On July 28, Stewart Friesen suffered a violent crash during a Super DIRTcar Series race at Autodrome Drummond in Quebec, Canada. The incident occurred on a restart when Friesen’s No. 44 car veered off the racing groove, striking the outer wall at the end of turn 3, which caused the vehicle to flip multiple times across the racetrack.
The crash worsened when Friesen’s car caught fire and was hit by the oncoming vehicle of Jasmin Leveillee, which dislodged body panels and sent Friesen’s car airborne once again. Other drivers, Alex Yankowski and Justin Stone, were also affected by debris from the incident.
Stewart Friesen has been helped from his car and transported to a nearby hospital after this gnarly crash in the Super DIRTcar Series race tonight. pic.twitter.com/cdVEYfBxcL— Anthony Damcott (@AnthonyDamcott) July 29, 2025
Following the crash, Friesen was diagnosed with a fractured pelvis that included a large hematoma and a fractured right leg, injuries that necessitate surgery. He is being transferred from Canada to New York for operations. It is expected that Friesen will be sidelined for at least several weeks, putting his participation in upcoming races in doubt.
Injury Details Threaten Stewart Friesen’s Truck Series Playoff Run
Friesen currently holds a playoff spot in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series after a dramatic win at Michigan International Speedway in June. However, his serious injuries make it unlikely he will compete at Watkins Glen International on August 8, a critical event on the Truck Series calendar.
NASCAR’s rules require drivers to attempt every race throughout the season, but exceptions are made for medical reasons, allowing for potential waivers. Despite this, the severity of Friesen’s fractures—both in his pelvis and right leg—create significant obstacles to a quick recovery.
Recovery from pelvic fractures can be prolonged and challenging. For comparison, Sebastien Bourdais, a former NTT IndyCar Series driver, endured multiple pelvic fractures in a 2017 Indianapolis 500 qualifying crash and did not return to racing for over three months. Given Friesen’s age of 42, slightly older than Bourdais at the time of his injury, healing may take even longer.
Considering these factors, Friesen’s ability to return before the end of this year’s season appears doubtful, potentially ending his quest for the 2025 championship. The focus will now shift to his rehabilitation and making a full comeback in the 2026 season.
Impact on Halmar Friesen Racing and Possible Replacements
Friesen’s crash represents a significant setback for Halmar Friesen Racing (HFR), which had built momentum after his first Truck Series victory in three years. The team now faces an uncertain future as they await updates on his recovery post-surgery.
The racing community widely supports prioritizing Friesen’s health, acknowledging that no risks should be taken by rushing his return. Fans and media express relief that Friesen escaped the crash alive given its severity.
In the meantime, HFR will need to consider substitute drivers to fill the role in Friesen’s No. 52 truck if he is unable to compete. With Toyota backing the team, several candidates could step in, including Brent Crews, Isabella Robusto, Lawless Alan, or reserve drivers like Kaz Grala and Ryan Truex. Other options may include Kris Wright, Josh Williams, Friesen’s wife Jessica, or road course specialist Wesley Slimp.
While replacing Friesen on short notice presents challenges, maintaining the presence of the No. 52 truck on the track is important for the team’s sponsors and staff, who remain committed to supporting their driver.
Focused Support for Friesen’s Recovery Over Immediate Return
Though it is theoretically possible for Friesen to return later in the season, all indications suggest that his health has to come first. The racing community values his safety over pressuring a premature return to competition.
If Friesen is able to race again in 2025, he will be welcomed back warmly, similar to how Sebastien Bourdais was embraced upon his return after injury. However, if a longer healing period is necessary, he will remain a central figure awaiting his official comeback at the Truck Series’ 2026 season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
The focus in the coming months will be recovery and rehabilitation, with hopes that Friesen can resume his racing career fully healed and ready.
Additional NASCAR News: Suspended Driver and Emerging Talent
- Austin Hill has been suspended from the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway due to intentionally wrecking Aric Almirola during Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s previous race. This suspension echoes a past incident in 2019 at Iowa where Johnny Sauter was penalized for a retaliatory crash involving Hill.
- Stewart Friesen’s disqualification from the World Wide Technology Raceway (IRP) event, where he originally placed third, was upheld after an appeals panel found his truck’s front heights were below regulation limits during post-race inspection.
- Spencer Boyd will have sponsorship from Top Rep Training on his No. 76 truck for the upcoming race at Darlington Raceway.
- Seventeen-year-old Gian Buffomante is set to make his NASCAR Truck Series debut at Watkins Glen, driving the No. 22 truck for Reaume Brothers Racing. Buffomante brings Trans-Am experience at that track and will race with sponsorship from Goodridge.