Stewart Friesen, who is recovering from injuries sustained in a dirt racing crash last month, officially will not pursue a medical waiver for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs.
“I want to express how proud I am of Stewart and the team for working hard and earning a Playoff spot,” Chris Larsen, the team owner of Halmar Friesen Racing said in a statement. “We decided to withdraw a medical waiver for Stewart as it’s become apparent Stewart cannot compete for the championship.
“Stewart is the heart and soul of the team, and we can’t wait to get him back in the 52. Stew got us here and we’re excited to compete for the championship with Kaden Honeycutt driving and closing the deal for himself, our team, and Stew.”
Proud of the fight. Focused on the finish. pic.twitter.com/lIQIpHyLvv
— Stewart Friesen (@StewartFriesen) August 15, 2025
Friesen won at Michigan International Speedway in June to secure his place in the driver’s championship Playoff field. However, by not attempting each race due to the injuries, he lost his Playoff eligibility. While he won’t compete for the remainder of the season, NASCAR left the door open for Friesen to apply for a medical waiver, which would have allowed the driver to secure a financial bonus for finishing inside the top-10 of the championship standings.
Friesen and the No. 52 team opted to forgo Friesen’s Playoff eligibility, but the No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing team will continue to compete for the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Owner’s Championship with Kaden Honeycutt behind the wheel of its trucks for the remainder of the season.
Honeycutt was let go from Niece Motorsports a couple of weeks ago after he revealed to Niece Motorsports that he had secured a 2026 contract with a rival team and manufacturer. Heading into the final race of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular-season Friday at Richmond Raceway, Honeycutt is inside the Playoffs cutline.
Barring an unforeseen set of circumstances, Honeycutt will compete for the driver’s championship, while attempting to help the No. 52 team win the owner’s championship.
