Halmar Friesen Racing Overview
Halmar Friesen Racing, also known as Halmar Racing Team, is an American professional stock car and dirt track racing team competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Founded in 2016 and based in Statesville, North Carolina, the team fields the No. 52 Toyota Tundra full-time for Stewart Friesen and the No. 62 Toyota full-time. The team also runs modified racing cars across the Northeastern United States, including entries for Stewart Friesen and his wife Jessica Friesen.
Co-owned by Chris Larsen and Stewart Friesen, Halmar Friesen Racing is recognized for its versatility on both dirt and paved tracks. The organization has formed technical alliances with Kyle Busch Motorsports and previously with GMS Racing, and is committed to promoting diverse drivers within NASCAR. Since its debut, the team has steadily grown into a respected multi-car operation in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Halmar Friesen Racing was established in 2016 by Chris Larsen and Stewart Friesen, with Friesen serving as both a co-owner and the primary driver. The team launched as a part-time entry in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, initially using the No. 16 and contesting short track races with Friesen behind the wheel. For its debut race at Eldora Speedway, the team relied on a truck body supplied by Kyle Busch Motorsports and an engine from Richard Childress Racing, an arrangement that reflected the early collaborative spirit of the organization.
The team was founded with the goal of giving Stewart Friesen, a successful dirt track racer, a consistent platform to compete on national NASCAR stages. Based in Statesville, North Carolina, the operation gradually built its personnel and shop capabilities to support a more competitive presence in the Truck Series. Early leadership included the addition of Tommy Baldwin Jr. as team manager in 2017, bringing valuable Cup Series experience to the young organization.
Growth Into NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Competition
In 2017, the team announced plans to run the full Truck Series schedule as Halmar Friesen Racing, with Friesen driving the renumbered No. 52 truck. The organization hired Tommy Baldwin Jr., whose previous Cup Series team had reduced to a part-time schedule, to serve as team manager. The same year, longtime NASCAR crew chief Trip Bruce joined the organization, initially as crew chief and later as Director of Competition, a role he held through 2022.
During its expansion, the team formed a technical alliance with GMS Racing, a relationship strong enough that GMS driver Johnny Sauter referred to Friesen as a teammate. The team advanced to the playoffs in 2018, finishing seventh in the final standings. In late 2019, Halmar Friesen Racing announced a switch from Chevrolet to Toyota beginning in 2020, ending its alliance with GMS and beginning a new technical partnership with Kyle Busch Motorsports.
Halmar Friesen Racing Competitive Journey
Halmar Friesen Racing has progressed from a part-time dirt-focused entry in 2016 to a multi-truck operation competing across the full NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule. The team has recorded four race victories, three pole positions, and 213 races competed through the 2025 season. Throughout its journey, the organization has balanced dirt track roots with paved track competitiveness, forming key technical alliances and developing both its own drivers and outside talent.
Early Seasons and Development (2016-2018)
Halmar Friesen Racing debuted in 2016 with a part-time schedule using the No. 16 truck, with Friesen entering short track races. After the June 2017 Texas race, the team announced a two-race hiatus before returning at Kentucky Speedway in July. Friesen captured the pole for the 2017 Eldora Dirt Derby and finished second to Matt Crafton after leading more than half of the laps, signaling the team’s potential on dirt tracks.
On August 23, 2017, the team ended its partnership with Tommy Baldwin Jr. and began a technical alliance with GMS Racing, with Trip Bruce stepping in to manage operations. In 2018, the team continued its GMS alliance and advanced to the playoffs, recording three second-place finishes before being eliminated in the Round of 8 and ending the year seventh in the standings.
Breakthrough in Craftsman Truck Series (2019-2021)
On July 11, 2019, NASCAR confiscated the No. 52 truck before the Kentucky race after discovering a firewall issue during pre-race inspection; the team switched to a backup truck that finished second. On August 1, 2019, Friesen earned his first career NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series victory at Eldora Speedway and later added a win at Phoenix Raceway. These results marked the team’s emergence as a consistent contender.
In December 2019, the team announced its switch from Chevrolet to Toyota in an alliance with Kyle Busch Motorsports beginning in 2020. During 2020, after missing the playoffs, Friesen skipped the Kansas Speedway race to compete in a dirt event, with Timothy Peters substituting in the No. 52. In 2021, Friesen ran his fourth full season, returned to the playoffs, and the team expanded to include the No. 62 truck, driven by Jessica Friesen for select dirt races.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2022-Present)
On May 20, 2022, Friesen ended a 54-race winless streak with his third career victory at Texas Motor Speedway after passing Christian Eckes in overtime. The team also added Layne Riggs to the No. 62 for his Truck Series debut at IRP, where he finished seventh. In 2023, Friesen recorded five top-fives and seven top-tens but missed the playoffs, finishing twelfth in the standings.
The 2024 season mirrored the prior year, with Friesen posting seven top-tens, one top-five, and a pole at Nashville, again finishing twelfth. Friesen opened 2025 with a 23rd-place finish at Daytona before ending a 72-race drought with a triple-overtime win at Michigan. After a serious accident at Autodrome Drummond that caused pelvic and leg fractures, Christopher Bell substituted at Watkins Glen and Kaden Honeycutt took over the No. 52 for the final eight races beginning at Richmond. Wesley Slimp was announced to debut the No. 62 at Lime Rock Park, with Cole Butcher set to debut at Bristol and Mike Christopher Jr. announced for New Hampshire.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Halmar Friesen Racing is built on the dirt track expertise of Stewart Friesen, giving the team a distinctive strength on abrasive and loose surface events such as Eldora and Knoxville. The organization pairs that dirt knowledge with the engineering resources of its Toyota alliance with Kyle Busch Motorsports, enabling competitive performance on paved tracks as well.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
The team captured its first Truck Series victory at Eldora in 2019 and followed it with a win at Phoenix the same year. A manufacturer switch to Toyota in 2020, the Texas win in 2022, and the Michigan triple-overtime victory in 2025 stand as defining moments. The organization has also championed diversity through Jessica Friesen’s starts and developmental opportunities for drivers including Layne Riggs, Wesley Slimp, Cole Butcher, and Mike Christopher Jr.
Halmar Friesen Racing Achievements and Results
Halmar Friesen Racing has recorded four race victories, three pole positions, and 213 races competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series since its 2016 debut. While the team has not yet secured a drivers’ championship, it has posted multiple playoff appearances, top-ten finishes, and developmental successes for a growing list of drivers.
Craftsman Truck Series Achievements
The team’s first victory came at Eldora Speedway in August 2019, followed by a second win later that season at Phoenix Raceway. A third career win arrived at Texas Motor Speedway in May 2022, and a fourth was added at Michigan in 2025. Friesen advanced to the playoffs in 2018 and again in 2021, establishing Halmar Friesen Racing as a consistent playoff contender.