Stewart Friesen Triumphs in Dramatic Triple Overtime at Michigan
Date: [Insert Date Here]
Location: Michigan International Speedway
Stewart Friesen secured his first victory of the season in the DQS Solutions & Staffing 250, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race characterized by dramatic late-race twists and a grueling 24 laps of overtime. After a 72-race winless streak, Friesen’s win at the Michigan International Speedway marks a significant return to form.
Friesen, driving the No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota, narrowly edged out Grant Enfinger in a fierce battle during the final laps, winning by just 0.111 seconds. This victory is Friesen’s first since Texas Motor Speedway in 2022.
On the decisive restart, Friesen took advantage of the inside position next to Enfinger after most competitors chose the outside lane. The duo fought hard through two overtime laps to determine the outcome of the race. Friesen remarked, "I don’t know what to say. Thank you to all these sponsors and all these race fans," as he celebrated his fourth career win.
Enfinger’s performance, which also marked his best finish of the season (equaling his effort at Las Vegas), was commendable despite falling short. "I don’t know if there was anything I could have done differently," he stated. Team efforts were crucial, with Enfinger acknowledging strategic calls made by crew chief Jeff, but ultimately he felt they maximized their potential without success.
Luke Fenhaus, of ThorSport Racing, clinched third after his first career pole, followed closely by two-time series champion Ben Rhodes and Corey LaJoie, who achieved a solid fifth-place finish in only his sixth truck series start.
The race’s dynamic shifted significantly during the final stage, which was marred by seven caution flags, contrasting with the earlier stages that were largely caution-free. A pivotal wreck on a restart with five laps remaining took out prominent contenders including Ross Chastain, who was leading, and championship frontrunner Corey Heim. Despite dominating the race by leading 29 laps and winning both opening stages, Heim finished 18th but maintained a commanding 133-point lead in the standings.
NASCAR Cup Series regular Carson Hocevar, despite leading for a total of 56 laps and being a hometown favorite, concluded the race in 11th following a restart penalty.
The top ten results featured veteran drivers: Matt Crafton (6th), Jake Garcia (7th), Chandler Smith (8th), rookie Andres Perez De Lara (9th), and Layne Riggs (10th). Actor Frankie Muniz finished 14th, marking his best performance since Daytona.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will take a week off before returning to action on June 20 for the Miller Tech Battery 200 at Pocono Raceway, where Heim is the defending champion.
