At Watkins Glen International, Christopher Bell stepped in for the injured Stewart Friesen and delivered a powerful drive at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event, bringing energy and hope to Halmar Friesen Racing even as the team faces a challenging season. The Christopher Bell Watkins Glen truck race saw Bell, HFR, and their drivers battling through adversity, ultimately securing impressive results and reigniting their championship push.
Halmar Friesen Racing Faces Change After Friesen’s Injury
Following a devastating crash in a Super DIRTcar Series race, Stewart Friesen sustained a fractured pelvis and right leg, forcing him out for the season. In response, Halmar Friesen Racing (HFR) announced Kaden Honeycutt, recently released by Niece Motorsports, as their new full-time driver for the rest of the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series campaign. The decision reflects HFR’s determination to remain contenders in both the drivers’ and owners’ championships despite the setback to their team owner and driver.
Before Honeycutt’s official debut in the No. 52, the team gave NASCAR Cup Series competitor Christopher Bell a chance to compete, keeping the team’s momentum alive and providing a seasoned hand in Friesen’s spot for the Watkins Glen race.
Christopher Bell Battles for Victory Amid Fuel Drama
Bell qualified on the front row next to Corey Heim and spent the majority of the race firmly planted in the top five. His performance peaked as he led 30 laps during the closing stages, appearing to be on the cusp of an emotional win for the now-fractured squad.
However, a sequence of late-race cautions threw the strategy into turmoil and placed a spotlight on fuel management. Multiple teams, including Bell’s, were suddenly vulnerable to running out before the finish. Heim managed to reclaim the lead from Bell during this chaotic period. Bell’s crew then called him to the pits to ensure enough fuel for a possible extended finish, hoping that other frontrunners would falter under the same pressure.
The race spiraled into three overtimes, reminiscent of the dramatic 2023 Phoenix Raceway finale. In spite of the relentless cautions and shifting strategies, Bell managed to steer the team to a strong fourth-place finish, delivering much-needed points and morale to HFR in a turbulent week.
“I had a ton of fun,”
Bell said after the race.
“But I’m sure it looked very weird seeing that [No.] 52 truck out there without Stewart in it.”
—Christopher Bell, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
“They’ve got a really good piece — a really strong Toyota Tundra. Hopefully they can build on it and do some good with Kaden these next couple of weeks.”
—Christopher Bell, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Wesley Slimp Delivers Unexpected Results for HFR’s Second Entry
While Bell’s bid for victory was upended by fuel troubles, HFR’s second entry, piloted by sports car driver Wesley Slimp in the No. 62 truck, defied expectations at Watkins Glen. Slimp, recovering from a tough debut at Lime Rock Park in June, appeared to be facing another uphill weekend after starting in 29th position and suffering two flat tires during the race. Nonetheless, a flurry of late-race incidents allowed him to climb back to 12th place by the checkered flag.
“The team gave me an awesome truck,”
Slimp told Frontstretch.
“And even then, it started out good and just got better and better throughout the race. Even with two flats, going two laps down and then running [29th] to 12th. Honestly, I can’t believe it.”
—Wesley Slimp, No. 62 Driver
In the wake of Friesen’s absence, the top-15 finishes from both trucks offered reassurance and a boost to the team’s spirit. Slimp highlighted the motivation that Friesen’s leadership still inspires.
“Everyone wishes Stewart could be here,”
Slimp said.
“But at the same time, we’re all driven forward by the values of success and hard work that he instills in the team. We’re all out here doing it because of that. We wanna run well for him, and I feel like I did that.”
—Wesley Slimp, No. 62 Driver
Late-Race Chaos Shapes the Watkins Glen Outcome
The closing stages of the Watkins Glen event brought relentless cautions and overtimes that impacted team strategies and shuffled the finishing order. While Bell fell short of victory, he stayed composed under pressure, brought the truck home in one piece, and avoided the chaos that claimed other contenders.
“Happy to give them a good run and get a good finish out of it,”
Bell added.
“They told me at one time, ‘Checkers or wreckers,’ and I’m like, eh, well, I wanna make sure I get it to the checkered flag. And we walked out of here with a fourth-place finish after all the chaos. Didn’t tear up the truck too bad, which was nice.”
—Christopher Bell, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Corey Heim ultimately claimed the win, capitalizing on the shifting landscape as teams gambled with pit calls and fuel. Meanwhile, Kaden Honeycutt, set to drive the No. 52 for the remainder of the season, finished a disappointing 34th in a one-race outing with Young’s Motorsports but now has a fresh opportunity ahead with HFR.
Looking Ahead for Halmar Friesen Racing
The strong finishes at Watkins Glen mark a significant turnaround for HFR, a team not accustomed to fielding multiple entries and now operating without their cornerstone driver, Stewart Friesen. In the coming weeks, Honeycutt will be tasked with driving the No. 52, inheriting a truck that has shown race-winning potential. Slimp, who normally competes in sports cars, is set to make one more Truck Series appearance with HFR at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL in October. For HFR, these performances are more than just numbers on the results sheet—they signal resilience, unity, and the ongoing pursuit of excellence despite adversity.
With a renewed sense of belief, HFR heads into the remainder of the season aiming for further success, carrying the values and determination instilled by Friesen and fueled by the standout efforts of Bell and Slimp on a dramatic day at Watkins Glen.
