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

NASCAR team makes surprising driver decision before Watkins Glen

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Aug 4, 2025 1:47 PM ET

In a surprising move, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver currently inside the playoff picture has been released from his team.

Kaden Honeycutt, driver of the No. 45 Chevrolet for Niece Motorsports, was released from the organization on Monday after Niece Motorsports said that Honeycutt signed a contract with a different team and manufacturer for 2026. Per Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass, the most likely move for Honeycutt is to Toyota and TRICON Garage in 2026.

pic.twitter.com/xDNQpqa0iD
— Niece Motorsports (@NieceMotorsport) August 4, 2025

Connor Zilisch will drive the No. 45 at Watkins Glen on Friday, with Bayley Currey filling in for the remainder of the 2025 season, beginning with the regular-season finale at Richmond on Aug. 15. Zilisch joins a stacked Truck Series entry list at Watkins Glen that includes Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, Ross Chastain and Chris Buescher, among others.

Honeycutt has yet to announce who he is driving for at Watkins Glen.

Niece announces it has released Kaden Honeycutt b/c he's signed with different team/manufacturer for 2026. Connor Zilisch in No. 45 truck at The Glen, Bayley Currey rest of 2025 ... I'd expect Honeycutt to find ride(s) to get thru playoffs; Tricon/Toyota most likely in 2026.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 4, 2025

With two races remaining in the regular season, Honeycutt is ninth on the playoff grid, 73 points above the cut line. That's a safe cushion, and if Honeycutt were to hang on and qualify for the playoffs, a possible option could be the No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota, given that driver Stewart Friesen could miss the remainder of the 2025 season with injuries suffered in a dirt race on July 28.

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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