Honeycutt Shows Speed, But Fades Late At Caraway
![Honeycutt](https://raceface.tv/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-CARS-PLM-Caraway-Kaden-Honeycutt-Pit-Action-Courtesy-Photo.jpg)
Kaden Honeycutt at Caraway Speedway. (Photo Courtesy of Kaden Honeycutt)
SOPHIA, N.C. – A promising night at Caraway Speedway Wednesday faded late into a top-10, albeit disappointing, finish for Kaden Honeycutt with the zMAX CARS Pro Late Model Tour.
Honeycutt, who qualified fifth with his No. 51 Mavrick Page Motorsports Chevrolet, methodically raced his way up to third by the midway point of the 100-lap feature at the .455-mile paved oval and appeared to be in prime position to challenge for a victory.
A caution flag one lap prior to halfway, for an incident on the frontstretch involving series debutant Amber Lynn and Dylan Garner, allowed Honeycutt to utilize the choose rule to start on the outside of the front row for a pivotal lap-50 restart.
When green-flag racing resumed, Honeycutt got enough forward drive to stay on the outside of polesitter and race-long leader Tristan McKee, leading lap 50 by a half car-length at the flagstand.
However, McKee was able to rally back on the shorter inside groove, pushing Honeycutt up the racetrack and allowing a string of cars to muscle past underneath him.
Once trapped up top, Honeycutt could do little else than wait for a spot in line, ending up back in eighth place by lap 72 and out of contention for a top finish.
A final yellow with 18 laps left gave Honeycutt one more chance to rally, but he was then forced to take rapid evasive action on the white-flag lap after Max Reaves spun ahead of him coming toward the finish.
Though Honeycutt escaped without any damage, he was forced to settle for a seventh-place result, one position behind title rival and former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Spencer Davis.
Wednesday night’s result puts Honeycutt just three points back of Davis in the race for the zMAX CARS Pro Late Model Tour championship, with seven races still remaining this year.
“We were able to salvage what we could, but it’s so difficult at Caraway to keep track position when you get stuck on the outside like we were after that restart,” said Honeycutt. “I hoped I could get clear of Tristan and get to the lead, because I felt like we had a really good race car if we could have gotten into clean air, but it just didn’t work out for us to stay in the top three.
“We’ll take this and learn from it, and we’re still in solid points position to keep chasing a championship,” he added. “Thanks to everyone at Mavrick Page Motorsports for continuing to provide us with fast cars, and we’ll look forward to taking another shot at it during throwback weekend at the end of the month.”
Honeycutt would like to thank Mavrick Page Motorsports, Page Construction of Kansas City, On Tire Tailgate System, Door Werks, and Motorsports Management International for their support of his pro late model racing endeavors.
The zMAX CARS Pro Late Model Tour returns to action Saturday, July 27 at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway as part of Throwback 276 race weekend at the venerable short track.
Coverage of the event will stream live on FloRacing for those unable to attend at the racetrack.
About Kaden Honeycutt
Kaden Honeycutt is a 20-year-old, multi-discipline racer from Willow Park, Texas, who competes part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Niece Motorsports. He also races in the zMAX CARS Tour in both the Pro Late Model and Late Model Stock Car divisions, driving for Mavrick Page Motorsports and Tom Usry Racing, respectively.
On the dirt side, Honeycutt cut his teeth in the Gulf South region of the United States, both in his home state of Texas and the surrounding areas. He first ran factory stocks and dirt modifieds before more recently branching out into dirt late model racing, attending premier events like the Wild West Shootout and select races with the World of Outlaws Case Construction Late Model Series.
Proving his extreme versatility, Honeycutt also raced at the prestigious Chili Bowl Midget Nationals powered by NOS Energy Drink in 2023, earning a B-main finish on Championship Saturday among a field of nearly 400 entries inside Tulsa, Oklahoma’s SageNet Center.
Honeycutt has been a persistent worker on his own race vehicles, routinely helping his various teams at the racetrack, as well as in the Niece Motorsports shop through the week. He continues to push up the NASCAR ladder as a prospect to eventually reach the premier NASCAR Cup Series.
Off the racetrack, Honeycutt is passionately involved with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, where he supports children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers. He runs the FOJ logo on both his car and uniform, including a tribute to his adopted child Jackson, who passed away in 2020.
For more information, visit his website at https://kadenhoneycuttracing.com/.