Stewart Friesen is set to make his comeback to the NASCAR Truck Series, joining Halmar Friesen Racing for the upcoming season after recovering from serious injuries sustained last July. Friesen will once again pilot the No. 52 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, with his return commencing at Daytona in February, marking a critical moment in the Stewart Friesen NASCAR Truck Series journey.
Overcoming Injury and Preparing for Daytona
In July, while racing in the Super DIRTcar Series at Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, Quebec, Stewart Friesen suffered a significant accident. The wreck resulted in an open-book pelvic fracture and a broken leg, sidelining him for the final nine races of the 2025 NASCAR Truck Series season. Friesen’s absence led to a team adjustment, with Kaden Honeycutt stepping into the driver’s seat for the remainder of the season and advancing to the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway.
In an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Friesen provided an update on his recovery process, highlighting the intense rehabilitation undertaken to get back to competition.
“The last month I’ve been making some leaps and bounds; no more crutches, no more canes, I’m walking pretty normal and trying to work out as much as I can, still doing a lot of physical therapy and anticipating a return at Daytona in just over a month.”
– Stewart Friesen, Driver
Friesen’s Mindset for the 2026 Season
Despite missing the playoffs last season due to injury, Friesen is motivated to pick up where the team left off after a victory at Michigan International Speedway in June. As he looks ahead, Friesen emphasized his readiness to rejoin the Stewart Friesen NASCAR Truck Series, drawing from both his progress in physical therapy and simulation sessions with Toyota Racing Development in Salisbury.
“I’ve done some sim over at [Toyota Racing Development] in Salisbury a few times, had another session yesterday morning that went really well, and I’m really looking forward to getting back into action and getting back to normal and getting rolling here to start the season.”
– Stewart Friesen, Driver
Halmar Friesen Racing and Friesen have enjoyed notable success since 2017, with Friesen competing full-time, recording four Truck Series wins and 91 top-10 finishes across 200 starts. This consistency underscores his value to the organization and reinforces expectations for the team’s competitive potential in the new season.
Thoughts on Racing Future and Potential Retirement
In September, during an interview with Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, Stewart Friesen addressed the uncertainties surrounding his long-term future as a full-time NASCAR Truck Series driver.
“That’s…that’s, yeah. That’s something that’s crossed my mind,”
– Stewart Friesen, Driver. He went on to add,
“But I don’t know yet. We’ll see how I feel in a month, two months, whatever. Try not to think about that too much.”
– Stewart Friesen, Driver.
Friesen’s return provides a boost for Halmar Friesen Racing while also serving as a personal milestone after months of rehabilitation. His determination may serve as inspiration for others recovering from injury in motorsports.
The new season will test Friesen’s competitive edge and resilience as he aims to recapture his winning form and help the No. 52 team build on its recent momentum. As Daytona draws near, all eyes will be on Friesen’s performance and what his comeback might mean for the broader Stewart Friesen NASCAR Truck Series story in 2026.
