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.”
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.
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