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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 20: Kaden Honeycutt, driver of the #11 Safelite Toyota, speaks to the media after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Buckle Up South Carolina 200 at Darlington Raceway on March 20, 2026 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
Kaden Honeycutt delivered one of his strongest NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series performances at Darlington Raceway on March 20, 2026, though the final result did not reflect the speed he showed early.
Driving the No. 11 Toyota for Tricon Garage, he started from the pole for the first time in his career and led a career-high 59 laps. He also won Stage 2 and controlled much of the race before late restarts altered the outcome.
Contact during two overtime restarts dropped him back, and he finished fourth. After the race, his comments about Cup Series drivers quickly spread online and drew strong reactions from fans across social media.
Strong Run Ends in Late-Race Contact
Honeycutt controlled the race from the start, leading early laps and staying near the front through each stage. His truck maintained a consistent pace and held its track position during long green-flag runs.
The race changed dynamics late in the game. Restarts during overtime resulted in a close competition, with multiple drivers vying for the lead. Corey Heim secured the win with a last-lap pass in the final overtime, while Ross Chastain finished second and Christian Eckes third.
Carson Hocevar, a regular in the Cup Series, was leading late but encountered a flat right-front tire. During those closing moments, Honeycutt lost positions after contact and could not recover before the finish.
NASCAR Driver Kaden Honeycutt’s Comments Spark Fan Reaction
In a post-race interview shared by FOX NASCAR, Honeycutt addressed what he saw as overly aggressive driving from Cup Series competitors.
“When you line up against Cup guys, they really don’t care about restarts or anything. So, they just plug you into the fence.”
The clip quickly spread and drew mixed reactions from fans.
Harry wrote, “The Plug” is the only defense left when you can’t match the footwork. The Entity relies on the fence because it can’t find the grip @shanevg97 finds with a loose car. Darlington is a driver’s track; technical skill beats gatekeeping every time.”
Bam added, “Honeycutt’s entire team resents the fact that he got the ride, btw. Not naming any names, but I can quote “Oh, Jesus Christ…” as one reaction. lmao.” Kue wrote, “Comes off like a crybaby. You are in the best truck in the series. Go take wins away from them as Heim did.”
Debate Continues Over NASCAR Cup Drivers in Truck Series
Other fans used the moment to defend Honeycutt or to question the presence of Cup drivers in the series.
Auz wrote, “Y’all don’t like drivers not showing personality, then get mad when drivers say something about dirty driving.”
Jessie also doesn’t want a cup driver in the truck series. “Cup Drivers should not be allowed to race in Triple Truck Challenge or DASH for CASH races.”
Some responses remained critical of Honeycutt’s stance.
Hawk also has this to share, “Take a lesson from the guy whose truck you’re driving, the same guy who raced the same cup guys and got to VL. If you can’t handle Cup guys coming down to race for the win, hand the 11 to Gio and go back to racing late models. This is Nascar, this is Darlington. NOTHING IS EASY”
Micheluzzo says Cup drivers don’t hold back; they race hard everywhere. “Does he think Cup drivers’ tone it down’ when racing non-Cup races? Cup drivers get to the Cup by competing at everything they do.”
Scott mocked the driver as privileged and overly emotional. “If he thinks that’s bad, he should have a good-for-nothing whiny screaming in his headset. Oh, that’s only when you race cock mouth on iRacing because rich family gives you the real thing, so you don’t give a shit.”
Honeycutt remains winless in the series despite several strong performances. His Darlington run added to that record, and his post-race comments have brought more attention to how drivers from different levels compete on the same track.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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