Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports Sat, November 7, 2026 at 3:21 AM UTC · 4 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the biggest threat to his championship aspirations blew a tire early, there wasn't much Kaden Honeycutt needed to do at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, Nov. 6 to win the championship in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series .
Honeycutt just needed to run a clean race and finish ahead of Layne Riggs , who fell seven laps down after having to make multiple repairs to the right rear of his No. 34 Ford.
But Honeycutt is a racer, and racers drive to win.
Shortly after a restart with 13 laps to go, Honeycutt grabbed the lead and didn't let go of it. He asked his crew for radio silence to allow him to focus on the task at hand.
Honeycutt held off Christian Eckes and won the Truck Series season finale at Homestead, putting an exclamation point on his championship-winning season. Honeycutt, the 23-year-old from Willow Park, Texas, finished 83 points ahead of Riggs in the No. 11 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage to clinch his first title.
When he drove through the checkered flag, it was easy to hear the emotion in Honeycutt's voice as he thanked his team for a standout season. After wiping away tears, he talked about winning in a way that only a NASCAR driver can.
"This is amazing. I've worked so damn hard to be here. We just won at freaking Homestead and the damn championship," Honeycutt told Fox Sports. "The first half of the race I did not want to push it too hard. It fell in our hands. I put my nuts on the dash and wanted to win the race."
The win was the fifth of the year for Honeycutt as he also took victories at Watkins Glen, Richmond, Kansas and Phoenix. He captured the championship in just his second full-time season in the Truck Series.
Kaden Honeycutt celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Truck Series championship. Honeycutt had raced on-and-off in the Truck Series since 2022 before piecing a full-time slate together last year with three teams: Niece Motorsports, Young's Motorsports and Halmar Friesen Racing. This year, Honeycutt spent the full season with Tricon Garage and piloted the No. 11 Toyota to its second consecutive championship. Last year, Corey Heim won the Truck Series title in that machine.
It's the second championship in the Truck Series for Tricon, the Toyota-aligned team co-owned by David Gilliland and Johnny Gray. It's also the third championship for Honeycutt's crew chief, Scott Zipadelli, who becomes the first in Truck Series history to win a championship with three different drivers.
Entering the final race of the season at Homestead, Honeycutt led Riggs by 20 points in the postseason Chase. The trouble for Riggs — who started the race in fourth — came on the 17th lap when he made contact with Nick Sanchez, causing his right rear tire to go flat. Riggs was attempting to side draft with Sanchez coming off Turn 2, and Sanchez's No. 77 Chevrolet cut the tire of Riggs' No. 34 Ford.
Speed, swagger and unforgettable victories turned these drivers into NASCAR legends. See the icons who have defined generations of racing. Above, legendary NASCAR driver Richard Petty stands next to the #43 Oldsmobile he drove to victory in the Daytona 500 in 1979 in a 2008 portrait. Richard Petty, known as “The King,” is one of NASCAR’s most iconic drivers. Petty won a record-tying seven Cup Series championships and 200 races during his legendary career, including seven victories in the Daytona 500. (H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY) Dale Earnhardt in his garage area during practice for the 1999 Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt Sr., known as “The Intimidator,” was one of NASCAR’s most legendary drivers. Earnhardt won seven Cup Series championships and 76 races, including the 1998 Daytona 500, before his death in a crash on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. (Kelly Jordan, News-Journal via USA TODAY Network) Jeff Gordon poses for a portrait on the Daytona International Speedway in 2006. Jeff Gordon is one of NASCAR’s most successful drivers, winning four Cup Series championships and 93 races during his career. Known for driving the No. 24 Chevrolet, Gordon also captured three Daytona 500 victories and five Brickyard 400 wins. (Todd Plitt, USA TODAY) NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson portrait at Daytona International Speedway in 2007. Jimmie Johnson is one of NASCAR’s most accomplished drivers, winning seven Cup Series championships and 83 races. Johnson captured five consecutive titles from 2006 to 2010 and won the Daytona 