NASCAR Truck Series driver Kaden Honeycutt. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Stewart Friesen replacement announced for remainder of NASCAR season

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Aug 5, 2025 1:25 PM ET

Halmar Friesen Racing has found its replacement for the remainder of the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

After driver and team co-owner Stewart Friesen was injured in a July 28 crash at a dirt race in Quebec, Canada, HFR and the No. 52 team have named Kaden Honeycutt — who was surprisingly released by Niece Motorsports on Monday — as Friesen's replacement for the rest of the 2025 season beginning at Richmond on Aug. 15. Cup Series star Christopher Bell will pilot the No. 52 Toyota at Watkins Glen on Friday.

Halmar Friesen Racing announces that Kaden Honeycutt will be in the No. 52 truck starting at Richmond while Stewart Friesen is sidelined for the balance of the season.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 5, 2025

Friesen is officially out for the final nine races of 2025, and with Honeycutt in a position to make the Truck Series playoffs, the No. 52 team will have an excellent shot at winning a championship even without its star driver.

Honeycutt was released by Niece Motorsports after he signed a contract with a different team and manufacturer for 2026. That's believed to be TRICON Garage and Toyota, which likely opened up the opportunity for him to drive for a Toyota team in HFR.

Honeycutt is ninth on the playoff grid and 73 points above the playoff cut line with two races remaining in the regular season.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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