Niece Motorsports signs fourth CARS Tour standout for 2026 NASCAR Truck Series season

If there is a pipeline from the CARS Tour to NASCAR, it might run straight through Niece Motorsports as they make another signing. Parker Eatmon, another talented teen who has made his name in the grassroots series owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., is moving up.

While Kaden Honeycutt left Niece Motorsports and Chevy this year during the season, that was the beginning. Niece saw what Honeycutt could do after coming out of the CARS Tour. Now, they are going all-in with a group of drivers who have honed their craft early in the series.

Niece made the announcement as the rest of the NASCAR world focuses on the antitrust trial going on. Parker Eatmon gets a big opportunity for 2026 and it shows how the CARS Tour has turned into a legitimate pathway to NASCAR. Teams are paying attention.

“We have a strong driver lineup for next year, and I think Parker Eatmon is one to keep an eye on,” said Cody Efaw, Niece Motorsports President and CEO in a press release. “We’ve been paying close attention to the talent coming out of the CARS Tour because we believe that it’s one of the strongest development series out there. Parker has contended for wins there, which makes him a great candidate for a Truck Series seat. We’re looking forward to seeing what he is capable of.”

The last two races of the CARS Tour season were the best for Parker. He finished P4 and P3 at Tri-County and North Wilkesboro.

Niece Motorsports goes all-in on CARS Tour lineup

Right now, the average age of Conner Jones, Parker Eatmon, Tyler Reif, and Landen Lewis is 18.75. Jones and Lewis will turn 20 in February with Eatmon turning 20 next June. Still, that is one of the youngest lineups in NASCAR going into 2026.

Of course, Niece Motorsports also has a relationship with Connor Hall. The 28 year old is not as young as those other drivers, but is very talented. Hall has finished 2nd in the Late Model Stock championship three of the last four seasons. He raced for JR Motorsports in the CARS Tour in 2025, but Hall has raced in the No. 4 car for Niece as recently as the South Carolina 400 at Florence.

For NASCAR to remain healthy as a sport, a talent pipeline has to be formed. There has to be a defined path to the sport. Right now, the CARS Tour is proving to be that series for a number of teams. Will Niece’s gamble on these young drivers pay off?