Overview

• Niece Motorsports announced on August 4 that it had released Kaden Honeycutt from the No. 45 Chevrolet after he inked a contract to race with a different Truck Series team and manufacturer in 2026.
• General Manager Cody Efaw framed the decision as protecting the team’s decade-long alliance with Chevrolet and Team Chevy, warning that Honeycutt’s rival OEM commitment risked turning him into a “lame duck” driver.
• Connor Zilisch will pilot the No. 45 DQS Solutions & Staffing Chevrolet Silverado at Watkins Glen International, and Bayley Currey is set to handle the final eight regular-season races under crew chief Phil Gould.
• Halmar Friesen Racing tapped Honeycutt as interim driver for the No. 52 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro at Richmond Raceway to replace Stewart Friesen, who is sidelined for the season following a Super DIRTcar Series injury.
• Honeycutt remains sixth in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings with a 73-point cushion above the playoff cutline, preserving his eligibility as teams juggle current performance and long-term OEM strategies.