Friesen returns home after successful surgery for injuries suffered in dirt modified race

Update: Friesen has been released from the hospital and returned home after successful multihour surgery July 31 in New York to address his injured pelvis and compound leg fracture and is scheduled to meet with a physical therapist soon, announced on social media Wednesday evening.  NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Stewart Friesen was injured in a heavy dirt modified racing crash on July 28. According to a social media post made to his account and attributed to his wife Jessica, Friesen suffered fractures to his pelvis and right leg that will require surgery, and he was moved to a larger hospital for those procedures. 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 right side and hit the end of the outside retaining wall, launching the car into a flip, the vehicle barrel-rolling over the barrier multiple times before erupting into flames. Friesen’s car nearly came to a rest on its roof, but was struck by an oncoming competitor who was unable to avoid the wreckage. The series reported via social media that Friesen was alert and communicating with officials and EMT on site before safety officials aided Friesen from the car. He was then transported to an area hospital for further evaluation. “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,” Jessica Friesen said in a social media post. Friesen earned his 52nd Super DIRTcar Series win July 29 at Weedsport Speedway in New York and was scheduled to compete at Autodrome Drummond both July 28 and 29 Before his crash in the feature race, Friesen had set the quick time in qualifying and won his heat race. Friesen has competed in the Craftsman Truck Series since 2016 and has run the full schedule every year since 2018. He has four career wins in NASCAR, including a victory on June 7 at Michigan International Speedway that provisionally locked him into the Truck Series Playoffs. In the most recent truck race -- the 200th of his Truck Series career -- Friesen was credited with a last-place finish at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park despite taking the checkered flag third. Friesen’s No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota was disqualified in post-race technical inspection after the front of the truck failed to meet the minimum height requirements. Cup Series driver Christoper Bell will drive the No. 52 truck this weekend at Watkins Glen International before Kaden Honeycutt takes over for the remainder of the season.