What’s Happening?

Niece Motorsports has released Kaden Honeycutt from 16 races in the Craftsman Truck Series season. The team believes Honeycutt, who is 22 years old, has signed a new contract with another team and OEM for 2026.

Update: In a post on X, Honeycutt addressed his release stating, “I would like to thank Niece Motorsports, specifically Al Niece, Cody Efaw and Phil Gould, as well as Josh Morris with DQS and Jason Wilson with Precision Vehicle Logistics, for the opportunity to drive the No. 45 Chevrolet in 2025. My plan is to continue to contend for race wins and position myself to make the playoffs this season. I look forward to sharing my plans for the remainder of 2025 and beyond in the near future.”

• Niece sees that cutting ties with Honeycutt at this moment “allows our team the opportunity to begin building for next year.” However, the team has yet to announce plans for the No. 45 for 2026, and is fielding a lineup of veteran and already contracted talent for the rest of the season.
• The team has already announced that Xfinity Series rookie and road course ace Conner Zilisch will pilot the No. 45 this weekend at Watkins Glen, joining a stacked field of drivers including Christopher Bell and Chris Buescher. For the rest of the season, the team plans to field Bayley Currey, a former full-time driver who has played the role of unofficial reserve driver for the team in 2025.
• At press time, there is no clear path forward for Honeycutt, who sits sixth in points and ninth in the playoff picture. Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports has suggested that Honeycutt is headed to Toyota’s TRICON Garage in 2026, but he will need to find rides to make it through the playoffs. Pockrass also suggested rides at Young’s Motorsports or Halmar Friesen Racing, whose driver is currently injured, could be a route through the playoffs for the 22-year-old.
• If Honeycutt is headed to TRICON Garage, this implies that the team could move on from one of its four full-time drivers or take their part-time No. 1 truck full-time for the 2026 season. This is a developing story, and will be updated if and when there are updates.

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