Connor Zilisch will drive for the team this weekend
Update: Kaden Honeycutt fills the seat as Stewart Friesen is out due to injury
Kaden Honeycutt has driven full-time for Niece Motorsports so far in 2025. He’s collected two top-5’s and nine top-10’s along the way.
However, their deal is coming to an abrupt end.
According to the team, Honeycutt has signed a deal to race with another manufacturer in the 2026 season. Niece Motorsports has elected to release Honeycutt and start preparing for next season.
This has been Honeycutt’s first full-time season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
The 22-year-old driver from Texas, currently sits above the playoff bubble. He’s 9th in the standings, +73 to the cut line.
Starting this weekend at Watkins Glen International, Connor Zilisch will drive the No. 45 truck that is prepared by Niece.
After this weekend, Bayley Currey is expected to fill the seat. Currey has been driving the team’s No. 44 entry on a part-time basis in 2025. He’s collected one top-5 in nine starts this season.
Related: How much did Kyle Busch sell his NASCAR team for?
Niece Motorsports release
On Monday morning, the team released the following statement:
“Niece Motorsports has released Kaden Honeycutt from his driving duties for the organization, effective immediately,” they opened.
“Connor Zilisch will pilot the No. 45 DQS Solutions & Staffing Chevrolet Silverado at Watkins Glen. Bayley Currey will serve as the driver for the remainder of the season beginning at Richmond. Phil Gould will remain as the crew chief, with no other personnel changes on the team.”
“Honeycutt has signed a contract to race with a different Truck Series organization and OEM in 2026 – making this change allows our team the opportunity to begin building for next year.”
Connor Zilisch currently run full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The the 21 races so far this season, he’s collected five Xfinity wins.
Zilisch is rumored to be the replacement for Daniel Suarez in the NASCAR Cup Series for 2026.
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Kaden Honeycutt statement
Shortly after the team released a statement, Honeycutt noted the following:
“I would like to thank Nice 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 opened.
“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 the 2025 and beyond in the near future.”
Who is Kaden Honeycutt driving for in the rest of 2025?
Where is Honeycutt going for this weekend?
That remains unreleased but there are open seats. Toyota driver Stewart Friesen is currently out due to injury. Christopher Bell is filling in for him this weekend and the replacement driver after that race has not been announced.
Christopher Bell to fill in for injured NASCAR driver Stewart Friesen
View the medical updates on Stewart Friesen
Honeycutt will likely need to be in a truck for this weekend’s race at Watkins Glen if he wants to race in the 2025 playoffs. NASCAR requires playoff drivers to run every event.
Waivers can be requested but in this case but NASCAR likely wouldn’t issue a waiver for a driver that couldn’t find a ride. There was a similar situation several years ago, NASCAR did not grant a waiver.
However, Honeycutt intends to be in a truck for this weekend at Watkins Glen. That deal just hasn’t been announced.
Links
Kaden Honeycutt | Connor Zilisch | Niece Motorsports | NASCAR
