Halmar Friesen Racing (HFR) is looking to expand upon its footprint in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for 2026.
The organization, which has fielded a single NASCAR Truck Series entry (driven by team co-owner Stewart Friesen) for the better part of a decade, will look to field its flagship No. 52 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, as well as a second full-time entry next season.
Jimmy Villenueve, crew chief for the No. 52 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, spoke to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90’s Dave Moody on Wednesday about his chances at winning the championship this year with Kaden Honeycutt, as well as what the future holds for Halmar Friesen Racing.
“[Halmar Friesen Racing] is in a great spot, right now. We’ve run a second truck, the No. 62, I think [Phoenix] will be our fifth race this year, our plan is to go to two full-time trucks next year,” said Villenueve. “Our plan is to have Stewart [Friesen] be full-time in the No. 52, going to Daytona. He will actually be in Phoenix, cheering us on, helping us get the No. 52 and the No. 62 teams the best finish possible.”
The organization has been to Victory Lane four times in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, all with its long-time anchor driver and the team’s co-owner, Stewart Friesen — the most recent of which was this Summer at Michigan International Speedway.
Friesen was scheduled to compete full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2025 and would have qualified for the Playoffs. However, the Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario-native suffered an open-book pelvic fracture in a violent dirt modified wreck in July.
The 42-year-old driver would ultimately be sidelined for the remainder of the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series campaign and thus chose to forfeit his spot in the Playoffs. Kaden Honeycutt would be tapped as the interim driver of the entry for the post-season, in a match that ended up being truly beneficial for both parties.
Should things continue to progress as expected, Friesen will return to the driver’s seat for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season-opener on Friday, February 13, 2026.
It’s unknown at this time whether Halmar Friesen Racing will sign a singular driver to pilot the No. 62 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro in 2026, or if the organization will use a multi-driver lineup, like they have in the team’s part-time starts this season.
Wesley Slimp, Cole Butcher, and Mike Christopher, Jr. have all taken turns behind the wheel of the No. 62 Toyota Tundra for Halmar Friesen Racing in 2025, with the entry’s best finishes being a 12th at Watkins Glen by Slimp, and a 13th at New Hampshire with Christopher.
Additional details regarding Halmar Friesen Racing’s driver and personnel lineup for its second entry will come at a later date.
