NASCAR Truck Series: When will Stewart Friesen win his first race?

After yet another chance to earn his first career NASCAR Truck Series victory eluded him, Stewart Friesen was disappointed. When will he finally win?

Leading over half of a NASCAR Truck Series race is impressive. Yet Stewart Friesen left Kansas Speedway understandably upset. He had a race-winning #52 Halmar Friesen Racing Chevrolet, yet a pit road snafu ended his chances of winning the Digital Ally 250.

When Friesen made his final pit stop, there was a major miscommunication. After the Halmar Friesen Racing pit crew put right side tires on his #52 Chevrolet, he left his pit stall. Unfortunately, the pit crew did not put on left side tires. Worse yet, the pit crew did not fully fill his truck with fuel.

Friesen continued leading the Digital Ally 250, and he tried to save fuel. Two caution flag periods occurred, but he did not pit, as he still appeared to be on the verge of earning the first victory of his Truck Series career.

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When he began lap 165 of the scheduled 167 laps, Friesen shook his #52 Chevrolet, as it was out of fuel. To his chagrin, he coasted down pit road, received fuel and ended up finishing in 15th place, one lap off the lead lap. Niece Motorsports’ Ross Chastain delighted in Friesen’s misfortune by earning the first victory of his Truck Series career.

In his post-race interview, Friesen showed visible frustration. When asked if he thought he would win anytime soon, he simply shrugged his shoulders, disappointed that yet another great opportunity to earn the first victory of his Truck Series career slipped away.

After seven races in the 2019 season, Friesen sits in third place in the championship standings with a comfortable margin over the playoff cut line to make the playoffs for what would be the second consecutive season. But what he most desires is to win a race.

Friesen has been a popular choice for media and fans when it comes to picking the winner for a Truck Series race. Yet he’s 0 for 55 in his career in terms of getting to victory lane. So where will he finally capture that checkered flag?

The first track that comes to mind is Eldora Speedway, as Friesen has a dirt racing background. He made his Truck Series debut at the track in July of 2016. Unfortunately, he wrecked on lap 111, ending his series debut prematurely.

Friesen returned to Eldora Speedway the following year with a vengeance. He took the pole position for the 2017 Eldora Dirt Derby, and he led 93 of the race’s 150 laps. Alas, he finished in second place, losing to Matt Crafton by 1.960 seconds. But he will certainly be a favorite to win the Eldora Dirt Derby this season.

The second race track where Friesen will have a tremendous chance to earn the first victory of his Truck Series career is Texas Motor Speedway. When the Truck Series returns there on Friday, June 7, Kyle Busch will not compete in that race. In fact, tomorrow night’s NC Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is Busch’s last scheduled Truck Series start this season. Additionally, because Texas Motor Speedway is the first track of the Triple Truck Challenge, Chastain is ineligible to compete in that race as well.

Friesen knows how to wheel his #52 Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway. He took the pole position at the track in June of 2018, and his average finish there in five starts is 9.60. Of those five starts, he has recorded three top 10 finishes. Additionally, has led 26 laps. Will the SpeedyCash.com 400 be the race in which he earns the first victory of his Truck Series career?

The third track where Friesen should be considered a contender to win is Iowa Speedway. This track is scheduled to host the second race of the Triple Truck Challenge, so Chastain is ineligible to compete there as well. Last season in the Truck Series race at the track, Friesen enjoyed a top 10 position throughout much of the race. He qualified in fifth place and led 48 of the race’s 200 laps, but his chances of winning ended with his involvement in this wreck.

Fortunately, after the wreck, Friesen’s Halmar Friesen Racing pit crew fixed his #52 Chevrolet, and he recorded a ninth place finish. If he would have avoided that wreck, he may have won that race. He will look to keep his #52 Chevrolet clean and up front in the M&M’s 200 at Iowa Speedway this June.

Friesen absolutely has a monkey on his back. The pressure to win was noticeable in his post-race interview at Kansas Speedway. I predict that when he finally wins one race, more victories will come for him. The 35-year-old from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada is too talented for them not to.

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Stewart Friesen and the rest of the NASCAR Truck Series field are scheduled to compete next Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NC Education Lottery 200, which is scheduled to take place on Friday, May 17. Fox Sports 1 is set to provide live TV coverage beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.

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