DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — After suffering one of the most devastating crashes of his career in July 2025, Stewart Friesen returned to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2026. Despite enduring intense pain and a grueling rehabilitation process, Friesen drove his No. 52 Toyota Tundra to a top-10 finish, marking a significant milestone in his hard-fought recovery.
Friesen’s return followed nearly six months of difficult physical therapy and persistence after a horrifying July 28 accident during a dirt modified race, where his car flipped, barrel-rolled, caught fire, and was struck again by another driver. The Canadian racer sustained a shattered pelvis secured by a metal plate with nine screws, a tibia broken in three locations, a fibula broken and supported by a rod, and nerve damage in his foot. His initial hospital stay lasted nearly two weeks.
Details on Friesen’s Injuries and Recovery Journey
Friesen described the physical toll as “excruciating,” emphasizing that the pain was unlike anything he had experienced before.
“It was more than I’ve ever felt before, and yeah, I just knew instantly something was wrong,”
he said. The path from a wheelchair back to walking with crutches and then a cane involved steady, incremental progress week by week.
Despite the hardships, Friesen never doubted his ability to race again.
“The goal was just to get as healthy as I could and then just check boxes off as we went,”
he remarked.
“Giving up racing wasn’t really a thought. Getting back racing was all I wanted to do. So that was the goal.”
After receiving medical clearance in December 2025, he began testing his dirt car in January 2026, laying the groundwork for his NASCAR comeback.
Friesen Reclaims Victory in Dirt Racing Before NASCAR Return
Before his return to the NASCAR circuit, Friesen clinched a win at the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway, signaling that his competitive edge remained intact. However, his initial NASCAR race back proved more challenging. Throughout most of the Daytona night race, Friesen hovered in the mid-20s and failed to secure stage points, reflecting a slow start in his comeback effort.
Race Challenges and Strategic Moves Toward the Finish
Friesen acknowledged some setbacks during the race caused by crash-related damage and difficult race dynamics.
“We got some damage in one deal out of [turn] 4 and then missed two or three other [crashes],”
he said, expressing gratitude toward the Halmar Friesen Racing team and crew chief Dustin Dunn for their quick repairs and race management. As the race progressed, ongoing crashes created an opportunity, and Friesen capitalized by moving steadily forward in the field.
With only four laps remaining, the caution flag came out, propelling Friesen’s truck into ninth place. A chaotic incident involving race leader Michael McDowell sideways in front of Friesen forced him to check up to avoid a crash. “It was wild,” Friesen said.
“There’s not a lot of grip coming off [turn] 4, and about every lap, everybody’s sideways, they’re getting tight, and I saw McDowell there get sideways and then didn’t know if I was going to get collected. And luckily enough, we were able to sneak through.”
Significance of Friesen’s Top-10 Finish Amid Recovery
Friesen’s hard work paid off as he finished 10th, marking his first top-10 result since racing at Pocono Raceway three weeks before his life-altering crash. At 42 years old, many expected Friesen’s career might end prematurely or diminish to part-time appearances. Instead, he returned to the intense competition of NASCAR’s Truck Series with a renewed drive.
Reflecting on the risks inherent in racing, Friesen said,
“I guess it’s always the inherent risk of being a race driver. It’s what we do. I kind of figured out during the whole rehabilitation process, ‘All right, this is what I do and it’s what I’m going to keep doing.’”
His determination exemplifies the tough spirit required in the sport and signals a promising path forward.
Additional Notes on the Race and NASCAR Context
During Friesen’s recovery, Christopher Bell substituted for him at Watkins Glen, illustrating the severity of his injuries and the team’s adjustments. The Daytona race also featured Chandler Smith’s victory through a dramatic four-wide pass and the early exit of newcomer Cleetus McFarland due to a crash on lap 6.
Friesen’s return not only excited fans following his recovery but also highlighted the resilience of drivers and teams in NASCAR’s fiercely competitive environment. His successful return can inspire other athletes facing setbacks, and his performance sets the tone for the upcoming Truck Series season.
Christopher Bell is filling in for an injured Stewart Friesen today at Watkins Glen after his scary crash in Drummondville, Quebec. pic.twitter.com/K2sPEm8icZ
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) August 8, 2025
