NASCAR Truck Sequence driver Stewart Friesen is in severe however secure situation at a Quebec hospital after being injured in a horrific crash whereas competing within the Tremendous DIRTcar Sequence King of the North race at Autodrome Drummond on Monday evening. Friesen, 42, suffered pelvic and leg fractures, amongst different accidents.
Friesen was racing in visitors and made a three-wide transfer to the surface down the backstretch, however went out of the groove and hit the surface wall, launching his automobile excessive into the air the place it rolled over and landed laborious on its rear finish. That triggered the automobile to catch hearth earlier than it rolled again into visitors. Friesen was then struck by one other automobile whereas rolling the other way up, sending his automobile pirouetting once more earlier than coming to relaxation proper aspect up.
Friesen was mentioned to be alert and speaking as he was faraway from his automobile earlier than being transported to a neighborhood hospital Monday evening. Per his wife Jessica, CT scans confirmed that Friesen had prevented any head, neck, or backbone accidents, however suffered an unstable/open-book pelvic fracture (a damaged pelvis in two or extra locations) with a big hematoma within the space whereas additionally fracturing his proper leg. Each accidents would require surgical procedure.
Friesen, who is claimed to be “in an incredible quantity of ache,” will likely be transferred to a hospital in New York Wednesday, the place he’ll endure a number of surgical procedures on his accidents.
“We need to thank everybody right here on the hospital in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, for the excellent care, and a number of other members of the racing neighborhood who’ve helped facilitate getting Stewart nearer to residence,” read a statement by Jessica Friesen. “The outpouring of assist from all of our racing household has been overwhelming, in one of the best ways.
“Thanks for all your outreach and encouragement as we proceed to work by way of the subsequent steps in Stewart’s restoration.”
Friesen, a local of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, is a veteran of 200 begins within the Truck Sequence and has 4 profession wins, together with simply over a month in the past at Michigan Worldwide Speedway. The win locked Friesen into the Truck Sequence playoffs, giving him an opportunity to contend for the championship after beforehand making it to the Championship 4 and ending a career-best fourth within the standings in 2019.
With Friesen presumably sidelined indefinitely, his absence will change the complexion of the battle for the remaining Truck Sequence playoff spots with two races to go within the common season. Defending sequence champion Ty Majeski had held the ultimate spot above the minimize line by 61 factors over Jake Garcia, however the minimize line will now doubtless transfer all the way down to Garcia, who possesses only a 16-point edge on Ben Rhodes and a 38-point benefit on Gio Ruggiero.
Friesen had crossed the end line third in final Friday evening’s Truck Sequence race at Indianapolis Raceway Park, however was later disqualified after his truck failed post-race inspection for its entrance heights being too low. The Halmar Friesen Racing staff had introduced their intentions to enchantment the penalty, claiming it was brought on by an in-race half failure. The Craftsman Truck Sequence’ subsequent race is on Aug. 8 at Watkins Glen Worldwide.