Stewart Friesen and Halmar Friesen Racing announced that Kaden Honeycutt will replace Friesen for the rest of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as Friesen recovers from injuries sustained in a Super DIRTcar Series wreck at Autodrome Drummond.
In a press release, Halmar Friesen Racing announced, “Kaden Honeycutt will fill in for Stewart Friesen for the balance of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season in the No. 52 Halmar International Toyota Tundra TRD Pro starting with next weekends race at Richmond Raceway.”
Friesen stated, “While I continue to recover, it was important to put someone in our truck that can help us compete at the highest level. I know Kaden will deliver strong performance in our truck and allow us to continue to run for the owner’s championship.”
Honeycutt added, “It’s an honor to be able to fill in for Stewart for the rest of the season and help give his team a chance at the owner’s championship, which they earned. I’m excited to compete in contending, race-winning equipment as I pursue a title this season. We are going to work hard to have a solid final eight races of the season and continue to deliver great results for Stewart, his family, and his organization.”
Before Honeycutt jumps in the truck, Christopher Bell will be in it for this weekend’s race at Watkins Glen International.
Honeycutt and Niece Motorsports announced they were parting yesterday. In a statement to Facebook, Niece Motorsports announced, “Niece Motorsports has released Kaden Honeycutt from his driving duties for the organization, effective immediately. Connor Zilisch will pilot the No. 45 DQS Solutions & Staffing Chevrolet Silverado at Watkins Glen. Bayley Currey will serve as the driver for the remainder of the season beginning at Richmond. Phil Gould will remain as the crew chief, with no other personnel changes on the team.”
“Honeycutt has signed a contract to race with a different Truck Series organization and OEM in 2026 – making this change allows our team the opportunity to begin building for next year,” the team concluded.
In an interview with Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, Niece Motorsports General Manager Cody Efaw shared more details, “We went to him with an offer to extend his racing opportunities or career here at Niece Motorsports for several years to come. He informed us that he appreciated it and we meant a lot to him, but he was going to go a different route in the future with a different OEM. My job is to make sure our partners get taken care of and one of our large partners is Chevrolet and Team Chevy and what they do for us on the engineering side. And they’ve been great partners for 10 years with us and we have partners help make these trucks go round the race track that are tied to General Motors and Chevrolet. I respect that he came to us and told us. It was hard. It was hard for him. He’s a young man. He’s got his racing career ahead of him. He’s been racing since he’s 8 years old. This is everything he’s ever wanted to do.”
“I would have love to have finished the season. But also look at it where’s it’s a situation where now it’s a lame duck term. And Chevrolet isn’t going to let him walk in there tech center and let him get on the simulators. And I’m not going to let him come into our meetings, our comp[etition] meetings. And Phil Gould, who I think has a great name in this industry. I think he’s one of the great crew chiefs in NASCAR not just the Truck Series. He has certain things that he wants to live up to. And there’s certain information he needs out of a driver I don’t feel like we can continue moving forward and do it a championship level in the 45 truck,” he concluded.
Honeycutt posted on Facebook, “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.”
Honeycutt will be behind the No. 02 at Watkins Glen this weekend. He shared on Facebook, “Texas proud! Thankful to Tyler and Randy Young for letting me wheel the No. 02 at Watkins Glen this weekend. Keeping the championship dream alive before hopping in the No. 52 to finish the year. I look forward to making Stewart and Jessica proud and chasing wins and a championship.”
Honeycutt is currently 6th in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He’s 215 points behind current leader Corey Heim, but he’s not locked in yet given he has not a won race. The Halmar Friesen Racing team is currently in 15th, 338 points Corey Heim’s No. 11 team from Tricon Garage. However, it’s already locked into the playoffs after Friesen and the team won the June 7th race at Michigan International Speedway.
What do you make of Honeycutt filling in for Friesen for the rest of the year?
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