Mike Forde, NASCAR’s managing director of racing communications, is sharing the latest on Truck Series driver Stewart Friesen. On the Hauler Talk podcast, Forde reacted to Friesen suffering serious injuries after being involved in a dirt modified racing crash on Monday evening.
“I couldn’t be happier that Stewart is somewhat okay, Forde said. “That was a very scary wreck and lots of injuries there as he announced on social media on Tuesday morning. So wish him absolutely the best.”
Stewart Friesen was competing in a Super DIRTcar Series race at Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, when his No. 44 car jumped the cushion at the end of the backstretch. The car tipped onto its side and hit the end of the wall. It then flipped and rolled over the barrier multiple times before bursting into flames.
Friesen will miss some time due to the multiple injuries he suffered after the accident. He is eligible for the Truck Series playoffs since he won the race at Michigan. Forde explained what will likely happen to Friesen since he will be out of action.
Mike Forde compares the Stewart Friesen situation situation to Kurt Busch
Forde compared the situation to Kurt Busch in 2022. Busch had a wreck and suffered a concussion at Pocono. He clinched a playoff spot and requested a medical waiver. Busch’s waiver was granted, but he withdrew it at the end of the regular season and gave up his playoff spot because he wasn’t sure he could compete in the postseason.
“That is kind of the baseline we’re working with here in the Stewart Friesen discussion,” Forde said. “Obviously, very early in the process. This just happened on Monday evening. …Unfortunately, I don’t have much information on how we are going to play this one. But would be a waiver granted.”
Friesen’s wife, Jessica, said her husband suffered fractures to his pelvis and right leg that will need surgery. She gave another update on Thursday morning, saying he has been admitted to a level one trauma center in New York.
Friesen has competed in 200 NASCAR Truck Series races in 10 years and has recorded four victories and 91 top-10 finishes. He has competed in one Cup Series, which was the 2021 Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, and he earned a P23 finish.