The No. 52 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro will have a new driver at Watkins Glen International next weekend. Christopher Bell will fill in as Stewart Friesen recovers from serious injuries and subsequent surgeries.
"I want to thank everyone for their outreach and support as I continue to recover," Friesen said in a statement. "I know Christopher will give our truck a great run. We will be watching and cheering the team on this Friday."
Friesen, the winner of this season's Michigan Truck Series race, suffered multiple injuries in a dirt modified crash in Canada this week. He initially stayed at a hospital in Quebec before a transfer to the United States.
Jessica Friesen, his wife, released a statement on Friday and said that the veteran driver had undergone a successful multi-hour surgery at a New York hospital to address a pelvis fracture and a compound leg fracture. Jessica added that they will meet with a physical therapist to make a plan for Friesen's recovery.
"We need to thank everyone at the hospital here in New York for their efforts yesterday, and everyone cheering us on and providing so much comfort to us," Jessica wrote on X on Friday.
"The racing community is truly a family, and we have felt that all week."
With Friesen recovering from the serious injuries, Bell will make his first Craftsman Truck Series start since Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March 2024 and his 58th in the third-tier series.
Bell only has two road course starts in the Crafstman Truck Series, both of which took place at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Ontario. Bell finished fifth in the 2016 race and then 26th the following season due to an engine failure.
"I was honored to receive the call to run this truck for Stewart, a fellow dirt racer and Toyota teammate, in Watkins Glen," Bell said in a press release.
"I've spent time with the team these past few days and we are working hard to continue the great season Stewart has had and deliver a great finish for him and his partners."
As Halmar Friesen noted in its announcement, the team will continue to compete for the owners' championship. They will make more announcements in the future about other fill-in drivers.