After expanding to a full-time two-truck operation, Halmar Friesen Racing, the team Stewart Friesen drives for, announced two crew chief updates ahead of the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. That also includes the transition of Friesen’s usual crew chief, Jimmy Villeneuve, to the team’s No. 62 camp.
Dustin Dunn, the new crew chief of Friesen’s No. 52 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, was previously a key part of HFR’s technical team. During his last two seasons as a race engineer, Dunn catered a lot to the growth of the No. 62 group.
Stewart Friesen shared the announcement on X with the following comments:
“Continuity, growth, and a strong foundation for 2026. Our crew chief lineup is set as we expand to a full time two truck operation.”
Even Villeneuve was happy about the overhaul. In a recent team release, he said:
“I speak for everyone at HFR when I say how excited we are to see Dustin step into this role. Dustin Dunn has been by my side and he has been a huge contributing factor in the success of HFR. I’m very excited to see the great things that Dustin and Stewart will achieve in 2026 and beyond.”
Dunn also reflected on the opportunity and said:
“I’m grateful for the opportunity that Chris Larsen, Stewart Friesen, and everyone at Halmar Friesen Racing have given me to step into the role of crew chief for the No. 52 truck beginning in 2026.”
The 2026 season kicks off with the Fresh From Florida 250 at the iconic Daytona International Speedway. Friesen will drive the No. 52 as planned, with former crew chief Jimmy Villeneuve taking over the No. 62 entry. Fans can watch the race live on FS1 (starting at 8 pm ET) or listen to exclusive radio updates on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
What Happened to Stewart Friesen in Quebec That Sidelined Him From Racing?
Back in July 2025, Stewart Friesen got involved in a DIRTcar Series race crash at Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. The No. 44 car that he was driving that day jumped the cushion at the end of the backstretch, veered to the right and hit the outside guard railing.
The car got overturned, rolled multiple times, and caught fire. Although Friesen escaped any life-threatening injuries, he suffered fractures to his pelvis and right leg. Friesen’s wife Jessica took to social media and wrote:
“Thank you to the manufacturers who have made dirt modifieds as safe as possible, and to the track crew for their patience and hard work getting Stew out of the car.”
While Friesen was unable to race, Kaden Honeycutt took over the No. 52 for the remainder of the season. Friesen will be back behind his usual Halmar Friesen Racing car for the season-opening Fresh From Florida at Daytona on Feb. 13.
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