Greg Friestad’s normal race car number is 12, but at least for part of 2019, he doesn’t mind switching.
The Valley City, N.D., driver has put the No. 37 on his IMCA Modified in honor of the late Jeff Carpenter, who died unexpectedly in May. Carpenter was also from Valley City and piloted the No. 37 Midwest Modified.
“He’s been a figure in Valley City for many many years,” Friestad said. “He’s always been very close to (our) family. We always helped each other out. He was one of those guys, you can count him if you needed a hand, and the favor went right back, and whenever he needed something he was more than welcome at our shop.”
The 37 will stay on Friestad’s car as long as the body stays intact on his car.
“We’re going to try and run that 37 number as long as we can this year,” Friestad said. “Probably until it becomes time to replace the body. Hopefully we can make it last all year.”
Friestad is a regular at Jamestown Speedway and also races at Sheyenne Speedway in Lisbon when the track runs the A mods. An 11-year veteran of stock-car racing, Friestad started racing go-karts in 1999. He is in his fifth year in the A modified division after starting his car career in the midwest modified.
“I grew up around it and our family has been in motorsports the whole time,” Friestad said. “It’s been a big part of our lives.”
He is still searching for his first A mod win; this season he had a good run at Sheyenne Speedway’s opener on May 27, taking third in a field of 18 cars.
“The competition in the A mods in IMCA is unbelievable,” Friestad said. “It’s getting together and tougher. The technology is changing, so you’ve got to stay on top of that part of that game, as well as your mental game.”
Friestad’s job as a control technician for TC Energy keeps him on the road quite a bit, and limits the time he can work on the car during the week.
“I do a lot of traveling, so’s hard to put as much time in the shop as we want to,” he said. “It’s a very grueling sport. You’ve got to put the time in if you want the rewards.”
His goals for 2019? For starters, it’s using Carpenter’s No. 37 on his car as long as he can. But another is also to be running towards the front and break through for that first IMCA A Mod win.
“We’re shooting to advance and get some solid finishes. We’re still searching for that first win,” Friestad said. “It couldn’t be any sweeter if it could come at my home track.”
Driver Profile
Greg Friestad
Residence: Valley City, N.D.
Division: IMCA Modified #37 (regular number is 12)
Age: 35
Sponsors: Ray Nelson Construction, Northland Freight Brokers, Cityside Collision, Ness Motorsports, Bitz Tire and Repair, Hoffman Ranch, JK Designs, ZNR Farms, Blair’s Auto Body, Didier Farms, Muncy Custom Spraying, Killoran Trucking and Brokerage Inc., OLR Trucking, CPD, Kohler Farms, Da 2E Ranch
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