{"id":34554,"date":"2021-02-17T12:22:58","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T16:22:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dirtcar.com\/?p=34554"},"modified":"2021-02-17T12:56:29","modified_gmt":"2021-02-17T17:56:29","slug":"big-blue-debut-friesen-set-for-first-xtreme-appearances-at-lake-view-cherokee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dirtcar.com\/news\/big-blue-debut-friesen-set-for-first-xtreme-appearances-at-lake-view-cherokee\/","title":{"rendered":"BIG BLUE DEBUT: Friesen Set for First Xtreme Appearances at Lake View, Cherokee"},"content":{"rendered":"

Super DIRTcar Series standout shoots on first Late Model outings in Florida<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

He\u2019s a Big-Block Modified star with the Super DIRTcar Series<\/a>, a Truck Series regular in NASCAR, and now, a Late Model pilot with the Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series.<\/p>\n

Stewart Friesen, of Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, is set to make his Series debut in this weekend\u2019s South Carolina doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 20, at Lake View Motor Speedway<\/a> and Sunday, Feb. 21, at Cherokee Speedway<\/a> for the Frostbite 40<\/em>.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s had a packed schedule over the past month \u2013 Big-Block racing in the 50th DIRTcar Nationals<\/em> at Volusia Speedway Park and his NASCAR commitments at Daytona International Speedway \u2013\u00a0but he\u2019s motivated to better himself in Halmar Friesen Racing\u2019s newest motorsports venture, the Dirt Late Model.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Xtreme [DIRTcar] Series is something I was watching,\u201d Friesen said. \u201cIt\u2019s after the Big-Block and Truck stuff is done for the year. We watched [Brandon] Overton win at Cherokee<\/a> and then [Chris] Madden win [at Volunteer]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s unique. It\u2019s like, we could almost race every weekend, 12 months out of the year with the Late Model.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Friesen and son Parker in Victory Lane after his second-consecutive Super DIRTcar Series Feature win in the 50th DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park (Josh James Photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

Like the Canadian, several of the drivers competing this weekend have yet to make a lap around Lake View Motor Speedway. However, the majority of them are familiar with the 3\/8-mile Cherokee Speedway. Even Friesen.<\/p>\n

He and his new Cornett-powered Halmar International Longhorn Chassis first got to know each other in their initial testing session at Cherokee last month. He then made the trip further south to race at All-Tech Raceway and in East Bay Raceway Park\u2019s Winternationals<\/em>, marking his first competitive nights in the car.<\/p>\n

While he was unable to qualify for a Feature in those events, he broke through with a second-fast Qualifying effort in his group, a Heat Race win and a seventh-place finish in the second night of competition at Bubba Raceway Park on Feb. 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat last race at Bubba, we were just getting comfortable and learning about the car,\u201d Friesen said. \u201cIt all kind of fell into place for us. Our guys getting comfortable working on the car, myself getting comfortable with the shocks and springs and stuff and getting comfortable in the seat as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s won numerous races with the Super DIRTcar Series, took a checkered flag with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series<\/a> in 2015 and even has two NASCAR victories in his Truck. He\u2019s mastered his skills in all three disciplines and is ready to take on the new challenge of a Dirt Late Model.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s cool. It\u2019s definitely unique,\u201d Friesen said. \u201cIt\u2019s a different experience from the Truck, the [Big-Block] Modified or even the Sprint Car racing I did some years ago. Definitely something I\u2019ve always wanted to do, being a fan of that discipline of racing.\u201d<\/p>\n