The 2025 TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park had all the drama you’d expect from a classic Truck Series showdown. Right from the green flag, the place was buzzing. There was tight racing, bold moves, and playoff spots on the line. Layne Riggs was on it all night, leading an insane 159 laps in his No. 34 truck while chaos broke loose behind him. Between wild restarts, gutsy pit calls, and late cautions, fans barely had a second to breathe.
It felt like the kind of race where everyone walked away with something, whether it was points, pride, or just a killer story. And for a few drivers, it was supposed to be a night to celebrate personal milestones. But just when the good vibes were peaking, NASCAR came in with a post-race disqualification that flipped the script, and fans were not happy about it.
Stewart Friesen’s birthday podium snatched
Stewart Friesen thought he had the perfect birthday gift lined up. Well, he got third place in his 200th Truck Series start. But soon after the checkered flag at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, NASCAR officials threw a wrench in the celebration. Friesen’s No. 52 truck failed post-race inspection due to being too low in the front. Now, this led to a full disqualification that dropped him to last place and stripped him of stage points. Officially, he will be credited with a last-place finish (35th).
His truck was measured below the minimum front-height threshold mandated by NASCAR, a technicality that erased what would have been a career milestone and left fans and teams alike stunned, especially since he had led laps earlier in the race. The ruling elevated Corey Heim to the final podium spot, while Grant Enfinger and Ty Majeski also moved up.
NEWS: The No. 52 truck has been disqualified during post-race inspection at @RaceIRP for failed front heights. He is credited with a 35th-place finish.
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) July 26, 2025
This disqualification makes Friesen the tenth different driver to face a post-race disqualification across all three national divisions this year. Other notable post-race inspection disqualifications include: at Talladega Superspeedway in the Cup Series, Ryan Preece and Joey Logano were both disqualified after post-race inspections found violations with their rear spoilers. Similarly, Erik Jones faced disqualification at Martinsville for his car failing to meet the minimum weight requirement.
Friesen now has the option to appeal the ruling, but as of now, the penalty stands. Fans have flocked online to voice disappointment. They are visibly angry not only over the harsh timing of the tech violation but over an entire birthday marked by heartbreak instead of cheers.
Fans’ frustration over ride height rules
Stewart Friesen entered the TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in a strong position. This makes the post-race disqualification on his 42nd birthday all the more painful. As one fan rightly pointed out, “Friesen was 11th in points going into tonight, but was only 30 points behind 9th. This DQ could cost him a couple of playoff points.” Friesen missed out on not just points but a well-earned podium spot in his 200th career start.
It’s a tough pill for Friesen and his fans. “Way to ruin a guy’s birthday,” echoed many across social media, as the milestone took a somber turn. Of all days, NASCAR found this day to disqualify Friesen. Despite the setback, Friesen still holds a career highlight with his 2025 Michigan win, which snapped a long drought and proved he can still compete at the highest level. But, most importantly, it keeps him in contention for the playoff spot. “Damn it. At least he has his win,” one fan heaved a sigh of relief.
Another fan plainly asked, “Genuinely, why can’t we just let the teams run whatever f—— height they want?” NASCAR, like other motorsport governing bodies, strictly regulates car parameters, including ride height, to ensure safety, fairness, and competitive balance. Ride height affects aerodynamics and handling. Being too low can provide an unfair speed advantage but risks undercarriage damage or loss of control.
Finally, another fan chimed in. “It’s 2025, ride height rules are ridiculous, when Late model stocks went to no ride height rule, like cup, the cost of their springs went from $1000-$1500 dollar rentons to $75 to $100 straight springs you can buy pretty much anywhere. The rest of motorsports is laughing at us!”
Whether NASCAR stands firm on the DQ or Friesen manages to overturn it, one thing’s for sure – this one stings. A birthday, a career milestone, and a hard-fought race all overshadowed by a tech sheet measurement. As fans continue to vent online, Friesen will now have to regroup and refocus with the playoffs rapidly approaching.
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