NASCAR Truck Series driver Stewart Friesen, 42, is in serious but stable condition at a Quebec hospital after being injured in a terrifying crash while competing in the Super DIRTcar Series King of the North race at Autodrome Drummond on Monday night. Friesen suffered pelvic and leg fractures, among other injuries.
The Crash
Friesen was racing in a three-wide move on the backstretch when he lost control of his car, went out of the groove, and hit the outside wall. The impact caused his car to go airborne, flipping over and landing hard on its rear end.
The car then caught fire before rolling back into traffic. Friesen’s car was struck by another vehicle while it was upside down, causing it to spin again before finally coming to a stop, right-side up.
Immediate Response and Injuries
Friesen was alert and talking when he was removed from his car and immediately transported to a local hospital in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. According to his wife, Jessica Friesen, CT scans showed that he avoided head, neck, or spine injuries.
However, he suffered an unstable pelvic fracture and a large hematoma in that area, along with a fractured right leg. Both injuries require surgery.
Friesen is in “a tremendous amount of pain” and will be transferred to a hospital in New York on Wednesday for multiple surgeries.
“We want to thank everyone here at the hospital in Trois-Rivières for the outstanding care and several members of the racing community who have helped facilitate getting Stewart closer to home,” said Jessica Friesen in a statement. “The outpouring of support from all of our racing family has been overwhelming.”
Friesen’s Racing Career
Friesen is a veteran of 200 starts in the NASCAR Truck Series, with four career wins. His most recent victory came just over a month ago at Michigan International Speedway, which locked him into the Truck Series playoffs. He previously made it to the Championship 4 and finished a career-best fourth in the standings in 2019.
With Friesen now sidelined indefinitely, his absence will affect the race for the remaining playoff spots. The cut line for the playoffs is likely to shift, affecting drivers like Jake Garcia, Ben Rhodes, and Gio Ruggiero.
Friesen’s Most Recent Race and Future
Friesen finished third in the Truck Series race at Indianapolis Raceway Park last Friday, but was disqualified after his truck failed post-race inspection for being too low. The Halmar Friesen Racing team plans to appeal the disqualification, citing a part failure during the race.
The next race for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is on August 8 at Watkins Glen International.
Stewart Friesen’s recovery will be closely followed by fans and the racing community, as he has been an important figure in the NASCAR Truck Series.
His bravery and strength during this difficult time have inspired many, and his absence will be felt as the playoff race heats up. We wish Friesen a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on the track soon.
