Kaden Honeycutt Surges to Title Win in Homestead-Miami

Kaden Honeycutt drove for a season title in Homestead on Friday.

Heading into the final race of the season, the title fight stood between Kaden Honeycutt and Layne Riggs. Honeycutt held a 20-point lead heading into the final race.

Nick Sanchez started on pole alongside Chandler Smith in second. Corey Heim followed in third, while Riggs and Honeycutt fell behind in fourth and fifth, respectively.

As it Unfolded

Corey Heim continued his dominance at Homestead-Miami Speedway, capturing Stage 1 for the fourth consecutive year at the track. Chandler Smith led the field to the green flag, but Corey Heim quickly made it three-wide for the lead in Turn 1. Smith eventually cleared for the top spot off Turn 4 before Nick Sanchez took over the lead on Lap 3.

The opening laps featured several battles at the front as Sanchez held off challenges from Smith and Heim. Heim worked his way into second on Lap 10 before Kaden Honeycutt passed Sanchez for the lead entering Turn 3 on Lap 11. However, Heim quickly joined the fight, reclaiming the top spot from Sanchez on Lap 12 after a side-by-side battle through the turns.

Honeycutt later moved past Smith for third, while Layne Riggs suffered a right-rear tire failure on Lap 15 and fell two laps down after returning to the track. Heim maintained his advantage over Sanchez through the end of the stage, taking the green-and-white checkered flag. Sanchez finished second, followed by Honeycutt, Daniel Hemric and Smith to round out the top five.

Stage One Results

1. No.1 Corey Heim

2. No. 77 Nick Sanchez

3. No. 11 Kaden Honeycutt

4. No. 19 Daniel Hemric

5. No. 38 Chandler Smith

6. No. 88 Ty Majeski

7. No. 9 Grant Enfinger

8. No. 91 Christian Eckes

9. No. 52 Steward Friesen

10. No. 98 Jake Garcia

Corey Heim continued his run at Homestead-Miami Speedway, capturing Stage 2 and extending his streak to five consecutive stage sweeps. The win marked the 14th time Heim has swept both stages in a race.

Heim led the field to the restart on Lap 38 alongside Nick Sanchez, but Kaden Honeycutt quickly made his way to the front, passing Heim in Turn 1. Daniel Hemric followed, moving into second before passing Honeycutt off Turn 4 on Lap 39 to take the lead for the first time since Watkins Glen in May. Hemric entered the race having led just five laps throughout the season.

Sanchez continued to battle near the front, challenging Hemric for the lead on Lap 43, while Heim and Ty Majeski worked their way past Honeycutt. Heim moved into second on Lap 46 before passing Hemric one lap later to reclaim the lead. Majeski briefly moved into third, but Sanchez regained the position on Lap 48.

Hemric remained within striking distance during the closing laps, using the lower lane to challenge Heim in Turn 3 on Lap 55. However, Heim held him off to secure his second stage win of the night. Hemric finished second, followed by Sanchez, Christian Eckes and Majeski to round out the top five.

Stage Two Results

1. No. 1 Corey Heim

2. No. 2 Daniel Hemric

3. No. 77 Nick Sanchez

4. No. 91 Christian Eckes

5. No. 88 Ty Majeski 

6. No. 11 Kaden Honeycutt

7. No. 38 Chandler Smith

8. No. 52 Stewart Friesen

9. No. 17 Giovanni Ruggiero

10. No. 15 Tanner Gray

The final stage saw several lead changes and a number of contenders work their way toward the front, but Kaden Honeycutt ultimately came out on top to claim the 2026 Truck Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Christian Eckes emerged as a major contender, working his way from 17th to the lead on Lap 68 after splitting Chandler Smith and Grant Enfinger in a three-wide battle. Eckes continued to lead through the middle portion of the stage, while Corey Heim and Honeycutt worked their way into contention. Honeycutt passed Enfinger for third on Lap 80 as Heim moved into second.

After a round of green-flag pit stops, Connor Mosack briefly took over the lead before Eckes cycled back to the front. The race took a major turn on Lap 105 when Nick Sanchez suffered an engine failure, with his truck catching fire on the frontstretch and bringing out a caution.

Following another round of pit stops, Eckes and Honeycutt emerged as the top contenders. A multi-truck accident on Lap 114 involving Tanner Gray, Landen Lewis, Andres Perez De Lara, Tyler Reif and Tyler Ankrum brought out another caution and set up a late-race restart. Eckes initially cleared for the lead, but Honeycutt fought his way past him to take the top spot on Lap 122.

With 12 laps remaining, Honeycutt began to build an advantage over Eckes. Despite a late challenge, Honeycutt maintained his lead through the final laps, crossing the finish line 1.038 seconds ahead of Eckes to secure the race win and clinch the 2026 Truck Series Championship.

Final Results

1. No. 1 Corey Heim

2. No. 77 Nicholas Sanchez

3. No. 11 Kaden Honeycutt

4. No. 19 Daniel Hemric

5. No. 38 Chandler Smith

6. No. 88 Ty Majeski

7. No. 9 Grant Enfinger

8. No. 91 Christian Eckes

9. No. 52 Stewart Friesen

10. No. 98 Jake Garcia

11. No. 17 Giovanni Ruggiero

12. No. 7 Connor Mosack

13. No. 25 Parker Kligerman

14. No. 18 Tyler Ankrum

15. No. 45 Landen Lewis

16. No. 10 Corey Lajoie

17. No. 16 Justin Haley

18. No. 44 Andres Perez De Lara

19. No. 12 Brenden Queen

20. No. 62 Leland Honeyman

21. No. 4 Connor Hall

22. No. 15 Tanner Gray

23. No. 66 Matt Crafton

24. No. 13 Cole Butcher

25. No. 99 Ben Rhodes

26. No. 81 Kris Wright

27. No. 42 Tyler Reif

28. No. 20 Mason Massey

29. No. 2 Timmy Hill

30. No. 14 Mini Tyrrell

31. No. 5 Spencer Davis

32. No. 33 Frankie Muniz

33. No. 76 Spencer Boyd

34. No. 34 Layne Riggs

35. No. 22 Clayton Green