Florida native Chris Fontaine continued his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series education Friday night in the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200 at the famed Milwaukee Mile. Fontaine, in only his second NCTS start, witnessed a torrid pace set by pole sitter Jack Sprague and eventual winner Dennis Setzer as they swept away most of the competition in a long green flag run that lasted 143 laps. Before the midway mark of the event, only five trucks were left on the lead lap. The result for Fontaine was a 25th place finish.

"That was the longest green flag run I have ever seen or been in,” Fontaine said following the event.  “By the end of it, I was definitely ready for a break as hot as it was. It was 103 degrees in the shade. I learned I need to prepare myself better for the heat and drink some more water during the week."

Fontaine started the event in the 32nd position and steadily maintained his track position at the start despite it being his first visit to the tricky one-mile Wisconsin fairgrounds track. Crew chief Randy Seals coached him to keep working his arc and roll into the corner.

“Milwaukee is a very flat and technical racetrack,” Fontaine said. “One of the hardest tracks I have driven. It is not forgiving at all, and one little mistake entering a turn will ruin your lap, so you have to be very precise and exact with your entry."

Fontaine was lapped on lap 33 while running in the 29th position, but he was able to work his way up to the 20th position and then pitted under green on lap 74. His Bobby Hamilton Racing crew executed a near perfect four tire and fuel stop. On lap 83, misfortune struck in the form of a flat left front tire. Fontaine was able to maintain control of his Dodge and make it to pit road without making contact with the wall or another competitor. When Johnny Benson spun to bring out the race’s only caution on lap on lap 144, Fontaine pitted for four fresh Goodyear Wrangler tires and Sunoco fuel. He exited the pits in the 25th position and was able to maintain that spot for the rest of the race.

"I started off more slowly than I wanted to,” Fontaine said. “As the race progressed, and we got more laps done, I felt like I learned a lot on the track and I passed some trucks. I proved to our crew I could be competitive. But at the same time, there is a lot more to learn, and I am ready for the challenge."

Dennis Setzer won the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200, his second win in a row.  Jack Sprague, Ted Musgrave, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Brendan Gaughan followed in the top five.