Honeycutt Named Interim Driver Of Friesen’s No. 52 Truck

Kaden Honeycutt (Nigel Kinrade/NKP photo)

STATESVILLE, N.C. – Kaden Honeycutt has been tabbed as the interim driver of Halmar Friesen Racing’s No. 52 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for the final eight races of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, starting Aug. 15 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.

Honeycutt will fill in for team co-owner and primary driver Stewart Friesen, who was injured July 28 while competing in a Super DIRTcar Series big-block modified event at Canada’s Autodrome Drummond.

Friesen suffered an open-book pelvic fracture and a broken right leg in a vicious accident at the three-eighths-mile Quebec dirt track. He was later transferred to a New York hospital, where his recovery path is ongoing after undergoing several surgeries.

“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,” said Friesen. “I know Kaden will deliver strong performances in our truck and allow us to continue to run for the owner’s championship.”

Honeycutt transitions to Halmar Friesen Racing after performing admirably in his first full-time campaign at the Truck Series level.

In 16 starts with Niece Motorsports, the 22-year-old Texas native has nine top 10s, including third-place results at both Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in May and Pennsylvania’s Pocono Raceway in June, which serve as Honeycutt’s career-best Truck Series finishes to this point.

He was released from Niece Motorsports Monday, with the organization citing Honeycutt’s signing with a different team and OEM for the 2026 Truck Series season as the reason behind the change.

Honeycutt will make a one-off return to Young’s Motorsports in that organization’s No. 02 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) Int’l this week – to maintain his playoff eligibility in the driver’s championship – prior to taking the reins for HFR. Christopher Bell will wheel the HFR No. 52 at Watkins Glen Friday.

“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,” said Honeycutt. “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.”

Broadcast coverage of Honeycutt’s debut with HFR, the eero 250 at Richmond, airs Friday night, Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, the NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.