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Jessica Friesen
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Jessica L. "Jess" Friesen (née Zemken, born May 6, 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 has also competed part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 62 for her family team, Halmar Friesen Racing. She is married to fellow dirt racer and NASCAR driver Stewart Friesen.
Key Information
Racing career
[edit]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]
Zemken began competing full-time in the Sportsman class at Afton Speedway in 2001.[3] She 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 had been able to run full-time, Jessica would likely have driven a part-time third truck for HFR in the Bristol dirt race. It would have been the team's first time fielding a third truck.[10]
Personal life
[edit]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
[edit]NASCAR
[edit](key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Craftsman Truck Series
[edit]| 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
[edit]- ^ a b c "About Jessica". Chili Bowl Nationals. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ a b c Kekis, John (September 2, 2009). "Sprint car driver finds the going tough for women". The Everett Herald. AP. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ Mangan, Mike (April 8, 2001). "Plenty in store for area fans". Press & Sun-Bulletin. Retrieved March 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Utica-Rome results 2004-05-15". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. May 15, 2004. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ Rowe, Gary (May 31, 2009). "Jessica Zemken Shares 2009 Woman In Racing Hall Of Fame Award". Super DIRTcar Series. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ Chiappelli, Jim (November 12, 2009). "DIRT SPRINT CAR: Tony Stewart Racing Adds Driver Jessica Zemken (PHOTOS)". Racing News. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ Estrada, Chris (March 27, 2021). "Bristol Truck dirt race starting lineup". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ Glover, Luken (March 29, 2021). "Jessica Friesen Attempting Knoxville Truck Race". Frontstretch. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Christie, Toby (December 12, 2022). "Stewart Friesen, Halmar Friesen Racing Return For 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Season". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ Pockrass, Bob (April 11, 2017). "Family of Kevin Ward Jr. responds to Tony Stewart motion". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Friesen, Stewart (May 29, 2017). "Climbing the Ladder: Stewart Friesen" (Interview). Interviewed by Eggert, Seth. Motorsports Tribune. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ Yasinsac, Robin (June 24, 2015). "Local auto racing: Stewart Friesen, Jessica Zemken make a great team". Times Union. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ "Jessica Friesen – 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
- ^ "Jessica Friesen – 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
- ^ "Jessica Friesen – 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Jessica Friesen driver statistics at Racing-Reference
Jessica Friesen
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Family background
Jessica L. Zemken, later known as Jessica Friesen, was born on May 5, 1986, in Sprakers, New York.[11][12] Her father, Ray Zemken, was a longtime dirt track racer with more than 28 years of experience competing in DIRT Modified events across the Northeast.[12] As an only child, she was raised in a household deeply embedded in the sport, with her mother Shauna also part of the family dynamic surrounding racing activities.[12] From infancy, Jessica was immersed in the racing world; she attended her first dirt track race just two weeks after her birth and spent much of her childhood at local tracks and in the family race shop, supporting her father's career.[12][13] The Zemken family's longstanding ties to upstate New York's dirt racing community fostered an environment where racing was a central part of daily life, influencing her early exposure to the sport's culture and demands.[14]Introduction to racing