500 twice during his Hall of Fame career. (Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY) David Pearson checks out his car as he prepares for the NASCAR Nashville 400 race at the Fairgrounds Speedway on July 27, 1968. Pearson went on to win the rain-shortened race before 15,221 fans. David Pearson, known as the “Silver Fox,” was one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers. He won three Cup Series championships and 105 races, second only to Richard Petty on NASCAR’s all-time wins list. (Frank Empson, The Tennessean via USA TODAY Network) Driver Darrell Waltrip gets ready for the qualifying trials for the Nashville Pepsi 420 NASCAR Grand National race at Nashville International Raceway on July 13, 1984. Darrell Waltrip is a NASCAR legend who won three Cup Series championships and 84 races during his Hall of Fame career. Known for his colorful personality, Waltrip also won the 1989 Daytona 500 and later became a longtime NASCAR television broadcaster. (Greg Lovett, The Tennessean via USA TODAY Network) NASCAR Winston Cup driver Cale Yarborough celebrates in victory lane after winning the 1984 Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway. Cale Yarborough was one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers, winning three consecutive Cup Series championships from 1976 to 1978 and 83 races during his Hall of Fame career. He also won the Daytona 500 four times. (Manny Rubio, Imagn Images) Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) is introduced before the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth on Nov. 3, 2013. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of NASCAR’s most popular drivers, winning 26 Cup Series races during his career. The son of legend Dale Earnhardt Sr., he won the Daytona 500 twice and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2021. (Jerome Miron, Imagn Images) Tony Stewart photographed at the California Motor Speedway in Fontana, Calif. on Sept. 3, 2005. Tony Stewart, nicknamed “Smoke,” is one of NASCAR’s most accomplished drivers, winning three Cup Series championships and 49 races. Known for his aggressive driving style and versatility, Stewart later became a NASCAR team owner after retiring from full-time Cup competition. (Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY) Kyle Busch greets the crowd after doing a burnout during the NASCAR Burnouts on Broadway event in downtown Nashville on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019. Kyle Busch was one of NASCAR’s most successful drivers, winning Cup Series championships in 2015 and 2019. Known as “Rowdy,” Busch has won races across all three of NASCAR’s national series and became especially dominant in the Xfinity and Truck Series. (Andrew Nelles, Tennessean.com via USA TODAY Network) NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick at Speedweek at Daytona International Speedway in 2011. Kevin Harvick was one of NASCAR’s top drivers, winning the 2014 Cup Series championship and 60 Cup races during his career. Known as “The Closer,” Harvick also won the 2007 Daytona 500 before retiring from full-time competition in 2023. (Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY) Denny Hamlin driving the #11 FedEx Express Chevrolet during qualifying for the 2007 Daytona 500. Denny Hamlin is one of NASCAR’s most successful active drivers, with 64 Cup Series victories through the 2026 season. The longtime Joe Gibbs Racing driver has won the Daytona 500 three times, in 2016, 2019 and 2020. (Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY) NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano celebrates winning the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Sunday, June 30, 2024. Joey Logano is one of NASCAR’s top drivers, winning three Cup Series championships in 2018, 2022 and 2024. The Team Penske star also won the 2015 Daytona 500 and has been a perennial contender throughout his Cup career. (Andrew Nelles, The Tennessean via USA TODAY Network) NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson celebrates after clinching the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship following the NASCAR Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Kyle Larson is one of NASCAR’s most versatile stars, winning Cup Series championships in 2021 and 2025. