Stewart Friesen Returns Home After Injuries Sustained in Super DIRT Accident
If you’re a fan of dirt racing or NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series, you’ve probably followed Stewart Friesen’s story for years. But buckle up, because what happened to him on July 28 at Autodrome Drummond in Canada reads like something out of a horror scene. Spoiler alert? He’s bouncing back, but not without a brutal ride along the way.
The Day Everything Flipped
Stewart Friesen was all set for a weekend of glory, running strong at the Super DIRTcar Series in Canada. He had just put the quick time in qualifying, snagged a heat race win, and seemed ready to add yet another trophy to his bulging mantle. But dirt racing tends to serve chaos with a side of carnage, and Stewart’s No. 44 caught the worst of it. Coming down the backstretch, his car jumped the cushion and spiraled into what can only be described as a nightmare.
The car tipped onto its right side, flipped over the outside retaining wall, and barrel-rolled, eventually bursting into flames. To make matters worse, another competitor slammed into him as track officials attempted to rescue him. Fortunately, Friesen somehow stayed conscious through the ordeal, alert enough to communicate with the track safety crew while they worked for 30 minutes to extract him from the mangled wreck. Talk about being tough as nails.
The Aftermath and Injuries
After the crash, Stewart was whisked off to a local hospital in Quebec before being transferred to Albany Medical Center in New York. Friesen walked away with a shattered pelvis, a compound fracture in his right tibia and fibula, a fractured left hip, and a fractured C7 vertebra in his neck. Major reconstructive surgery followed, involving plates, screws, and rods, but the silver lining is that Friesen was able to walk away from a fiery crash with a chance to recover.
Recovery and Road to Comeback
On August 6, 2025, Stewart Friesen’s wife, Jessica, took to social media to share a heartfelt update, announcing that he was finally home in Sprakers, New York She also thanked medical personnel at Albany Medical Center for their attentiveness and care of her husband during his stay there.“It’s been a long 9 days for our family,” she said.
“While he’s still in pain, getting back home marks the first step in a long, arduous recovery that includes physical therapy and who knows how many follow-up appointments,” she added. Simply put, recovering from the injuries he’s sustained will be anything but easy. However, if anyone can make a comeback, it’s Friesen. This isn’t his first trip to the pain zone, but it’s probably the most jaw-dropping.
What Happens to the No. 52 Truck?
With Stewart out of commission, the No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota had some big shoes to fill. First up, NASCAR Cup Series driver Christopher Bell stepped in for Watkins Glen. After that, Kaden Honeycutt will finish out the remaining eight races of the 2025 season. Halmar Friesen Racing fans may be disappointed to see their favorite driver sidelined, but the team is in good hands until Stewart Friesen’s triumphant return.
The Legacy Keeps Rolling
Despite his recent crash, Stewart Friesen’s career deserves its own highlight reel. With four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series wins to his name, including a huge playoff-clinching victory at Michigan this June, his track record speaks volumes. Oh, and before the crash? Friesen claimed his 52nd Super DIRTcar Series win, adding to his reputation as one of the baddest names in dirt racing. Even his setbacks carry a certain flair for dramatics.
Final Thoughts
While Stewart Friesen’s 2025 season might be over, don’t count him out yet. Stories like his remind us that motorsports athletes are built differently. Sure, he’s got a long road ahead, but fractures heal, steel rods don’t slow champions down, and fires? Apparently, they’re just part of the plot twist. Here’s to hoping that next time the name Stewart Friesen runs across a headline, it’s accompanied by words like “comeback” or “championship.”
