$70 used to be the highest price for a new game. Now, some big new games cost even more than this. So, people are fighting back by waiting to buy.
Scroll through any gaming site, and you will find the same tips again and again. Add it to your wish list. Keep an eye on the price. Get it when it is cheaper. People did not stop loving games. They just do not feel like they have to buy on the first day.
The Full-Price Habit Is Breaking
Players have not stopped spending. They have just changed the way and the time they spend on games. Now, instead of buying early because of hype, many people look at prices from many sellers. They go to a gaming platform that puts cheap PC and console keys next to free-to-play games. This shows them the real price of a game before they spend any money.
That change might seem small. But it is not. When a gamer waits three months to buy a game instead of getting it right when it comes out, they are saying what the game is worth to them.
Why Waiting Pays Off
Patience does more than just get you a lower price. People who look for great deals learned this some time ago:
• Prices drop. Big releases often get their first price cuts in just a few months, and sales in the stores drop prices even more.
• Bugs get fixed. On the first day, it is common to get new updates. If you wait, you get to play the game how the team wanted it to be.
• Bundles now come with more. Complete editions often include the expansions that you would have paid extra for before.
• Reviews become clearer. You get real player feedback, not just launch-week hype.
Put those things together, and waiting is not a cheap thing to do. It is smart.
Free-to-Play Changed What “Worth It” Means
The reason is that some things are already free. Games like War Thunder and World of Tanks do not cost anything to play at first. You can spend a lot of time on these two games. People may get hundreds of hours out of them.
But “free” is not always what you think it is. People who do research have looked at how free-to-play games are designed around ongoing player spending. You see this with things like cosmetics or battle passes. This makes many people feel more careful. If a free game keeps asking for money week after week, buying a game one time with a discount looks like a better way to go.
The Industry Isn’t Shrinking. Buyers Are Just Sharper.
This doesn’t mean gaming is in trouble. In fact, it is not.
The Entertainment Software Association’s 2026 Economic Impact Report found that the video game industry added $65.5 billion to U.S. GDP in 2025. It also helped keep 250,838 jobs in the country’s economy. That shows how big and strong this market is.
The person who buys is the one who is changing now. People today check prices as they check for flights or a new phone. They read all they can, wait for some time, and then buy when the price looks good to them.
How Smart Deal Hunters Shop
If you want to play top games but not pay full price when they come out, use their method:
Build a wishlist. Put all the games you want in one list, and wait for the deals to find you.
Compare across sellers. The same key can cost very different prices at each store.
Check the platform and region. Make sure the key will work on your store. This could be Steam, Xbox, or PlayStation. Also, check whether it works in your country.
4. Stick to trusted sellers. If you find the key at a very low price, it can cause problems later when you try to get your money back.
Wait for the first patch. If you wait, you will get something good twice.
What This Means for the Games You Play Next
Shooters, fighting games, and hack-and-slash games often have the biggest new releases and drop in price fast. If you want to get more games without spending a lot, check out the Best action games page. Here, you can see game prices, look at what’s good for you, and get your games when you feel the price is right.
FAQs
Why do gamers wait for sales rather than buy products at release?
The high prices, bugs, and discounts that often follow make it a wise decision for many people.
Are there any legal game keys out there?
There are plenty, as long as you know who to buy them from and which region they’re for.
Are there any free-to-play games out there?
Some are, but you should be ready to spend money on them.
Conclusion
Not everyone pays full price anymore. People wait instead of buying right away and check prices before they spend money. Many get newer or better games for less. The game business is still strong. But now people are making smarter choices when they buy.
Do you like to play on day one, or do you wait and save? Let us know what you think.
Halloween is approaching, and your outfit deserves as much attention as your plans. From house parties and late-night meetups to weekend outings across the USA, October offers plenty of reasons to wear something memorable. A striking graphic, a relaxed hoodie, or a distinctive pair of sneakers can bring that energy to your wardrobe without requiring a full costume. The goal is to create a look you enjoy wearing, whether you are heading out for the evening or keeping things casual with friends.
The Halloween Sale is live now at commedesgaarcons.com, giving shoppers a place to explore Comme des Garcons clothing and footwear for their seasonal outfits. If you are browsing the CDG Halloween Sale 2026, start with the piece that will make the biggest difference to your wardrobe. Perhaps it is a graphic shirt that brings personality to your usual jeans, an extra layer for cooler evenings, or sneakers that pull the whole outfit together.
Give Your Halloween Outfit Some Personality
Halloween gives you room to experiment with your everyday style. You can lean into darker colors, introduce a bold heart graphic, or build an outfit around an unexpected contrast. Comme des Garcons designs offer visual starting points for this approach, especially when you want something expressive that remains easy to wear after October. A black-and-white combination with a red accent can feel sharp, while a larger graphic gives a simple outfit an immediate focal point.
