SPARTA, Ky. – NASCAR confiscated the primary No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Chevrolet Silverado of Stewart Friesen on Thursday morning at Kentucky Speedway.
The truck was confiscated after NASCAR officials inspected the truck and deemed it “unacceptable” Thursday morning. Officials indicated there was a problem with the rear firewall placement in relation to the rear clip of the truck.
NASCAR officials allowed the team to remove the tires and the driver safety and comfort equipment from the truck.
The truck is now parked alongside the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series hauler, where it will remain until NASCAR’s research and development center in Concord, N.C.
Any additional penalties will be announced next week. Halmar Friesen Racing has prepared a backup truck for Friesen, but he will be forced to start at the rear of the field regardless of where he qualifies.
This isn’t the first time NASCAR has confiscated a race vehicle from a team. NASCAR confiscated the Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet of Tony Stewart in 2003 at Texas Motor Speedway when it failed to fit the template during inspection.