The NASCAR Truck Series has been rocked by sudden driver changes, with Kaden Honeycutt’s abrupt departure from Niece Motorsports highlighting how quickly relationships can sour in professional racing. While Honeycutt’s decision to sign elsewhere makes perfect business sense, the messy aftermath raises questions about how teams handle contract disputes.
Why Does Dale Earnhardt Jr. Think Kaden Honeycutt Made the Right Call?
Following Josh Williams’ immediate exit from Kaulig Racing last week, Kaden Honeycutt was abruptly let go from his full-time racing role at Niece Motorsports after allegedly signing a new contract with a rival team, believed to be TRICON.
Reacting to the news, Dale Earnhardt Jr. recalled a recent revelation by NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, who once turned down an offer from Wadell Wilson to pilot the No. 28 Robert Yates car. Speaking to Kevin Harvick last week, Martin recalled a story from when he was 22 years old and was making waves in the NASCAR community. At the time, he received a call from Wilson with an offer to become a Robert Yates driver.
Believing a bit too much in his skill set, Martin turned the offer down, which, in hindsight, he considers to be one of the biggest mistakes in his entire racing career. The missed opportunity haunted Martin throughout his career, serving as a cautionary tale about passing up chances to advance.
Speaking on the latest episode of the “Dale Jr. Download” podcast, Earnhardt believes that had Kaden gone down a similar path and chosen to stay with Niece Motorsports, he would have been a “fool.”
Earnhardt fully backs the 22-year-old, who is believed to be joining TRICON Garage next season, in his move to make his way up. He said, “Kaden, you know, would be a fool to say, ‘Yeah, I’m going to turn down this opportunity. I’m gonna stick with these guys, and boy, hopefully that’s going to get me to the Cup series one day.’”
However, what puzzled Earnhardt was the decision from Niece Motorsports to let go of Honeycutt with immediate effect, especially given the logistics around his 2025 campaign. The timing seemed particularly harsh considering Honeycutt’s strong performance throughout the season.
What Does Honeycutt’s Playoff Position Mean for His Future?
Sitting 73 points above the playoff cut line in the Truck Series, Honeycutt is a strong contender to make it through to the post-regular season championship run. Currently sitting in P6 in the standings, Honeycutt might not have won a race this season, but he has been one of the most consistent drivers in the tertiary division of NASCAR’s National Racing series.
His consistent performance all season makes Niece Motorsports’ decision even more puzzling. With playoff positioning on the line, most teams would want to maintain stability rather than create unnecessary drama in the final stretch.
Given his strong resume, the 22-year-old has quickly found himself a new ride for the remainder of the season to continue making the push for a playoff position. With Stewart Friesen out of action owing to his injuries after a dirt series crash, Honeycutt has been named as his replacement in the Halmar-Friesen No. 52 entry.
Christopher Bell will be in charge of the No. 52 Halmar-Friesen in Watkins Glen this weekend before Honeycutt gets the drive for the remainder of 2025. The quick turnaround shows how valuable Honeycutt’s services are in the current market.
As for the vacancy at Niece Motorsports, Connor Zilisch will pilot the No. 45 truck this weekend before Bayley Currey gets the ride for the remaining season. The team now faces the challenge of rebuilding chemistry with new drivers during the most critical part of the season.