
via Getty
DAYTONA, FL – FEBRUARY 14: Stewart Friesen, driver of the #52 Halmar Friesen Racing Halmar International Chevrolet, during qualifying for the NextEra Energy 250 on February 14, 2020 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

via Getty
DAYTONA, FL – FEBRUARY 14: Stewart Friesen, driver of the #52 Halmar Friesen Racing Halmar International Chevrolet, during qualifying for the NextEra Energy 250 on February 14, 2020 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Stewart Friesen, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standout, sent hearts racing after a terrifying crash in a Super DIRTcar Series race Monday night at Autodrome Drummond in Quebec, Canada. His No. 44 dirt modified jumped the cushion on the backstretch, tipped onto its right side, and slammed into the outside retaining wall.
The impact launched the car into a violent barrel-roll over the barrier, erupting in flames after being hit by an oncoming competitor who couldn’t avoid the wreckage. Miraculously, Friesen was alert and talking to officials and EMTs as safety crews carefully freed him from the mangled car. He was rushed to a local hospital, then transferred to a larger facility for surgery that seems intense, to address the fractures in his pelvis and right leg.
Jessica shared a hopeful update on Tuesday on Friesen’s social media, saying, “Thank you to the manufacturers who have made dirt modifieds as safe as possible, and to the track crew for their patience and hard work getting Stew out of the car.”
CT scans cleared him of head, neck, or spine injuries, but
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Stewart Friesen suffered a broken pelvis and broken leg last night. He will need surgery. His vitals are stable. https://t.co/TCuhDHyOJq
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 29, 2025
The post was a gut-punch reminder of how close this could’ve been to tragedy, but also a nod to the safety advancements that kept Friesen alive. Just days earlier, he had celebrated his 52nd Super DIRTcar Series win at Weedsport Speedway, and on Monday, he had set the fastest qualifying time and won his heat race before the crash.
Friesen is no stranger to grinding it out. Since 2016, he has been a Truck Series mainstay, running the full schedule since 2018 with four career wins, including a playoff-clinching victory at Michigan on June 7.
His 200th Truck Series start last Friday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park ended in heartbreak. A third-place finish was wiped out by a disqualification for failing post-race height requirements. His Halmar Friesen Racing team is appealing the decision. For now, Friesen’s focus is on recovery, facing a tough road ahead with surgery and rehab.
This crash shakes the NASCAR world, but Friesen’s resilience and Jessica’s update offer hope. He’s a fighter, and the dirt and asphalt communities are rooting for him to get back behind the wheel. A lot of wishes poured in for his speedy recovery, including from former driver Todd Bodine, who tweeted, “Praying for my buddy @StewartFriesen”. Denny Hamlin’s primary spotter, Chris Lambert, also wished the same: “Prayers for my man @StewartFriesen.”
Meanwhile, the Indy weekend stirred up its own drama with another incident making waves in the Xfinity Series.
Potential replacements for Austin Hill amid suspension speculation
Austin Hill’s aggressive move in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has him in hot water, with talk of a possible suspension swirling. After right-rear hooking Aric Almirola and sending him into a brutal crash, NASCAR slapped Hill with a rare five-lap penalty during the race.
A further review is set for midweek. If a suspension comes, Richard Childress Racing’s No. 21 Chevrolet will need a substitute driver. FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass pegged Cup Series heavyweights Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon as top contenders to fill in. Busch, with a record 102 Xfinity wins, hasn’t raced in the series since Charlotte in May 2024. Dillon, the 2013 Xfinity champ, made one start this year, finishing 13th at Charlotte.
A suspension would hit Hill hard, wiping out his 21 playoff points, the third-most in Xfinity, under NASCAR’s rules for missing a race due to discipline. Richard Childress was fired up post-race, saying “Hell no” to a suspension, arguing how Austin Cindric faced no ban either for wrecking Ty Dillon at COTA earlier this year.
Jeff Gluck of The Athletic pushed back on X: “RR at high-speed oval is going to be viewed as a lot different than a road course. It just is.” Cindric lost 50 points for that incident, but Gluck thinks NASCAR is debating a one- or two-week ban for Hill—a tough blow for a blue-collar team fighting for playoff positioning and respect.
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Stewart Friesen's crash: A testament to racing safety or a wake-up call for more improvements?