Jessica Friesen
NationalityUnited States American
BornJessica L. Zemken
(1986-05-05) May 5, 1986
Sprakers, New York
Related toStewart Friesen (husband)
World of Outlaws career
Debut season2006
Current teamHalmar Friesen Racing
Former teamsTony Stewart Racing
Best finish26th in 2011
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
2 races run over 2 years
2022 position80th
Best finish78th (2021)
First race2021 Corn Belt 150 (Knoxville)
Last race2022 Clean Harbors 150 (Knoxville)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
All Star Circuit of Champions
Years active2006, 2010–2013
TeamsTony Stewart Racing
Starts41
Best finish8th in 2011
Championship titles
2004Utica-Rome Speedway DIRT Sportsman
Awards
2009Outstanding Woman in Racing
Last updated on: November 5, 2022.

Jessica L. Friesen (née Zemken, born May 5, 1986) is an American professional dirt track racing driver. She primarily competes in sprint car racing, and has raced in series like the All Star Circuit of Champions and World of Outlaws. She will also compete part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2023, driving either the No. 62 or a third Toyota Tundra truck for her family team, Halmar Friesen Racing. She is married to fellow dirt racer and NASCAR driver Stewart Friesen.

Racing career

Zemken attended her first dirt race when she was two weeks old, and grew up supporting her father's dirt career.[1] She started in kart racing after her father repaired karts and constructed a backyard track, which was followed by racing competitively.[2] Zemken competed in karts for six years and won two local track championships before moving open-wheel cars.[1] By the age of 14, she had won five track championships and over 100 feature races.[2]

She began competing full-time in the Sportsman class at Afton Speedway in 2001.[3] Zemken also competed in the DIRT Sportsman division at Utica-Rome Speedway, winning the track championship in 2004.[4]

In 2009, Zemken was honored as an Outstanding Woman in Racing by the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame.[5]

In 2010, Zemken joined Tony Stewart Racing to compete in a "true outlaw" sprint car schedule that included starts in the World of Outlaws and All Star Circuit of Champions.[6]

In March 2021, Halmar Friesen Racing announced Friesen would make her NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in the Pinty's Dirt Truck Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.[7] However, she did not make the event after the qualifying heat races were canceled due to rain.[8] Serving as a teammate to her husband, the Friesens would have been the first spouses to compete in the same NASCAR race since Elton Sawyer and Patty Moise in the 1990s.[7] After failing to qualify at Bristol, Friesen would enter Truck Series' other dirt race, the Corn Belt Weekend at Knoxville Raceway, in July, which she did qualify for.[9] She ran the same two races in 2022. Her husband Stewart stated on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on December that she would return to drive for HFR in the Bristol dirt race in 2023 and that Layne Riggs, who also drove the No. 62 truck part-time in 2022, would drive that truck at least part-time in 2023 with the possibility of a full season if additional sponsorship is found. If Riggs is able to run full-time, Jessica would likely drive a part-time third truck for HFR in the Bristol dirt race. It would be the team's first time fielding a third truck.[10]

Personal life

Her father Ray Zemken competed in DIRT Modifieds,[1] while her mother Shauna worked as an optometrist.[2]

Zemken formerly dated team owner and NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart.[11] In September 2014, she married fellow driver Stewart Friesen. Shortly after their marriage, the two raced together at Utica-Rome and finished first and second.[12] The two have a son Parker and operate an apparel company One Zee Tee's.[13][14]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 NCTC Pts Ref
2021 Halmar Friesen Racing 62 Toyota DAY DAY LVS ATL BRD
DNQ		 RCH KAN DAR COA CLT TEX NSH POC KNX
26		 GLN GTW DAR BRI LVS TAL MAR PHO 78th 11 [15]
2022 DAY LVS ATL COA MAR BRD
DNQ		 DAR KAN TEX CLT GTW SON KNX
34		 NSH MOH POC IRP RCH KAN BRI TAL HOM PHO 80th 3 [16]
2023 DAY LVS ATL COA TEX BRD
DNQ		 MAR KAN DAR NWS CLT GTW NSH MOH POC RCH IRP MLW KAN BRI TAL HOM PHO N/A 0 [17]

* Season still in progress

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About Jessica". Chili Bowl Nationals. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Kekis, John (September 2, 2009). "Sprint car driver finds the going tough for women". The Everett Herald. AP. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  3. ↑ Mangan, Mike (April 8, 2001). "Plenty in store for area fans". Press & Sun-Bulletin. Retrieved March 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Utica-Rome results 2004-05-15". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. May 15, 2004. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  5. ↑ Rowe, Gary (May 31, 2009). "Jessica Zemken Shares 2009 Woman In Racing Hall Of Fame Award". Super DIRTcar Series. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  6. ↑ Chiappelli, Jim (November 12, 2009). "DIRT SPRINT CAR: Tony Stewart Racing Adds Driver Jessica Zemken (PHOTOS)". Racing News. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Jessica Friesen to make Camping World Truck Series debut alongside husband on Bristol dirt". Halmar Friesen Racing (Press release). NASCAR. March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  8. ↑ Estrada, Chris (March 27, 2021). "Bristol Truck dirt race starting lineup". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  9. ↑ Glover, Luken (March 29, 2021). "Jessica Friesen Attempting Knoxville Truck Race". Frontstretch. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  10. ↑ Christie, Toby (December 12, 2022). "Stewart Friesen, Halmar Friesen Racing Return For 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Season". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  11. ↑ Pockrass, Bob (April 11, 2017). "Family of Kevin Ward Jr. responds to Tony Stewart motion". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  12. ↑ O'Brien, Dick (September 7, 2014). "Newlyweds Stewart Friesen, Jessica Zemken finish 1-2 in Cole Cup at Utica-Rome Speedway". The Post-Standard. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  13. ↑ Friesen, Stewart (May 29, 2017). "Climbing the Ladder: Stewart Friesen" (Interview). Interviewed by Eggert, Seth. Motorsports Tribune. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  14. ↑ Yasinsac, Robin (June 24, 2015). "Local auto racing: Stewart Friesen, Jessica Zemken make a great team". Times Union. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Jessica Friesen – 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Jessica Friesen – 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Jessica Friesen – 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
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