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Gio Ruggiero launches off grass, destroys Kaden Honeycutt No. 45 truck in big wreck at Texas

JHby: Jonathan Howard05/03/25Jondean25

A violent wreck involving Gio Ruggiero, Kaden Honeycutt, and others has us under caution for the Truck Series race at Texas. Ruggiero was racing hard for position when his left-side tires hit the grass and threw him up and into the pack of NASCAR trucks he was racing with.

Gio Ruggiero went from ripping his fender off in the grass to slamming into Kaden Honeycutt and the outside wall within seconds. This one happened in the blink of an eye.

As a rookie, Ruggiero has shown so much promise. However, moments like this remind us that he is still very new to this style of racing. We will see what consequences arise from this wreck.

Brandon Jones and Stewart Friesen were also involved in the wreck. Jones’ truck was destroyed. Watch the wreck below.

Just not a smart move from a driver who has a really solid track record. Ruggiero has tried to be aggressive and, at times, overly aggressive this season. That has led to mistakes like tonight and frustrations from other drivers.

Tricon Garage definitely isn’t happy. They have two fast race trucks out of this race before Stage 2.

Kaden Honeycutt calls out Gio Ruggiero after Texas wreck

Both Gio Ruggiero and Kaden Honeycutt came up through the grassroots series. Honeycutt was a CARS Tour regular for a number of years. Ruggiero raced in ASA Stars Tour and competed against racers like Bubba Pollard as he grew up.

So, Honeycutt has – or maybe had – a certain expectation level for Ruggiero. He isn’t necessarily wrong for that, either.

“I wish I’m uh – I don’t know what to say. That kid [Gio Ruggiero] did it one time in the first stage, because we were in the freaking first stage, and he clipped the grass and he learned his lesson,” Honeycutt told Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports about the wreck with Gio Ruggiero. “Like, I don’t understand what we’re doing. We’re lap 20 of a freaking stage, there’s 167 laps in this race, and we’re all struggling forhandling, every single one of us. We were all free, tight and everyone’s just being so aggressive, and there’s no reason for it.

“I don’t understand it. That kid has way more awareness than that, and I expect more. So, I’m pissed because this is my home race. Like, this is our 10th year as a company and we got wrecked out on lap freaking 30 of a kid hitting the grass in the infield and destroying a race truck. So, I’m not very happy about it, but I’ll cool off and go to Kansas. I just, I can’t believe it. I’ve never seen something like that and destroy so many trucks and a good one like ours.”

Kaden Honeycutt knows that Gio Ruggiero is a better driver than his mistake showed. That doesn’t make up for wrecked race trucks, though. Ruggiero is going to have to earn respect back from his peers the rest of this season.