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Jessica Friesen is one of dirt track racing’s most versatile competitors—a sprint car specialist who’s proven herself in modifieds, claimed a historic Canadian Sprint Car Nationals victory, and even stepped into NASCAR’s Truck Series, all while running a successful t-shirt business and raising a son with autism.

EARLY YEARS

Born Jessica Zemken on May 6, 1986, she grew up with racing in her blood—her father Ray Zemken competed in DIRT Modifieds while her mother Shauna worked as an optometrist. Jessica started her racing journey at age eight at Dodge City go-kart track in Howes Cave, New York, cutting her teeth on karting before transitioning to full-sized race cars as a teenager.

Racing was always her whole world growing up. She wanted nothing more than to get behind the wheel and go fast, and her family supported that dream even when it meant being one of the only girls on the track. By the time she was racing Sportsman cars in her late teens, Jessica was already making a name for herself in upstate New York’s competitive dirt racing scene.

OTHER INTERESTS

Jessica is a mother first—her son Parker was diagnosed with autism at a year and a half old and immediately entered Applied Behavior Analysis therapy. She and her husband Stewart have been vocal advocates for autism awareness, with Stewart running special paint schemes to raise awareness at Dover and other tracks.

But she’s also a businesswoman. Jessica co-founded One Zee Tees, a motorsports apparel company that’s become a major player in the dirt racing world. She jokes that she’s “a t-shirt expert second” after being a mom, but the reality is she’s built a legitimate business designing and selling racing merchandise for drivers across the Northeast. The company produces apparel for multiple drivers including herself and Stewart, and it’s become a significant part of their livelihood alongside racing.

EARLY SUCCESS

Jessica’s breakthrough came in 2004 when she won the Utica-Rome Speedway dirt sportsman track championship—a significant accomplishment for any driver, let alone a young woman in her late teens. That championship validated everything she’d been working toward and opened doors to bigger opportunities in open-wheel racing.

She transitioned to sprint car racing and quickly proved she belonged, competing with Zemken Racing in regional 410 sprint car series throughout the Northeast and eventually catching the attention of bigger teams. Her aggressive driving style and mechanical knowledge—honed from years working on cars with her father—made her competitive against the best male drivers in the country.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2004: Won Utica-Rome Speedway dirt sportsman track championship[1].
• 2016: Won the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals at Ohsweken Speedway—remains the only female to ever win the prestigious event[2].
• 2021: Made NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway dirt track, driving the #62 Halmar International Toyota for Halmar Friesen Racing—she and husband Stewart became the first married couple to compete in the same NASCAR race since Elton Sawyer and Patty Moise in 1998[3].
• 2021: Competed in second Truck Series race at the Corn Belt 150 at Knoxville Raceway on July 9[4].
• 2022: Raced in Truck Series at Knoxville, where she flipped during competition on June 18[5].
• Various years: Competed in World of Outlaws, All Star Circuit of Champions, and the Knoxville Nationals with teams including Tony Stewart Racing[6].
• Has driven the Modified typically piloted by Stewart at events including the Fonda 200 at Fonda Speedway[7].

INSPIRATIONS

Her father Ray was her first inspiration—watching him race DIRT Modifieds gave her the bug, and he became her crew chief and mentor as she developed her career. The fact that racing was the family business made it feel attainable rather than impossible, even as a girl in a male-dominated sport.

But her perspective has evolved dramatically since becoming a mother. In interviews, Jessica has been candid that Parker changed everything about how she views racing and life. What once was her singular focus now sits alongside being a parent to a child with special needs, running a business, and supporting Stewart’s racing career. She’s become an inspiration herself to other women trying to balance competitive racing with family responsibilities.

REPUTATION

Jessica is respected in the dirt racing community for being the real deal—not a gimmick or a part-timer, but a legitimate wheelman who can run up front against anyone. Her Canadian Sprint Car Nationals victory cemented that reputation, and the fact that she did it under her maiden name Zemken means some history books don’t immediately connect the win to her current identity, which is both a point of pride and mild frustration.

She’s known for being tough but approachable, competitive but realistic about her priorities. Unlike some racers who present a polished public image, Jessica is refreshingly straightforward about the challenges of juggling racing with motherhood and business ownership. She’s carved out a unique space as someone who races when she can, runs a successful company, and doesn’t apologize for putting her son first when she needs to stay closer to home.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Information about specific future racing plans beyond 2024 is limited in the available research. Jessica has indicated in interviews that she focuses on racing opportunities closer to home at tracks like Fonda and Utica-Rome Speedway to balance family responsibilities, suggesting her future approach will continue prioritizing selective events that allow her to be present for Parker while still competing at a high level when the opportunity and timing align.

REFERENCES

[1] Jessica Friesen to make NASCAR Truck debut at Bristol dirt, joins husband Stewart

[2] Jessica Friesen Set to Make Long Awaited Return to Ohsweken Speedway

[3] First married couple set to compete in NASCAR race since ’98

[4] Jessica Friesen NASCAR Stats | Career Highlights

[5] 2022 Jessica Friesen flip @ Knoxville

[6] Jessica Friesen – Wikipedia

[7] Jessica Friesen Driving Stewart Friesen’s Modified In Fonda 200

Jessica Friesen – Parker’s mom – will make Truck Series debut at Bristol

Juggling Life In The Fast Lane: Race Car Driver, Mom…

Stewart Friesen raises awareness for autism with special paint scheme at Dover

Q&A with Jessica (Zemken) Friesen – RacingDude.com

This & That – Mother’s Day Racing – DTD Exclusive

*JZ* Jessica Friesen 2025 T Shirts – ONE ZEE TEES