Consider your plans before choosing the final combination. A relaxed gathering might suit a hoodie and straight-leg jeans, while an evening at a busy indoor venue could call for a printed shirt beneath an open jacket. Rather than adding several statement pieces at once, choose the detail you want people to notice first. Give that item space, then use the rest of the outfit to support its colors and proportions.
Start With a CDG Hoodie You Will Keep Reaching For
A CDG Hoodie makes a useful starting point for an October wardrobe, particularly when your plans take you between indoor spaces and cooler streets. A small chest emblem offers a subtle accent, while bold lettering or an oversized heart graphic creates a more noticeable look. Think about which approach fits your personal style and the clothing you already own. The right choice should feel natural to wear, rather than like something purchased solely for one occasion.
Pair a dark hoodie with relaxed denim for an easy evening outfit, or choose grey or cream to introduce contrast against black trousers. A zip-up style lets you show the shirt underneath and adjust your layers throughout the day. Before ordering, compare the listed chest width and body length with a hoodie that already fits you well. If you want room for layering, use those measurements to judge the fit instead of relying only on the size label.
Let a Comme des Garcons Shirt Lead the Look
A Comme des Garcons Shirt can carry an outfit with very little extra styling, making it a useful option for house parties and warmer October locations. The artwork makes the difference: a small emblem keeps the look restrained, while a large heart, expressive illustration, or bold logo attracts more attention. Look carefully at the graphic placement, especially if you intend to wear an open jacket over it. You want the part that caught your attention to remain visible.
For a balanced combination, wear a detailed print with plain jeans or trousers. A simpler shirt gives you more freedom to experiment with textured denim, contrasting outerwear, or distinctive footwear. White creates a bright contrast beneath dark layers, while black offers an easy base for an evening outfit. Picture the shirt with a few pieces already in your closet before buying; that small step can help you choose something you will continue wearing regularly.
Bring a Playful Detail With comme des garçons play
The familiar heart-with-eyes motif associated with comme des garçons play brings a playful element to everyday clothing. Depending on the design, it can act as a small finishing detail or become the main feature of the garment. That variety gives you room to choose how expressive you want your Halloween outfit to be. A restrained emblem suits a quieter combination, while a larger graphic creates interest even when the remaining pieces are simple.
Try connecting one color in the graphic with another detail in your outfit. A red accent might complement a small accessory, while monochrome artwork works easily with dark denim and neutral layers. Avoid feeling that every item needs to repeat the same motif. A few carefully chosen details can create a more cohesive result, so put the complete outfit together before your event and see how the colors and shapes work as a whole.
Finish Strong With CDG Converse
CDG Converse offers another way to bring a recognizable graphic detail into your outfit. When comparing pairs, think about the trousers you usually wear and how their hems will fall around the shoes. High-top and low-top silhouettes create different proportions, so the choice is as much about your preferred styling as the footwear itself. A pair that complements several outfits will be easier to enjoy beyond Halloween weekend.
Black sneakers can anchor a darker combination, while white or cream options create contrast against black jeans. If your top already has a prominent graphic, decide whether you want your footwear to echo that feature or take a smaller role. Check the sizing information for the specific listing, and allow time to try new shoes before an evening that involves walking. Comfort becomes particularly important when your plans extend from an early gathering into a late night.
Plan for Halloween Weather Across the USA
October weather varies considerably across the USA, so build your outfit around your location rather than a general idea of fall. An outdoor evening may require a warmer layer, while a crowded indoor event could make a lighter shirt more practical. Check the forecast as your plans get closer, then decide which layers you will actually need. An outfit that suits the temperature will be more enjoyable than one that only looks right in a photograph.
A shirt-and-hoodie combination gives you flexibility without requiring a complete change of clothes. Choose pieces that work both together and separately, so removing a layer does not leave the outfit feeling unfinished. Keep your footwear suited to the amount of walking you expect, and consider whether you will be standing outside between venues. These practical decisions help your chosen pieces work throughout the occasion.
Shop the CDG Halloween Sale 2026 With Purpose
The excitement of a sale can make every item feel tempting, but a clear shopping goal helps you narrow the options. Before browsing the CDG Halloween Sale 2026, decide whether you need a layer, a statement top, or footwear. Then compare a small selection based on design, measurements, price, and how often you expect to wear each piece. That approach makes it easier to recognize the item that genuinely adds something to your wardrobe.
Think beyond the Halloween event when making the final decision. If you already own several black graphic tops, a lighter option may introduce more outfit possibilities. If your wardrobe is mostly understated, one expressive print could provide the change you want. A considered purchase can still feel exciting; it simply gives you more opportunities to enjoy the item once October has passed.
