Kaden Honeycutt is making the most of his opportunity with Halmar Friesen Racing, as he has advanced to the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series playoffs. (Photo: Josh Jones | The Podium Finish)
LOUDON, N.H. – To say it has been a tumultuous couple months for Kaden Honeycutt would be an understatement.
On Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, however, he was able to battle through adversity and advance to the penultimate round of the NASCAR Truck Series playoffs with a seventh-place finish.
“Solid day,” he said. “This is what we needed, for sure. We’ve had really fast trucks, just haven’t been able to finish. It’s a good day for us, moving on.”
Honeycutt made the move from Niece Motorsports to Halmar Friesen Racing in early August, a change that would rattle most drivers, but he did not skip a beat, earning a spot in the Truck playoffs. His abrupt release from Niece on August 4 was quickly followed by the announcement that he would take over the No. 52 in the wake of the serious injuries that Stewart Friesen sustained in a violent dirt car crash in Quebec.
Honeycutt Credits New Partners
In his first full season in the NASCAR Truck Series, Honeycutt could be forgiven if he lost his focus or stumbled. He did neither. And Friday’s seventh place finish at New Hampshire – his ninth top 10 of the season – locked him into the Round of 8 in the playoffs.
“I think these guys do an amazing job helping me stay focused on what I’m doing,” said the 22-year old from Willow Park, Texas. “Toyota does an awesome job helping me. Mentally, they help me so much being locked in on these races. I’ve really improved on myself a lot for the last month. I feel like I’ve done everything possible to stay within myself and stay calm.”
Honeycutt’s defection from Niece Motorsports and Chevrolet to the Toyota camp was the impetus for his release from Niece, but he credited his new partners at Toyota and Halmar Friesen Racing for their support in getting him to the point where he can continue racing for a championship.
Another good sign for Honeycutt is the fact that he was disappointed with the strong seventh place finish. He feels there is still room for improvement.
“I really thought I could have got to fifth there, but we were just a little off on aero balance,” he said. “I think all day we were really skatey across the racetrack. We tried to make a two (tire) call early after the first stage. We saw it work out for some people in 2017 and wondered if it would work out for us, but it didn’t.”
More Work Ahead for Honeycutt
Kaden Honeycutt emerged from the Team EJP 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with a solid result. (Photo: Daniel Rankin | The Podium Finish)
The relief and excitement that comes with making the Round of 8 also carries with it the challenge that Honeycutt will start that round in the eighth points position and face an uphill battle to get into the Championship 4.
The good news is that despite starting at the bottom of the points pylon, he is only seven points behind the fourth-place tie between Tyler Ankrum and defending champion Ty Majeski. For now, however, Honeycutt said he is happy to still be in the fight.
“It was a good day for us,” he said. “I’m glad we got a good finish, and we have to move on to the next one.”
Friesen Back at Track to Support Honeycutt, Christopher Jr.
Honeycutt’s biggest supporter on Saturday was Friesen himself, who returned to a NASCAR truck for the first time since his injuries to support Honeycutt and his teammate Michael Christopher Jr., the latter of whom was making his NASCAR debut, coming out of the modified ranks.
“It’s fun to be back,” Friesen told Flo Racing. “I’m glad to be back. We’re at a good spot with HFR, with the 52 and the 62. It’s been awesome to be able to run two trucks the last couple races. Happy to Have Michael Christopher Jr. in the 62. Kaden’s done an awesome job in the 52 for us.”
Both HFR drivers had a good day at the Magic Mile, with Honeycutt coming home seventh and Christopher capping his truck debut off with an impressive 13th place finish.
Friesen said being out of the truck and having to watch others drive it has been difficult, but that the team’s speed has softened the blow.
“That’s been a little bit tough,” he said to Flo Racing. “I’ve been more happy than upset, just to see the speed the team has had. Obviously, we were doing pretty good when I got hurt, but to see Christopher (Bell) get in the road course truck and run so well at Watkins Glen, then Kaden do so well and have the speed we’ve been trying to build for five or six years has been the part I’ve been proud about. It has taken some of the sting away from not being in the seat myself.”
Friesen said he is excited to have Honeycutt as part of the team, and he has high hopes for the remainder of the 2025 season.
“I want him to go win his way out of here,” Friesen told Flo Racing. “He’s a tremendous talent. He is way more mature than his years. He’s got a lot of car control, a lot of great feedback and he’s going to be great for TRD down the road. It’s just kind of a blessing that it worked out where I got hurt and he became available and Chris Larson said, ‘Yea, you boys go out and finish the year and race.’ Hopefully he can pull a couple checkered flags before we’re done here.”
