016 season. The Mooresville, North Carolina-based team will field the No. 78 and No. 99 Ford Mustangs this season.

Inaugural Start: With plenty of restrictor plate experience on his resume, Chris Fontaine doesn’t have an XFINITY Series start at a superspeedway however. Fontaine and B.J. McLeod Motorsports hope to change that statistic with a start in Saturday’s season-opener at Daytona International Speedway.

Welcome Aboard: RackTails joins B.J. McLeod Motorsports and Fontaine as the primary marketing partner for the PowerShares® QQQ 300 on Saturday afternoon. RackTails is a fashion company specializing in everything from tee-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and more for the hunting and fishing enthusiast.

Double Duty: In addition to attempting to make his NASCAR XFINITY Series debut at Daytona, Fontaine plans to also compete in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ (NCWTS) NextEra Energy 250 at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. Fontaine will drive the No. 78 RackTails / Glenden Enterprises Toyota Tundra. B.J. McLeod Motorsports will assist in the first of 23 NCWTS races this season.

Arriving Prepared: Preparing to flex their muscle in the NASCAR XFINITY Series this season, B.J. McLeod Motorsports purchased a solid inventory of Ford Mustangs from Roush Fenway Racing during the off season. Acquiring race cars and equipment from the reigning XFINITY Series championship team, B.J. McLeod Motorsports is heavily optimistic for the freshman season of competition.

Drafting Help At The World Center Of Racing: When it comes to restrictor plate racing, there’s no better drafting partner than a teammate. With its entry to the NASCAR XFINITY Series, B.J. McLeod Motorsports has two young drivers at the helm. McLeod will be Fontaine’s teammate for the 120-lap race. McLeod, a Florida native is a veteran competitor in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Fast Fact: Built in 1959, Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway recently just completed the “Daytona Rising” project with $400 million worth of improvement to the track, placing emphasis on improving fan experience with five expanded and redesigned fan entrances (injectors), as well as wider and more comfortable seating with more restrooms and concession stands. The track's grandstands will include 101,000 permanent seats with the ability to increase permanent seating to 125,000.

Stay Social With B.J. McLeod Motorsports: For more on B.J. McLeod Motorsports, please visit BJMcLeodMotorsports.com or click on their Facebook page. McLeod is also active on Twitter. You can follow and tweet @TeamBJMcLeod.

Chassis Intel: Jason Houghtaling, crew chief of the No. 99 RackTails Gear / Glenden Enterprises Ford Mustang has elected to bring chassis number 002 to the 2.5-mile superspeedway this weekend. This is a new vehicle to B.J. McLeod Motorsports, but last utilized by Roush Fenway Racing last year.

B.J. McLeod Motorsports, Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Pre-Race Quotes: Chris Fontaine, driver of the No. 99 RackTails Gear / Glenden Enterprises Ford Mustang

On XFINITY Series Debut At Daytona: “I’m thrilled about this opportunity to race in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. When it comes to plate racing, it’s some of my favorite racing. B.J. has done a great job getting his XFINITY Series team together in a relatively short amount of time and I honestly think we can go to Daytona and turn some heads.”

On Double Duty At Daytona: “I think running double-duty at Daytona will prove to have its benefits. Not only does it allow more time in the draft, but it keeps me busy jumping back and forth between the two series. Something that you may learn in the truck you can try to apply to the XFINITY Series car and vice-versa. I’m a little rambunctious to get things going.”

On Racing With Friend B.J. McLeod: “I’m really excited for B.J. He has worked extremely hard to put this team together and I’m anxious to see how it all works out. Anyone that knows B.J. knows he never stops working and he’s a very determined man. I want to thank him for making this transition to XFINITY so easy and smooth. I’m hoping I can thank him for all of his efforts with a strong run Saturday afternoon.”

On Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway: “It’s one of my favorite places and for obvious reasons. It’s really considered my hometown track and I enjoy the speed and fundamentals of restrictor plate racing. We have some work to do to make sure we can get our car in the field, but I’m confident in the team and equipment we’re putting on the track.”

PRIOR RESULTS:

Chris Fontaine Daytona International Speedway NXS Performance Record:

Chris Fontaine will make his first career NASCAR XFINITY Series start and first at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Feb. 20.

The PowerShares® QQQ 300 (120 laps / 300 miles) is the first of 33 NASCAR XFINITY Series on the 2016 schedule. Practice begins on Friday, February 19 from 10:30 a.m. – 11:55 a.m. A second practice has been etched in from 1:00 p.m. – 1:55 p.m., while a final session is set for 3:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Saturday, February 20 beginning at 10:00 a.m. The 40-car field will take the green flag shortly after 3:30 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Satellite Radio, Channel 90).

McLeod Motorsports CONTACT:
pr@bjmcleodmotorsports.com
704.799.6806