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has 35 Cup victories, including wins in the Coca-Cola 600, Southern 500 and Brickyard 400. (Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images) 1 / 14 What makes a NASCAR legend? These drivers defined generations of speed Speed, swagger and unforgettable victories turned these drivers into NASCAR legends. See the icons who have defined generations of racing. Above, legendary NASCAR driver Richard Petty stands next to the #43 Oldsmobile he drove to victory in the Daytona 500 in 1979 in a 2008 portrait. Richard Petty, known as “The King,” is one of NASCAR’s most iconic drivers. Petty won a record-tying seven Cup Series championships and 200 races during his legendary career, including seven victories in the Daytona 500. (H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY) 1 / 14 What makes a NASCAR legend? These drivers defined generations of speed Speed, swagger and unforgettable victories turned these drivers into NASCAR legends. See the icons who have defined generations of racing. Above, legendary NASCAR driver Richard Petty stands next to the #43 Oldsmobile he drove to victory in the Daytona 500 in 1979 in a 2008 portrait. Richard Petty, known as “The King,” is one of NASCAR’s most iconic drivers. Petty won a record-tying seven Cup Series championships and 200 races during his legendary career, including seven victories in the Daytona 500. (H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY) 2 / 14 What makes a NASCAR legend? These drivers defined generations of speed Dale Earnhardt in his garage area during practice for the 1999 Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt Sr., known as “The Intimidator,” was one of NASCAR’s most legendary drivers. Earnhardt won seven Cup Series championships and 76 races, including the 1998 Daytona 500, before his death in a crash on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. (Kelly Jordan, News-Journal via USA TODAY Network) 3 / 14 What makes a NASCAR legend? These drivers defined generations of speed Jeff Gordon poses for a portrait on the Daytona International Speedway in 2006. Jeff Gordon is one of NASCAR’s most successful drivers, winning four Cup Series championships and 93 races during his career. Known for driving the No. 24 Chevrolet, Gordon also captured three Daytona 500 victories and five Brickyard 400 wins. (Todd Plitt, USA TODAY) 4 / 14 What makes a NASCAR legend? These drivers defined generations of speed NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson portrait at Daytona International Speedway in 2007. Jimmie Johnson is one of NASCAR’s most accomplished drivers, winning seven Cup Series championships and 83 races. Johnson captured five consecutive titles from 2006 to 2010 and won the Daytona 500 twice during his Hall of Fame career. (Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY) 5 / 14 What makes a NASCAR legend? These drivers defined generations of speed David Pearson checks out his car as he prepares for the NASCAR Nashville 400 race at the Fairgrounds Speedway on July 27, 1968. Pearson went on to win the rain-shortened race before 15,221 fans. David Pearson, known as the “Silver Fox,” was one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers. He won three Cup Series championships and 105 races, second only to Richard Petty on NASCAR’s all-time wins list. (Frank Empson, The Tennessean via USA TODAY Network) 6 / 14 What makes a NASCAR legend? These drivers defined generations of speed Driver Darrell Waltrip gets ready for the qualifying trials for the Nashville Pepsi 420 NASCAR Grand National race at Nashville International Raceway on July 13, 1984. Darrell Waltrip is a NASCAR legend who won three Cup Series championships and 84 races during his Hall of Fame career. Known for his colorful personality, Waltrip also won the 1989 Daytona 500 and later became a longtime NASCAR television broadcaster. (Greg Lovett, The Tennessean via USA TODAY Network) 7 / 14 What makes a NASCAR legend? These drivers defined generations of speed NASCAR Winston Cup driver Cale Yarborough celebrates in victory lane after winning the 1984 Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway. Cale Yarborough was one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers, winning three consecutive Cup Series championships from 1976 to 1978 and 83 races during his Hall of Fame career. He also won the Daytona 500 four times. (Manny Rubio, Imagn Images) 8 / 14 What makes a NASCAR legend? These drivers defined generations of speed Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) is introduced before the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth on Nov. 3, 2013. