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- On Aug. 22, Stewart Friesen will make his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway since 2017 after missing the Series’ return to “The Magic Mile” in September 2025 due to injury.
- The Team EJP 175 will serve as the 2026 regular season finale for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
- Tickets for New England’s only NASCAR Cup Series weekend, which also includes the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Whelen Modified Tour, are available for purchase at NHMS.com.
Photo Michael Jaworecki/Myracenews
LOUDON, N.H. – Stewart Friesen got to return to New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) last year, but not in the way he had hoped.
When the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) returned to “The Magic Mile” in 2025, Friesen was still recovering from serious injuries sustained in a crash that sidelined him for the second half of the 2025 season. Instead, Friesen came back as a spectator, spending time in the garage among his peers and watching from pit road as his Halmar Friesen Racing team carried on without him behind the wheel.
“That was my first race back as a spectator,” Friesen said. “It was great to just be back in the garage and get hooked back up with everybody. I love New Hampshire, so it was cool to still be there with the team.”
On Saturday, Aug. 22, the Team EJP 175 will mark not only the NCTS regular season finale, but Friesen’s first NCTS start at NHMS since September 2017. After watching last year’s race from the sidelines, the veteran driver is finally set to make his long-awaited return to competition at “The Magic Mile.”
For Friesen, New Hampshire has always carried a familiar feel. “The Magic Mile” is flat, fast and demanding, with characteristics that remind him of the mile-long fairgrounds tracks where he built much of his reputation in dirt modified racing.
“I like the big mile flat track,” Friesen said. “It reminds me of the Syracuse Fairgrounds that we used to run with the big block modified. I’m really excited to get back there.”
The return also brings Friesen closer to a fanbase that has followed him for years. A native of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Friesen knows NHMS draws strong support from Canadian race fans, particularly from Quebec and throughout the Northeast.
“There are a lot of great Canadian race fans,” Friesen said. “Being from the Niagara Falls area in Ontario where I grew up, there were a lot of dirt modified fans there. There are a lot of modified fans north of New Hampshire in Quebec and a ton of Canadian NASCAR fans. Having everybody together at New Hampshire is something that we definitely celebrate.”
Friesen plans to prepare for the Team EJP 175 with simulator work at Toyota Racing Development’s facility in North Carolina while also leaning on previous notes from his past New Hampshire starts. He also expects his regular dirt modified schedule to help keep him sharp before returning to Loudon in a truck.
“We’ll do some simulation work at Toyota and look back at the notes we have from previous years,” Friesen said. “Having seat time there and having some good notes gives us something to tap into. Hopefully we can prepare the best we can.”
Friesen also joked that sometimes the best way to prepare might be by doing what he does most weekends.
“Probably by running a dirt modified race a day or two before,” Friesen said with a laugh.
Last year, Friesen watched as others represented Halmar Friesen Racing during the NCTS’s return to New Hampshire. This time, he is ready to be a part of the show again.
The Team EJP 175 NCTS race is part of Doubleheader Saturday at NHMS that also features the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) Mohegan Sun 100.
For fans already planning to attend Sunday’s Dollar Tree 301 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) race, Friesen said skipping Saturday would mean missing out on a full NHMS NASCAR weekend.
“If you’re going for Sunday and not participating in Saturday’s event, you’re missing out,” Friesen said. “The modifieds put on a great show at New Hampshire – one that I love to watch – and then you can check out the trucks. You won’t be disappointed.”
Tickets:
For tickets and camping for New England’s only NCS weekend, featuring the Dollar Tree 301 NCS race, Team EJP 175 NCTS race, Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race and SIG SAUER Academy Dirt Duels, fans should visit NHMS.com or call 833-4LOUDON. Tickets for kids 12 and under are just $10 on Sunday, free on Doubleheader Saturday and start at $10 on Friday.
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