Making his 67th career start, Kaden Honeycutt is finally a winner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He passed Connor Zilisch in overtime, hanging on to take the checkered flag for Tricon Garage. He also swept the day, earning a victory in the ARCA Menards Series race just hours earlier.
“It’s amazing,” said an emotional Honeycutt. “Thank you Toyota, this whole No. 11 crew … everyone that believed in me to take over this truck from Corey (Heim) after last year. It’s just amazing. I can’t believe I just won on a road course. This is unbelievable.”
Kaden Honeycutt, No. 11 Tricon Garage Toyota
Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Zilisch had to settle for second after leading the most laps, while Shane van Gisbergen rallied late to finish third in just his second career Truck Series start. Daniel Hemric and Chandler Smith rounded out the top five.
A.J. Allmendinger earned Ram its best finish of the year, placing sixth and leading a triple top ten for Kaulig Racing. Brent Crews finished seventh, Mini Tyrrell eighth, Brenden Queen ninth, and Connor Mosack tenth.
Watch: Honeycutt ‘can’t believe’ first Truck win came at a road course
Stage 1
Crews led the race from pole position, and the first issue of the race was for Ben Rhodes. He went behind the wall with transmission issues.
Natalie Decker was also black-flagged in the early running for failing to meet minimum speed.
As expected, several trucks short-pitted the stage, while Hemric stayed out to take the Stage 1 win. He was followed by Ruggiero, Riggs, Allmendinger, Ankrum, Chastain, Perez, Tan. Gray, LaJoie, and Crews (first among drivers who pitted).
Stage 2
There were a handful of penalties, including an uncontrolled tire penalty for Ruggiero that sent him to the rear.
On the restart, Cole Butcher slowed with an issue and got pushed into the frontstretch wall. Zilisch made contact with Crews through the esses, taking the lead.
Chastain, who was now leading those who waited until the stage break to pit, drove up inside top five after starting 33rd.
After contact from Mini Tyrrell, Kris Wright spun off track but managed to keep rolling.
Once again, several trucks chose to short-pit the stage, but not Zilisch. He won Stage 2 over Hocevar, C. Smith, Riggs, Perez, Van Gisbergen, Enfinger, Ankrum, Ty. Reif, and Mosack.
Stage 3
Watch: Wesley Slimp catches some dirt at Watkins Glen
Under caution, Wesley Slimp went through the wet grass at the bus stop, tearing the splitter away and sent the No. 62 truck up into the air.
Chastain was now leading with Zilisch restarting back in eighth. He charged forward, and at one point, slammed doors with Crews once again as they fought over second.
Chastain managed to hold the lead as Zilisch closed, and with 15 laps to go, Enfinger stalled on track.
Riggs was the highest-running truck that pitted, back in tenth.
On the restart, Hocevar spun off the nose of Allmendinger and slammed the inside wall, causing another caution.
Chastain was leading the way with ten laps to go, but NASCAR penalized him for going before the restart zone, sending him to the rear of the field.
Watch: Chastain penalized for restart violation at The Glen
The following restart was nothing short of insane. Ruggiero leaned on Zilisch and took the lead through Turn 1. Behind them, Riggs spun and several trucks had to evade. Some hit the tire packs, sustaining damage, including Wright who slammed into two different tire packs and destroyed the front of his truck.
Zilisch was frustrated with Ruggiero and the two trucks made contact under caution.
Watch: Huge wreck winds up Watkins Glen Truck race
Ruggiero lost the lead after a tense restart, and Zilisch drove away. Back in the pack, Chastain got turned off the nose of Majeski, ending his race after leading 19 laps. Timmy Hill also sustained big damage, ending his day as well.
This pushed the race into overtime, and under yellow, NASCAR penalized Ruggiero for jumping the previous start, mirroring the Chastain situation.
On the final restart, Honeycutt muscled his way by Zilisch, and never looked back.
Watch: Zilisch on runner-up finish at The Glen: ‘How the cookie crumbles’
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