Halmar Friesen Racing Announces Crew Chief Moves for 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Season
STATESVILLE, N.C. January 30, 2026 - Halmar Friesen Racing announced today a pair of crew chief assignments that will take effect beginning with the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, further strengthening the organization as it expands to a full time two truck operation.
Dustin Dunn has been promoted to crew chief of the No. 52 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro driven by Stewart Friesen, while Jimmy Villeneuve will transition from the No. 52 to serve as crew chief of the No. 62 entry.
The move represents a promotion for Dunn, who has been a key part of the Halmar Friesen Racing technical group, and a lateral transition for Villeneuve as the team continues to build depth and continuity across both programs.
“I speak for everyone at HFR when I say how excited we are to see Dustin step into this role,” said Villeneuve. “Dustin Dunn has been by my side and he has been a huge contributing factor in the success of HFR. I’m very excited to see the great things that Dustin and Stewart will achieve in 2026 and beyond.”
Dunn joins the No. 52 team after spending the past two seasons as a race engineer with the organization, contributing across multiple entries and playing an integral role in the growth of the No. 62 program.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity that Chris Larsen, Stewart Friesen, and everyone at Halmar Friesen Racing have given me to step into the role of crew chief for the No. 52 truck beginning in 2026,” said Dunn. “Over the past two seasons as a race engineer with the organization, I’ve had the chance to work closely with Stewart, support multiple drivers during his injury, and contribute to the No. 62 truck during its part time schedule. Through those experiences, I’ve built strong working relationships, and I look forward to building on that foundation by combining my 30 years of experience as a driver with my engineering background to continue developing a program that shows up prepared and competitive each week. We’ve assembled a strong team for this year, and our goal is not only to be competitive, but to have fun doing it.”
Villeneuve will take over the No. 62 team as Halmar Friesen Racing prepares for its first full season as a two truck operation in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The No. 62 will field a rotating lineup of drivers throughout the 2026 season, beginning with John Hunter Nemechek behind the wheel at Daytona International Speedway.
“All I can say is we’re ready to go,” said Friesen. “Dustin and I have built a great relationship over the past few years, and I’ve been fortunate to work with some excellent crew chiefs throughout my career on both dirt and pavement. Our communication is right there with any of them. Having Dustin in my ear during the race allows Jimmy to focus on the continued development of the No. 62 team, and it’s a big step forward for our entire organization.”
The Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway will open the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season on Friday, February 13. Fans can tune in at 7:30 p.m. EST on FS1, SiriusXM, and the NASCAR Racing Network.