Christopher Bell Praises Halmar Friesen Racing's 'Heart and Soul' After Bristol Win

Emotional victory marks first win for HFR's No. 62 team in its full-time Truck Series debut

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:29am

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A cubist, multi-angled painting in navy, orange, and silver tones depicts the dynamic action of a NASCAR Truck Series race, with the vehicles and track fragmented into sharp, overlapping planes.A fractured, geometric illustration captures the raw energy and emotion of Halmar Friesen Racing's first Truck Series victory at Bristol.Darlington Today

Christopher Bell credited the Halmar Friesen Racing team's hard work and dedication after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The victory was the first for HFR's No. 62 team, which is competing full-time for the first time in 2026. Bell said the emotion from crew chief Jimmy Villeneuve and co-owner Stewart Friesen showed how much the win meant to the group.

Why it matters

Halmar Friesen Racing has faced a tumultuous year, but this win shows the team's potential as it expands to a full-time, two-truck operation in 2026. The victory also highlights the close-knit nature of the NASCAR Truck Series community, where smaller, independent teams can still find success.

The details

Bell, who considers racing in the Truck Series a hobby, said the win was all about the HFR team and not himself. He praised the group's 'heart and soul' and said the emotion from the crew after the victory showed how much it meant to them. Bell had previously driven for HFR at Darlington and Watkins Glen, where he saw the team's potential. Friday's win was the first for the No. 62 team, although co-owner Friesen has won four races driving for the organization.

  • On March 20, Bell finished sixth at Darlington driving the No. 62 Toyota for HFR.
  • At the 2025 Truck Series race at Watkins Glen, Bell drove Friesen's No. 52 truck after Friesen suffered a severe leg injury in a dirt race in Canada.
  • In June 2025, Friesen revealed that HFR would bring back its second truck, the No. 62, at Lime Rock, where Wesley Slimp drove it to a 33rd-place finish.

The players

Christopher Bell

A NASCAR driver who considers racing in the Truck Series a hobby, but has driven for the Halmar Friesen Racing team multiple times, including the winning effort at Bristol.

Jimmy Villeneuve

The crew chief for the Halmar Friesen Racing No. 62 team, who was emotional after the team's first win.

Stewart Friesen

The co-owner of Halmar Friesen Racing, who hugged Bell after the team's victory at Bristol.

Halmar Friesen Racing

A NASCAR Truck Series team that is competing full-time for the first time in 2026, with two trucks (the No. 62 and No. 52).

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What they’re saying

“It's all about them, not about me. Those guys work really, really hard. They put their heart and soul into this, and to get rewarded, it means a lot to them. That's what it's all about. It's what makes this worth it.”

— Christopher Bell, NASCAR Driver

What’s next

The No. 62 team will look to build on its first win of the season and continue to show the potential Halmar Friesen Racing has as a full-time, two-truck operation in 2026.

The takeaway

This victory for the Halmar Friesen Racing No. 62 team highlights the close-knit nature of the NASCAR Truck Series community, where smaller, independent teams can still find success through hard work and dedication. It also demonstrates the team's resilience after a tumultuous year and the bright future that lies ahead.