Jessica Friesen, born Jessica Zemken, began her racing career in karting at the age of eight in 1994, quickly showing promise by winning her first race on her second attempt. Over the next six years, she competed extensively in the Junior I and II divisions at local tracks such as Dodge City Speedway in Cobleskill, New York, and Caroga Creek Speedway in Ephratah, New York, amassing over 100 feature wins and securing five local track championships.[12][3][15] At age 14 in 2000, Friesen transitioned to open-wheel racing, starting with dirt modifieds in her father's backup car at Fonda Speedway. This move marked her entry into more advanced competition, where she built on her karting success by racking up feature victories, including her first at Utica-Rome Speedway on June 29, 2003, and securing the Sportsman track championship there in 2004. Her family's deep involvement in motorsports, including her father's work repairing karts and building a backyard track, provided the foundation for this progression.[12][3] Early in her open-wheel career, Friesen gained significant exposure to dirt track racing at venues like Utica-Rome Speedway, where she had been a frequent visitor since infancy—attending her first race just two weeks after birth—and began competing by her mid-teens. This hands-on experience at Utica-Rome, a prominent dirt oval in Vernon, New York, honed her skills on unforgiving clay surfaces and set the stage for her later achievements in the division, including a Sportsman track championship there in 2004.[12][16]Racing career
Dirt track and modified racing
Jessica Friesen began her competitive career in dirt track racing with the DIRT Sportsman Modified division, where she demonstrated early promise by securing the 2004 track championship at Utica-Rome Speedway. Driving in 15 events that season, she achieved four victories and four podium finishes, establishing a strong foundation in regional modified racing.[17] Transitioning to big-block modifieds, Friesen joined Halmar Friesen Racing, a team co-owned by her husband Stewart Friesen, marking her entry into higher-level competition. This association has enabled consistent participation in prominent regional series, including events at Fonda Speedway, Utica-Rome Speedway, and the Short Track Super Series (STSS). Her debut modified feature win came in 2021 at Fonda Speedway, where she claimed victory in a family-influenced race against Stewart, becoming the 136th unique winner in the track's history of over 1,392 modified features.[18][10] Friesen's ongoing involvement with Halmar Friesen Racing has yielded steady results through 2024 and 2025. In 2024, she finished third in a 30-lap big-block modified feature at Utica-Rome Speedway on May 24, starting from the pole position. During the 2025 season, she competed in multiple STSS events at Fonda Speedway, including a fifth-place finish in the 50-lap Amsterdam Truck Center Modifieds feature on September 27 during the Montgomery County Open Night #2. In October 2025, while driving Stewart's No. 1Z during his recovery from an injury, she achieved a third-place finish in the Eastern States Small Block 100 at Orange County Fair Speedway. These performances highlight her adaptability and competitiveness in short-track modified racing.[19][20][9] Throughout her dirt track career, Friesen has amassed numerous feature wins and the 2004 Utica-Rome Speedway track championship as a pivotal early achievement. Her results emphasize consistent top finishes rather than exhaustive victory counts, contributing to her reputation in the Northeast dirt modified circuit up to late 2025.[17]Sprint car racing
Friesen made her debut in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series in 2006 at Fulton Speedway, where she qualified 13th, won her heat race ahead of veteran Craig Dollansky, and finished 10th in the A-Main after recovering from an early incident.[12] She also recorded a 10th-place finish that year at Oskaloosa Speedway in a combined World of Outlaws/National Sprint Tour event.[12] In 2010, Friesen joined Tony Stewart Racing to run a selective "true outlaw" schedule, focusing on high-profile 410 and 360 sprint car events.[21] This affiliation bolstered her participation in national touring series, including the World of Outlaws, where her best points finish came in 2011 at 26th overall with 1,730 points.[17] Friesen competed in the All Star Circuit of Champions in 2006 and from 2010 to 2013, accumulating 41 starts with her strongest performance being an 8th-place points finish in 2011, earning 3,891 points while driving for Tony Stewart Racing.[17] Her sprint car career includes two wins at Ohsweken Speedway in 2014: a 20-lap feature on June 6, where she set a track record, and the 35-lap Canadian Sprint Car Nationals A-Main on September 13. These efforts highlighted her adaptability in winged sprint car racing on diverse dirt tracks across the Midwest and Northeast. Alongside her primary dirt modified commitments, Friesen made occasional sprint car appearances in 2024 and 2025, including events with the Empire Super Sprints series, such as the July 19, 2025, race at Fonda Speedway.