Honeycutt Strengthens His Hold on the Championship
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship battle shifted Friday night at Phoenix Raceway, where Kaden Honeycutt delivered a crucial victory to strengthen his position at the top of the standings. Driving the No. 11 Toyota for TRICON Garage, Honeycutt won the Zero Carbon Bioethanol 150 and extended his advantage over Layne Riggs with just three races remaining in the 2026 season.
Honeycutt entered Phoenix looking to build on his strong postseason performance, and he delivered when it mattered most. He led a race high 53 laps, controlling the final green-flag run to secure his fourth victory of the season. Christian Eckes finished second, while Riggs came home third.
The result gives Honeycutt a 39 point lead over Riggs as the championship fight enters its final stretch.
Updated Truck Series Chase Standings
Following the Phoenix race, the top 10 drivers in the standings are:
- Kaden Honeycutt — 2,323 points
- Layne Riggs — 2,284 points (-39)
- Christian Eckes — 2,211 points (-112)
- Chandler Smith — 2,206 points (-117)
- Ty Majeski — 2,188 points (-135)
- Daniel Hemric — 2,175 points (-148)
- Gio Ruggiero — 2,172 points (-151)
- Grant Enfinger — 2,139 points (-184)
- Ben Rhodes — 2,135 points (-188)
- Tyler Ankrum — 2,122 points (-201)
Riggs Faces an Increasing Challenge
Riggs remains Honeycutt’s closest championship rival after finishing third at Phoenix. However, the 39-point deficit means the No. 34 team needs strong results over the remaining races to close the gap.
Eckes moved into third place following his runner-up finish, but he trails Honeycutt by 112 points. Chandler Smith dropped to fourth after finishing 15th at Phoenix, leaving him 117 points behind the leader.
Ty Majeski also had a strong night, winning both stages before finishing fourth.
Talladega Could Change Everything
The Truck Series now heads to Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, October 23. The superspeedway presents a different challenge, where drafting, track position and avoiding accidents can determine the outcome.
Honeycutt has established valuable breathing room, but the championship is not decided yet. With three races remaining, Riggs still has an opportunity to respond.
Honeycutt leaves Phoenix in control of the championship battle. Now, the challenge is protecting that lead as the Truck Series heads into the final three races of the season.