Stewart Friesen Bio
Stewart J. Friesen (born July 25, 1983) is a Canadian-American professional dirt track and stock car racing driver. He competes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 52 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for Halmar Friesen Racing, and also races part-time at local dirt tracks across New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and elsewhere in the United States, driving the No. 44 car for HFR. A multi-time Modified track champion and Short Track Super Series standout, Friesen is one of the most accomplished dirt racers to transition into NASCAR’s national ranks.
Early Life and Background
Stewart Friesen was born in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, and grew up in a household where racing was a daily presence. His family owns Ransomville Speedway in Western New York, which gave him direct access to the sport from a young age. As a child, Friesen also played hockey before committing his time to motorsports.
He attended the University of Windsor, where he earned a science degree, and eventually settled in Sprakers, New York, with his family. Before his NASCAR career took off, Friesen worked in a t-shirt printing business called One-Zee Tees, originally started as a fallback if racing did not work out.
Friesen began in go-karts before moving into big-block Modifieds across the Northeast United States. He quickly built a reputation as one of the region’s most consistent winners.
Path to NASCAR
Friesen’s path to the national NASCAR stage ran through the Northeast dirt scene, where he became a dominant force. He was the 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 Modified track champion at Fonda Speedway, and he became one of the top competitors in the SuperDIRTcar Series in the mid-2010s. He also won races in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, compiling more than 230 career dirt victories by the end of 2017 and winning the Syracuse 200 Modified race four times.
His NASCAR break came when he met Chris Larsen, who gave Friesen his first national ride at Eldora Speedway. The race was supposed to be a one-time appearance, but the partnership grew into a full-time opportunity. Friesen made his Truck Series debut at the 2016 Eldora Dirt Derby, qualifying 12th before contact ended his night in a 28th-place finish.
On January 9, 2017, Friesen announced he would run the full 2017 season in the No. 52 truck for Halmar Friesen Racing, with Tommy Baldwin Jr. joining as team manager. The team later formed a technical alliance with GMS Racing, setting the stage for steady improvement.
Stewart Friesen Career
Early Career (2000–2016)
Friesen began his racing career in 2000, building a long resume on dirt tracks throughout the Northeast and beyond. He advanced to the 2010 World Finals at Charlotte Motor Speedway and won multiple Modified track championships. By 2017, he had logged more than 900 dirt races and more than 230 feature wins, including World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events.
He also captured multiple EMPA North East Driver of the Year awards in 2010, 2014, 2015, 2020, and 2021, recognition of his continued excellence on dirt.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2017–2019)
In 2017, Friesen ran the full Truck Series schedule with HFR and posted a career-best second at Eldora, leading more than half the laps before being passed late by Matt Crafton. He finished 14th in the final standings and continued his alliance with GMS Racing.
The 2018 season was another step forward. Friesen advanced to the playoffs, scored three runner-up finishes, and ended the year seventh in points after a Round of 8 exit.
His breakthrough arrived in 2019. At Eldora, Friesen won his first career Truck Series race on August 1, 2019. Later that season, he won at Phoenix after passing Brandon Jones with four laps remaining, earning his first paved-track victory. Friesen qualified for the Championship 4 and finished fourth in the final standings.
Halmar Friesen Racing Era (2020–Present)
After missing the 2020 playoffs, Friesen scaled back to a partial schedule and skipped a Truck race at Kansas to run the Short Track Super Series at Port Royal Speedway, where he finished second in a $53,000-to-win event. He returned full-time in 2021, made the Playoffs, and finished sixth in the standings.
On May 20, 2022, Friesen ended a 54-race winless streak with a victory at Texas, passing Christian Eckes in overtime. He went winless in 2023 with five top-fives and seven top-tens, and followed a similar pattern in 2024 with a pole at Nashville, finishing 12th in points. In 2025, Friesen ended a 72-race drought with a triple-overtime win at Michigan before a high-speed crash at Autodrome Drummond on July 28, 2025, left him with a fractured pelvis and right leg, forcing him to miss the rest of the season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Friesen’s dirt background shapes his driving style, giving him strong car control on slick and changing surfaces. His patience on long runs, comfort with tire management, and ability to set up a truck for late-race restarts have made him a regular threat on short tracks and dirt venues.
Notable Races and Milestones
Friesen’s most memorable moments include his first Truck win at Eldora in 2019, his Phoenix victory later that same season, and his Texas overtime win in 2022. His 2025 Michigan triumph in triple overtime capped a long winless stretch.
Stewart Friesen Career Wins
Stewart Friesen has three career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victories, beginning with the 2019 Eldora Dirt Derby and followed by wins at Phoenix in 2019 and Texas in 2022. He also added a Michigan victory in 2025 in triple-overtime fashion.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Friesen’s first Truck Series win came at Eldora Speedway in 2019, a defining moment for a dirt racer transitioning to NASCAR. He followed it with a Phoenix win later that season, locking himself into the Championship 4. His 2022 Texas victory ended a long drought, and his 2025 Michigan win arrived in triple overtime.
Other Wins and Performances
On dirt, Friesen has won the Syracuse 200 Modified race four times and was the Modified track champion at Fonda Speedway in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. He also earned EMPA North East Driver of the Year honors in 2010, 2014, 2015, 2020, and 2021.
Stewart Friesen Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Friesen’s family owns Ransomville Speedway in Western New York, which gave him an early connection to racing and a foundation for his career. That family involvement helped shape his path from local tracks to NASCAR.
Personal Life
Friesen is married to Jessica Friesen (née Zemken), and the couple has one son. The two also run a t-shirt printing business called One-Zee Tees, which began as a backup plan if racing did not work out. The family lives in Sprakers, New York.
2025 Season Performance
Stewart Friesen’s 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season began with a 23rd-place finish at Daytona. He then broke a 72-race winless streak with a triple-overtime victory at Michigan, giving Halmar Friesen Racing an early boost. The team was running strong on track when, on July 28, 2025, Friesen crashed during a Super DIRTcar Series event at Autodrome Drummond, suffering a fractured pelvis and right leg.
The injuries forced him out of the truck for the rest of the year. Christopher Bell filled in at Watkins Glen, while Kaden Honeycutt took over driving duties for the final eight races, beginning at Richmond.
Despite the shortened campaign, Friesen’s Michigan win and overall pace gave Halmar Friesen Racing momentum heading into the off-season. Recovery and a return to full-time competition in 2026 will be the next chapter for both driver and team.
