Jessica Friesen

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Jessica Friesen
NationalityAmerican
BornJessica Zemken
(1986-05-05) May 5, 1986 (age 35)
Sprakers, New York
Related toStewart Friesen (husband)
World of Outlaws career
Debut season2006
Current teamHalmar Friesen Racing
Former teams
Best finish26th in 2011
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career
1 race run over 1 year
First race2021 Corn Belt 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: March 27, 2021.

Jessica 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 also competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 62 for Halmar Friesen Racing. She is married to NASCAR and fellow dirt racer 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 in 2001.[3] Zemken also competed in the DIRT Sportsman division at , 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 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] With the debut at Bristol aborted, Friesen instead signed up for the Truck Series' other dirt race, the Corn Belt Weekend at Knoxville Raceway, in July, which she finally qualified.[9]

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.[10] 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.[11] The two have a son Parker and operate an apparel company One Zee Tee's.[12][13]

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.)

Camping World Truck Series[]

NASCAR Camping World 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 NCWTC Pts Ref
2021 Halmar Friesen Racing 62 Toyota DAY DAY LVS ATL BRI
DNQ 		RCH KAN DAR COA CLT TEX NSH POC KNX
26 		GLN GTW DAR BRI LVS TAL MAR PHO 78th 11 [14]

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "About Jessica". Chili Bowl Nationals. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  2. ^ 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.
  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. ^ 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.
  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. ^ Pockrass, Bob (April 11, 2017). "Family of Kevin Ward Jr. responds to Tony Stewart motion". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Friesen, Stewart (May 29, 2017). "Climbing the Ladder: Stewart Friesen" (Interview). Interviewed by Eggert, Seth. Motorsports Tribune. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  13. ^ Yasinsac, Robin (June 24, 2015). "Local auto racing: Stewart Friesen, Jessica Zemken make a great team". Times Union. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  14. ^ "Jessica Friesen – 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 27, 2021.

External links[]

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