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Niece Motorsports releases Kaden Honeycutt, Connor Zilisch named replacement for Watkins Glen

JHby: Jonathan Howard08/04/25Jondean25
Kaden Honeycutt Niece Motorsports NASCAR
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

A shocking decision from Niece Motorsports ahead of this weekend’s NASCAR Truck Series race at Watkins Glen. Kaden Honeycutt has been released from his contract and will be replaced by Connor Zilisch this weekend. Bayley Currey will be the replacement for the remainder of the season.

In a surprising announcement, Kaden Honeycutt has been released from Niece Motorsports. This was a pairing that many looked favorably upon. It felt like Honeycutt might be the next Ross Chastain or Carson Hocevar for this organization.

However, Honeycutt has apparently signed a deal with another team and manufacturer for 2026. So, Niece cut him now to prepare for next season when they won’t have him.

Honeycutt is 6th in points this season and is in position to make the Truck Series Playoffs. The rest of this season, he’s likely headed to Halmar Friesen or another Toyota team, according to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. Tricon Garage could be his ultimate destination in 2026.

This is the risk that drivers take in the lower series, especially whenever they sign a new deal. Pockrass later noted that the Halmar Friesen Racing truck is open for next season. That is a Toyota team that is in need of a driver like Honeycutt to take over after Stewart Friesen sustained multiple injuries in a recent dirt race. So, it could be a likely landing spot for Honeycutt.

Connor Zilisch reacts to Niece Motorsports news

The fact that Connor Zilisch is talented enough and has the passion to do a triple duty NASCAR weekend at 19 years old is wild. Everyone knows that Kyle Busch is the only driver to ever sweep a weekend at he same track. He has done it twice, both times at Bristol.

Zilisch won the ARCA and Xfinity Series races at the track last year. Now, he returns for Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series action. He’s going to have to fight off seriously talented drivers to get the job done, too.

“Excited to get back in a truck with [Niece Motorsports] this weekend at my favorite track! Triple duty,” Zilisch posted with an emoji that indicated a bit of confusion and anxiety.

It was known that Connor Zilisch was racing Xfinity and Cup this weekend for a while. Zilisch’s limited Cup schedule was expanded to include The Glen weeks ago. Of course, he is full-time in Xfinity so he was always racing in that event.