"I've waited my entire career": Kaden Honeycutt reaches the breakthrough that elevates his NASCAR path with TRICON

Kaden Honeycutt’s rise has taken an upward turn, as TRICON Garage confirmed that he will race full-time in the No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro in 2026. The deal places him inside Toyota’s Driver Development program and secures his first full-season ride with a top-tier Truck Series operation after a difficult year.

TRICON announced the news earlier today (December 5) as it prepares for the 2026 campaign. Honeycutt has delivered one of the season’s most improbable playoff runs, driving for three different teams. The 22-year-old scored 14 top-10s, four top-5s, and finished third in the final standings.

Toyota’s Driver Development manager, Trent Rodriguez, praised his progress, saying that Honeycutt has earned this moment by racing through uncertainty and proving he could deliver under pressure.

“Kaden showed incredible poise, overcoming many challenges throughout the 2025 season, and showcased his talent by racing his way into the Championship 4. We are confident in his abilities behind the wheel and are thrilled to give him an opportunity to compete full-time in a TRICON Tundra next season,” Rodriguez said, via Team Release.

The move now places Kaden Honeycutt under the Toyota banner and reunites him with an organization that has built its identity around developing young drivers. He echoed that tone in the team release:

“I’ve waited my entire career for an opportunity like this… I can’t thank Toyota and TRICON enough for trusting me to carry the torch for the No. 11 Safelite Tundra and continue its incredible run of success.”

TRICON Garage general manager Kevin Ray added that the team had watched Honeycutt handle difficult midseason transitions and rise through each one.

“We have no doubt he’s worthy of this opportunity and look forward to him continuing to put TRICON and our No. 11 team in a position to win races and contend for championships.”

Kaden Honeycutt's new seat comes with heavy expectations. The No. 11 truck, guided by championship-winning crew chief Scott Zipadelli, was the title-winning entry with Corey Heim in 2025. TRICON itself fielded five full-time trucks this season, rotating its fifth entry among several drivers and maintaining a deep roster built around development talent.

Honeycutt’s 2025 campaign was far less stable. He was abruptly released from the Niece Motorsports No. 45 after informing that he would move to a different manufacturer in 2026. He finally settled into the No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing truck and reached the Championship 4 before finishing third in the final race.

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Kaden Honeycutt announces new NASCAR team ahead of his Snowball Derby return as defending champ

Kaden Honeycutt after winning the 57th SnowBall Derby, 2024 at Five Flags Speedway. Source: Imagn

Kaden Honeycutt now shifts from his NASCAR announcement to one of short track racing’s crown-jewel weekends. He returns to Five Flags Speedway as the defending Snowball Derby winner, entering a 48-car field with many active NASCAR drivers.

The Derby remains the biggest pavement Super Late Model race of the year - a 300-lap test with a $50,000 payout and a grid that often features champions from multiple disciplines. This weekend marks a two-race slate.

Honeycutt is set to run the Snowflake 125 Pro Late Model event on Saturday (December 5) before climbing into his Super Late Model entry for Sunday’s main event. His past success at Pensacola, including last year’s win, places him among the favorites again. Several NASCAR drivers are also part of the entry list, including Kyle Busch, Noah Gragson, Ryan Preece, Ty Majeski, Jake Garcia, and Tristan McKee.