Stewart Friesen Ends 72-Race Drought with Win at Michigan Truck Series

Stewart Friesen broke his 72-race winless streak in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with an intense victory at Michigan International Speedway. The win came during a dramatic afternoon that saw multiple restarts and double overtime on the 2-mile oval.

Friesen had not reached Victory Lane since his last win at Texas Motor Speedway in 2022, making this triumph especially meaningful for his team and fans.

The closing laps at Michigan were marked by several late-race incidents. Friesen survived the chaos, holding off Grant Enfinger, Luke Fenhaus, Ben Rhodes, and Corey LaJoie, who finished out the top five positions.

Consistent drivers like Matt Crafton, Jake Garcia, Chandler Smith, Andrés Pérez de Lara, and Layne Riggs rounded out the top ten, each taking advantage of a hectic finish. Corey Heim, who led the way through the opening stages by winning the first two segments, was sidelined after a major wreck on a late restart and ended his day in 18th place.

The race was stopped for almost 20 minutes on lap 88 following a hard collision involving Nathan Byrd and Morgen Baird. Both drivers backed hard into the outside wall in Turn 3, prompting a red flag as crews repaired the damaged barrier.

Green-flag racing returned on lap 90, setting up a final sprint to the checkered flag. Earlier in the event, last week’s Nashville winner Rajah Caruth saw his race end on lap 77 after an on-track incident with Matt Mills, which sent Caruth’s Spire Motorsports truck spinning into the Turn 2 wall.

Caruth’s day was further challenged after making an unscheduled pit stop for a flat tire and laboring much of the afternoon to get back on the lead lap.

Michigan’s unpredictable Truck Series event shuffled the season’s standings and highlighted the challenges drivers face on the high-speed circuit. The race provided new opportunities for underdogs and set up renewed momentum for Friesen as the season continues.

Attention quickly shifts to the next event on the schedule. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series moves to Pocono Raceway for the MillerTech Battery 200 on Friday, June 20.

The field will be looking for redemption, consistency, and another chance at the spotlight as the season intensifies. Friesen’s win at Michigan gives both his team and fans hope for more strong runs in the coming weeks.

Competitive racing, unexpected incidents, and the end of a long winless streak made Michigan a memorable stop in the 2025 NASCAR Truck Series season. The excitement continues as drivers prepare for the next chapter at Pocono.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.