After his devastating crash in Montreal last Saturday night, Craftsman Truck Series driver Stewart Friesen is out for the season.
Halmar Friesen Racing has announced that Kaden Honeycutt will take over the driving duties beginning August 15; Christopher Bell will drive the number 52 truck on the road course at Watkins Glen International on Friday afternoon.
Honeycutt will be driving the Young’s Motorsports number 02 truck at Watkins Glen.
Friesen released a statement saying, “while I continue to recover, it was important for us to put someone in our truck that can help us compete at the highest level. I know Kaden will deliver strong performance in our truck and allow us to continue to run for the owner’s championship.”
Honeycutt was just released from his driving duties for Niece Motorsports. Owner Al Niece said that the 22 year old Honeycutt had signed a contract with a different organization for next season as the season for the dismissal.
Honeycutt indicated that he intended to keep his eligibility for the Truck Series Playoffs intact; he currently is ranked in sixth place in the standings – 73 points above the “cut line”. He issued a statement of his own saying, “it’s an honor to be able to fill in for Stewart for the rest of the season and help give his team a chance at the owner’s championship, which they earned. I’m excited to compete in contending, race-winning equipment as I pursue a title this season. We are going to work hard to have a solid final eight races of the season and continue to deliver great results for Stewart, his family and this organization.”
Previously Kaden Honeycutt drove the number 45 Niece Motorsports truck in the Craftsman Truck Series. With the dismissal of Honeycutt from the 45 truck, Niece Motorsports has named Xfinity Series regular Connor Zilisch as the replacement for the road course race at Watkins Glen with Bayley Currey taking over the driving duties in the number 45 truck for the remainder of the season. With Zilisch taking over the 45 truck on Friday night means that the 19 year old phenom will be running in all three races this weekend.
After his dismal from Niece Motorsports, Honeycutt issued a statement saying, “I would like to thank Niece Motorsports, specifically Al Niece, Cody Efaw and Phil Gould, as well as Josh Morris with DQS and Jason Wilson with Precision Vehicle Logistics, for the opportunity to drive the No. 45 Chevrolet in 2025,” Honeycutt’s statement read. “My plan is to continue to contend for race wins and position myself to make the playoffs this season. I look forward to sharing my plans for the remainder of 2025 and beyond in the near future.”