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of NASCAR’s most popular drivers, winning 26 Cup Series races during his career. The son of legend Dale Earnhardt Sr., he won the Daytona 500 twice and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2021. (Jerome Miron, Imagn Images) 9 / 14 What makes a NASCAR legend? These drivers defined generations of speed Tony Stewart photographed at the California Motor Speedway in Fontana, Calif. on Sept. 3, 2005. Tony Stewart, nicknamed “Smoke,” is one of NASCAR’s most accomplished drivers, winning three Cup Series championships and 49 races. Known for his aggressive driving style and versatility, Stewart later became a NASCAR team owner after retiring from full-time Cup competition. (Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY) 10 / 14 What makes a NASCAR legend? These drivers defined generations of speed Kyle Busch greets the crowd after doing a burnout during the NASCAR Burnouts on Broadway event in downtown Nashville on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019. Kyle Busch was one of NASCAR’s most successful drivers, winning Cup Series championships in 2015 and 2019. Known as “Rowdy,” Busch has won races across all three of NASCAR’s national series and became especially dominant in the Xfinity and Truck Series. (Andrew Nelles, Tennessean.com via USA TODAY Network) 11 / 14 What makes a NASCAR legend? These drivers defined generations of speed NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick at Speedweek at Daytona International Speedway in 2011. Kevin Harvick was one of NASCAR’s top drivers, winning the 2014 Cup Series championship and 60 Cup races during his career. Known as “The Closer,” Harvick also won the 2007 Daytona 500 before retiring from full-time competition in 2023. (Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY) 12 / 14 What makes a NASCAR legend? These drivers defined generations of speed Denny Hamlin driving the #11 FedEx Express Chevrolet during qualifying for the 2007 Daytona 500. Denny Hamlin is one of NASCAR’s most successful active drivers, with 64 Cup Series victories through the 2026 season. The longtime Joe Gibbs Racing driver has won the Daytona 500 three times, in 2016, 2019 and 2020. (Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY) 13 / 14 What makes a NASCAR legend? These drivers defined generations of speed NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano celebrates winning the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Sunday, June 30, 2024. Joey Logano is one of NASCAR’s top drivers, winning three Cup Series championships in 2018, 2022 and 2024. The Team Penske star also won the 2015 Daytona 500 and has been a perennial contender throughout his Cup career. (Andrew Nelles, The Tennessean via USA TODAY Network) 14 / 14 What makes a NASCAR legend? These drivers defined generations of speed NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson celebrates after clinching the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship following the NASCAR Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Kyle Larson is one of NASCAR’s most versatile stars, winning Cup Series championships in 2021 and 2025. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has 35 Cup victories, including wins in the Coca-Cola 600, Southern 500 and Brickyard 400. (Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images) Riggs returned to the track two laps down shortly after pitting. But he would have to hit pit road again on the 44th lap with another right-rear tire issue after grazing the wall. Riggs returned to the track on the 49th lap, but was penalized for having too many pit crew members over the wall. He ultimately finished in 32nd.
A 24-year-old from Bahama, North Carolina, Riggs won seven races this year in his third full-time season with Front Row Motorsports. He will return to the team next year to pilot the No. 34 in the Truck Series.
Heim, making his ninth start in the Truck Series this season while running a mixed schedule, finished sixth. He swept the first two stages of the race, breaking Kyle Busch's record for stage sweeps in the Truck Series with 14. Heim, who won three Truck Series races and a pair of Cup Series races this year — the Brickyard 400 and at Naval Base Coronado — will race full-time at the Cup level in 2027 with 23XI Racing .
Honeycutt is establishing himself as one of the best young prospects in NASCAR. He climbed the ranks through late-model short track racing. Honeycutt has won 16 races in the CARS Tour, including both the Pro Late Model and Late Model Stock races at North Wilkesboro this year . He was the Pro Late Model champion of the series co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2024. Honeycutt also owns four wins in the NASCAR-owned ARCA Menards Series.
Last month, Tricon announced it had extended the contracts for Honeycutt and fellow driver Gio Ruggiero into the 2027 season . He'll be back to defend this title.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kaden Honeycutt wins NASCAR Truck Series championship at Homestead
Source: Sports
