Michigan State basketball legend Jason Richardson is now watching as his son, Jase Richardson, a fellow Spartan, prepares for the next level as he gets ready to hear his name called in this month’s NBA Draft.

Jase Richardson, of course, comes off his lone season at Michigan State, a place he almost didn’t go to, but he made his decision after visiting during the program’s annual “Grind Week,” where alumni return to campus, a story he discussed during his and his father’s recent appearance on “Podcast P with Paul George.”

He chose the Spartans, and it was a decision that Jason Richardson left up to him. Just as he had made his decision himself when he was going through the recruiting process over 25 years ago.

“I went through a similar thing where my whole family wanted me to go to Michigan,” Jason Richardson said on the podcast. “I grew up a University of Michigan fan. Fab Four (Five), watching Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson.

“And when I went to Michigan State, I felt that brotherhood like he (Jase) felt. And that’s why I ended up (going) to Michigan State, and my family all wanted me to go to Michigan, but I made that decision on my own, and it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.

“And so, when my son go through this, and I got a younger son, Jaxon, I want them to make a decision on their own to where they go because they got to feel that they could get better there, they could learn there, that could help them maybe get to the next level.”

Jason Richardson could have tried to direct his son to Michigan State, but as any good father would, he knew it wasn’t about him.

“When it’s all said and done, he’s the one that’s got to be at practice, he’s the one that’s got to be on campus, he’s the one that’s got to live in the snow when I’m in Miami in the beautiful sunshine weather,” Jase Richardson said. “And that’s his job for him to go through that process.”

It’s safe to say Jase Richardson’s decision worked out for everyone.

Keep up with the latest on Jase Richardson when you follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook, Spartan Nation, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and feel free to share your thoughts when you join our community group, Go Green Go White, as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.

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BROOKLYN, MI – It became anybody’s race after the leaders crashed on a restart with five laps to go.

Three overtimes later, Stewart Friesen was the surprise winner of the Michigan International Speedway NASCAR Truck Series race on Saturday, June 7.

Friesen was ninth on the first overtime, but advanced to fourth by the third overtime – which was prompted by multiple crashes. Friesen powered ahead of leader Grant Enfinger with two laps to go to take his first lead of the day and cruise to victory.

“It just got crazy there at the end. We were able to pick off a couple, pick off a couple and then we had a shot at it,” Friesen said.

Friesen’s last win was in 2022. The 41-year-old from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, slammed on his roof and climbed the fence in elation.

“Thank you to … all these bad-ass race fans,” Friesen said. “I know there’s a lot of Canadians, there’s a lot of Americans, everybody’s having a good time together and that’s what it’s all about, baby, yeah!”

Friesen’s hometown is about 300 miles east of MIS. The track is close enough to Canada that the Canadian National Anthem is performed before every race.

Friesen remembers visiting the track as a kid in 1994 – when Rusty Wallace celebrated in the same victory lane he celebrated in Saturday.

“One Friday night, my grandfather was like, ‘Alright, we’re getting in the motorhome and going to Michigan,’” Friesen said. “We camped way out on the back 40.”

An even more local driver nearly won, as Portage native Carson Hocevar was leading before a flat tire forced him to pit with eight laps to go. Hocevar drove back through the field into the top five, but was forced to the back again after a restart violation. He finished 11th.

Only one Michigan-born driver has won a Truck Series race at MIS – Johnny Benson in 2006.

Hocevar and Corey Heim dominated the first half of the race, before fuel strategy mixed up the field. Heim gave his teammate Gio Ruggiero a push on the restart with five laps to go that helped trigger a 12-truck crash.

The crash knocked out Cup Series regular Ross Chastain (No. 44), who would finish 26th.

Chastain and Hocevar will compete in the Sunday, June 8, FireKeepers Casino 400 at MIS. That race begins at 2 p.m. on Prime Video.

The 20 lead changes in Saturday’s race tie a Truck Series record for MIS. This was the first truck race at MIS since 2020.

Here are the top 10 finishers from Saturday’s race.

1. Stewart Friesen, No. 52 Toyota
2. Grant Enfinger, No. 9 Chevrolet
3. Luke Fenhaus, No. 66 Ford
4. Ben Rhodes, No. 99 Ford
5. Corey LaJoie, No. 07 Chevrolet
6. Matt Crafton, No. 88 Ford
7. Jake Garcia, No. 13 Ford
8. Chandler Smith, No. 38 Ford
9. Andres Perez De Lara, No. 77 Chevrolet
10. Layne Riggs, No. 34 Ford

BROOKLYN, MI – A racer known for celebrating his wins at Waffle House was victorious Friday, June 6, at Michigan International Speedway – in a state with zero Waffle Houses.

Brenden “Butterbean” Queen held off a hard-charging Corey Heim in the closing laps of the ARCA Series race at MIS to win by 0.3 seconds.

Queen, 27, pumped up the fans in the grandstands during his TV interview.

“It’s Bean Nation time tonight, boys!” Queen said. “It’s insane. I mean, I think I’ve got to climb the fence before I’m done.”

Queen was true to his word. He scaled the fence in front of cheering fans just after his interview.

The mullet-donning driver brings an energy to the series – living up to the hype of his “Butterbean” nickname. His family gave him the nickname as a baby, as they thought he looked a bit like professional boxer Eric “Butterbean” Esch.

This is Queen’s third career ARCA Series win, all coming in 2025. After the first two, he took his team and the trophy to Waffle House to celebrate.

“It’s been a thing I’ve done since I was late model racing … we’d just always take the trophy to Waffle House. It was the only thing open (that late),” Queen said. “We try to enjoy the night, reflect on it and then get ready for the next one.”

While Michigan doesn’t have a Waffle House, Queen has a plane to catch tonight, anyway, to get back to North Carolina.

It’s yet-to-be-determined if he’ll end up at one before the night ends. Queen was asked what his favorite thing is at Waffle House after he finished speaking with the media.

“Chocolate milk! We’re going to go get a chocolate milk,” Queen said.

How he got there

Queen took the lead with 23 laps to go on the final restart. While side by side with Gio Ruggiero, the pair slapped doors entering Turn 3, and Queen cleared him for the lead off Turn 4.

Second-place Heim, who has four Truck Series wins this year and is the favorite for Saturday’s race, wasn’t even supposed to be racing Friday. He was a substitute driver for Jake Finch, getting the call just hours before the race, since Finch had a viral infection.

Morgen Baird, who grew up in nearby Grass Lake, was the top finishing Michigander on Friday, with a 13th-place result. Baird will also race in Saturday’s Craftsman Truck Series race, which starts at noon on Fox.

A Michigan dad with a day job is Frankie Muniz’s NASCAR teammate this weekend

The pinnacle race of the weekend is the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400. That starts at 2 p.m. Sunday on Prime Video.