[22][23][24]NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Jessica Friesen made her debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on July 9, 2021, driving the No. 62 Toyota Tundra fielded by Halmar Friesen Racing in the Corn Belt 150 at Knoxville Raceway. Sponsored by Aim Autism and Halmar International, she completed the race but encountered multiple cautions due to crashes, finishing 26th in the 40-truck field.[8][25] Friesen returned to the series for her second and most recent start on June 18, 2022, again piloting the No. 62 truck with the same sponsorship at Knoxville Raceway for the Clean Harbors 150. She suffered a dramatic flip in turn three during the event but drove away and continued racing, completing 76 of 150 laps before retiring, which resulted in a 34th-place finish.[26] In 2023, Friesen planned a return to the Truck Series for the Weather Guard Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 8, entering the No. 62 with Aim Autism and Halmar International backing, but she failed to qualify amid a field of 41 trucks for 36 spots.[27][28] She has not made any additional starts in the series through the 2025 season. Over her two career outings, Friesen has recorded no top-10 finishes, wins, or pole positions.[29]Personal life
Marriage and family
Jessica Friesen, then known as Jessica Zemken, began a romantic relationship with NASCAR driver Tony Stewart in 2011 while competing in dirt track racing events.[30] The relationship ended prior to her meeting Stewart Friesen, another prominent dirt track racer. Friesen married Stewart Friesen in 2014.[7] The couple, both active in sprint car and modified racing circuits, continued to support each other's careers after their wedding. Their union marked the beginning of a family deeply embedded in the racing community. The Friesens welcomed their son, Parker, in 2015.[7] Family's shared involvement: The family frequently attends racing events together, with Parker often traveling to tracks and showing interest in his parents' competitions.[31] Despite challenges, including Parker's autism diagnosis shortly after his first birthday, the Friesens have integrated racing into their family life, with Jessica balancing motherhood and her return to the track.[32]Business ventures
Jessica Friesen co-founded One Zee Tees in 2014 with her husband Stewart Friesen, establishing a custom screen printing and embroidery business in Sprakers, New York, specializing in apparel and merchandise.[33] The company focuses on high-quality, motorsports-inspired products, including t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and stickers, which are sold through their online store at www.onezeetees.com.[](https://www.onezeetees.com/) Friesen plays a key role in the day-to-day operations, overseeing design and production to create items that appeal to racing enthusiasts.[33] Through One Zee Tees, Friesen has been instrumental in promoting racing-themed merchandise, developing collections featuring personalized apparel for drivers and teams, such as her own branded lines and those supporting fellow racers like Alex Yankowski and Mat Williamson.[34] The business has grown to support community initiatives, including raising over $300,000 for autism awareness via events and donations, earning recognition as Montgomery County's Small Business of the Month in April 2024.[33] In 2023, the Friesens co-founded Aim Autism Inc., a non-profit supporting autism awareness, in partnership with Chris and Colleen Larson from Halmar International.[33] In addition to apparel, Friesen co-operates Halmar Friesen Racing, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team based in North Carolina, where she contributes to managing sponsorship deals tied to racing activities, including primary support from Halmar International.[33][35] This partnership integrates business operations with promotional opportunities, leveraging the team's visibility to enhance merchandise sales and brand partnerships.[33]Awards and honors
Major accolades
In 2009, Jessica Friesen, then known as Jessica Zemken, received the Outstanding Woman in Racing award from the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame during its annual induction ceremony, recognizing her achievements and contributions as a female driver in the male-dominated sport of dirt track racing.[3] Friesen earned multiple track championships during her youth in regional dirt series, securing five such titles by age 14 alongside over 100 feature wins, as well as the 2004 Utica-Rome Speedway DIRT Sportsman division title at age 18.[36][4] Her pioneering role as a female competitor in dirt and sprint car racing has been highlighted through milestones such as becoming the first woman to win the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals in 2014 at Ohsweken Speedway, a victory that underscored her barrier-breaking presence in high-level events.[24][37]Recognition in motorsports
