Let the rumors rest; it’s finally official. TRICON Garage, Toyota’s flagship five-truck operation in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, is set to usher in a new era. After a sensational 2025 season, team ace Corey Heim is moving on, with speculation pointing toward a leap into the O’Reilly Auto Parts Cup Series.
The team confirmed the news with a statement tonight, bidding farewell to the reigning champion and announcing his successor behind the wheel of the No. 11 Toyota TRD Tundra.
A New Era Beckons As Kaden Honeycutt Takes the Reins From Heim at TRICON Garage in Truck Series
After an unexpected and eyebrow-raising split with Niece Motorsports (Chevrolet), rising Truck Series talent Kaden Honeycutt is officially on the move, and he won’t be sitting on the sidelines in 2026.
Fresh off a gritty third-place finish in the championship, a run made even more impressive considering he filled in for the injured Stewart Friesen in the No. 52, Honeycutt in October told FOX Sports that a full-time seat is already locked down for next season.
Honeycutt kept his cards close to the chest, declining to name the organization, but he dropped a telling hint: he’ll be sticking with the same manufacturer, a clear nod toward Toyota. The FOX booth didn’t press harder, but with a grin and a few raised eyebrows, they suggested fans won’t be left waiting long, predicting the official reveal could drop as soon as next week.
Subsequently, the official announcement was made on Friday. The 22-year-old rising star is officially set to strap into the No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro beginning in 2026, marking the next significant step in his young career.
The team confirmed the same in a social media post. As part of the deal, Honeycutt has also signed a direct contract with Toyota and will join the Toyota Driver Development (TD2) roster for the upcoming season.
“This is an exciting transition for TRICON. We’ve watched Kaden perform and overcome uncertainty, and we admire the grit it’s taken to reach this point,” said TRICON’s GM Kevin Ray (via JaySki.com). “We have no doubt he’s worthy of this opportunity and look forward to him continuing to put TRICON and our No. 11 team in a position to win races and contend for championships.”
MORE: Kaden Honeycutt Teases Major NASCAR Truck Series Move with Cryptic Hint
Honeycutt’s promotion comes on the heels of a breakout 2025 campaign that firmly established his name on the map. Despite bouncing between three different teams, he muscled his way into the Championship 4 at Phoenix, stacked up four top-fives and 14 top-tens, and kept himself in the conversation nearly every week.
A career-best runner-up finish at Martinsville served as the exclamation point to a season defined by grit, growth, and raw speed, one that ultimately carried him to a strong third-place finish in the final standings.
Now, with stability, backing from Toyota’s top team, the Texan enters 2026 not just as a driver with potential, but as one expected to win the coveted Truck trophy.