Jessica Friesen has garnered significant media attention as one of the few prominent female drivers in the male-dominated field of dirt track racing, particularly through her achievements in modified and sprint car divisions. Her participation in the 2021 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Knoxville Raceway, where she made her series debut and competed alongside her husband Stewart Friesen, was highlighted in major outlets as a rare husband-wife duo in a national series, marking a milestone for women in the sport.[8] Coverage in regional publications like the Times Union emphasized her competitive return to modified racing after motherhood, noting her victories at Utica-Rome and Fonda Speedways as breakthroughs for female competitors.[38] Additionally, her status as the first woman to win a Modified feature at Utica-Rome Speedway in 2021 received feature highlights on platforms covering Northeast dirt racing.[39] Friesen's role as an inspiration for women in motorsports has been underscored in interviews and features, portraying her as a trailblazer who balances racing with family and entrepreneurial pursuits. In a 2021 Fox Sports profile tied to Women's History Month, she was celebrated for her resilience in prioritizing her son while advancing her career, serving as a model for aspiring female racers.[40] Another female driver, Jessica Power, cited Friesen (then Zemken) in a 2024 Speed Sport interview as a key influence, recalling her competitive Sportsman modified runs as "really cool" motivation for girls entering the sport.[41] A 2024 podcast episode on Dirt Track Confessions further amplified this by exploring her journey, highlighting the importance of personal branding for women navigating motorsports' challenges.[42] Through 2025, ongoing interviews with outlets like FloRacing have continued to feature her story, reinforcing her impact on gender diversity in dirt racing.[43] Her visibility has been bolstered by affiliations with Halmar Friesen Racing, which has actively promoted her participation in high-profile events, such as driving Stewart Friesen's modified in the 2025 Fonda 200 as part of the Short Track Super Series.[10] This team support, including entries in DIRTcar series races, has amplified her presence in promotional materials and broadcasts, contributing to broader community acknowledgment of her contributions to the sport.[44]Motorsports career results
Dirt track series
Jessica Friesen began her dirt track racing career in 2004, competing primarily in the Northeast region with a focus on Sportsman and Modified divisions at tracks like Utica-Rome Speedway. She captured the 2004 Utica-Rome Speedway DIRT Sportsman championship. In Modified racing, Friesen earned her first career victory at Utica-Rome Speedway on May 22, 2021, starting from the pole and leading the final 28 laps to become one of the few women to win a Modified feature there. Her overall career statistics in Northeast dirt track racing (Sportsman and Modified divisions), spanning 2004 to 2025, include 224 starts, 6 feature wins, 64 top-5 finishes, and 126 top-10 finishes across 17 seasons.[45]| Statistic | Career Total (2004–2025) |
|---|---|
| Starts | 224 |
| Wins | 6 |
| Top-5s | 64 |
| Top-10s | 126 |
| Year | Series/Division | Starts | Wins | Top-5s | Top-10s | Notes/Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Utica-Rome DIRT Sportsman | - | - | - | - | Track Champion |
| 2005 | Utica-Rome DIRT Sportsman | - | - | - | - | 5th in points |
| 2021 | Utica-Rome Modified | - | 1 | - | - | First Modified win |
| 2025 | Short Track Super Series North | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 183 points |
| 2025 | DIRTcar 358 Modifieds | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - |
NASCAR series
Jessica Friesen competed in two events in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 62 Toyota for her family-owned team, Halmar Friesen Racing, sponsored by Halmar International. She achieved no wins or top-10 finishes across these starts and did not lead any laps. No appearances in ARCA or other NASCAR-sanctioned series have been recorded through 2025.[29]| Date | Race Name | Track | Start Pos. | Finish Pos. | Laps Completed | Laps Led | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2021 | Corn Belt 150 | Knoxville Raceway | 25 | 26 | 175/175 | 0 | Running | Overtime race; completed all laps.[48][49] |
| June 18, 2022 | Clean Harbors 150 | Knoxville Raceway | 19 | 34 | 76/150 | 0 | Accident | Involved in multi-car incident leading to a flip.[50][51][52] |