Check Delivery and Sale Details Before Checkout
If you are ordering for a particular Halloween party, delivery timing should be part of the decision from the beginning. Read the processing estimate and shipping timeframe separately, then consider whether the combined window suits your event. For a time-sensitive order, contact the seller before paying and ask about your location and required date. Treat an estimated arrival window as an estimate unless a specific delivery commitment is provided.
Check the chosen color and size, delivery charges, final total, and return conditions before completing your purchase. Sale items may have different return terms, so read the relevant information rather than assuming your usual expectations apply. Shoppers searching “Visite the Official Comme des Garcons USA Store” should also check retailer information and verify any official affiliation through the brand’s own channels. Clear details help you make an informed choice about both the product and the seller.
Find Your Halloween Look at commedesgaarcons.com
Explore Comme de Garcon to compare available hoodies, shirts, and footwear while planning your Halloween outfit. Start with the design that catches your attention, then review the measurements and listing details to see whether it suits your needs. You might build around a CDG Hoodie, choose a Comme des Garcons Shirt as the focal point, or finish an existing combination with CDG Converse. Let the outfit you want to wear guide the selection.
Halloween is a chance to bring more personality to your style, and the strongest look is one you feel comfortable making your own. Choose colors that work together, let a favorite graphic stand out, and keep the practical details in mind. Browse the Halloween sale, shortlist the pieces that fit your wardrobe, and get your outfit ready for the occasion. The right find can make an impression on the night and stay in your rotation afterward.
A trim covering can leave the press looking smooth and firmly attached, then begin to lift when the completed part experiences heat and load. The original processing result was real; it simply answered a narrower question. Selecting a heat activated adhesive for automotive interiors requires separate attention to service heat and formed-part stress, alongside the conditions that create the bond.
Foam, decorative skins and rigid carriers respond as an assembly. A film that makes good contact during pressing still needs evidence that the cooled construction can retain its shape and acceptable peel strength under the intended exposure. The useful purchasing question is therefore not just “at what temperature does it activate?” but “which part, loading and environmental conditions was this grade evaluated for?”
Activation describes how the bond is made
Teng Yang describes automotive TPU adhesive film as a layer placed between substrates, heated and pressed to make contact, then cooled to form the bond. Its automotive page explicitly separates activation temperature from service-heat resistance.
Activation is a process requirement. The adhesive needs to reach a state that allows it to contact the mating surfaces, while the covering and backing must tolerate the same manufacturing operation. A higher setting is not automatically a better result if it damages the face, collapses foam or changes the intended geometry.
Record the conditions that actually produced the accepted assembly, including the materials and tooling used. If another substrate or backing changes heat delivery to the interface, copying the displayed press temperature may not reproduce the previous process. The temperature label is useful only within an identified construction and a documented method of making it.
Service heat describes a different exposure
The supplier presents approximately 70–90°C as a directional low-temperature activation band and approximately 150–180°C as a directional high-temperature activation band. It says production-grade selection is finalised through substrate-specific sample validation. These figures are processing bands, not guaranteed service-temperature limits.
A bond exposed to a manufacturing temperature for a limited operation is not necessarily qualified to carry its service load at that temperature for extended periods. The duration, mechanical demand and condition of the surrounding layers are different questions, and the adhesive’s ability to wet a substrate does not answer them.
State the intended service heat separately in the enquiry. Identify the part location and the expected exposure basis supplied by the vehicle programme or responsible engineer. Avoid turning a general website temperature into a universal dashboard rating, particularly when the proposed skin, foam or carrier differs from the supplier’s example.
Formed-part stress can remain after the tooling opens
A cover wrapped around a return or drawn over a contour may continue to pull against the adhesive after forming. That makes a shaped assembly different from a relaxed flat coupon. The same film can be asked to maintain contact while the surrounding materials attempt to recover or change shape.
Inspect the geometry. Tight returns, transitions and stretched areas deserve attention because they can concentrate the demand on the bond, and a result obtained from an unstressed flat laminate does not show whether the same construction will retain its shape around the finished part’s corners and edges.
Teng Yang’s application examples include edge-wrap peel strength for door panels and dimensional stability for parcel shelves. Those are useful questions to raise during grade selection, but the examples do not provide a measured result for a buyer’s particular formed part.
Include representative geometry when agreeing how the candidate will be assessed. An apparently successful bond should not be asked to stand in for an untested shape.
Define aging around the condition the part must retain
Aging is useful when the team knows what it is trying to preserve. For an interior laminate, that may include edge attachment, acceptable surface appearance, stable dimensions and adequate peel strength after the relevant exposure. A broad instruction to “test durability” leaves too much room for incompatible interpretations.
Use the project requirements. Ask the responsible engineering team and laboratory to define the exposure, specimen, conditioning and acceptance criteria, then compare the candidate with a retained baseline made from the same identified materials. Report the observed changes rather than assuming a visually acceptable face proves the hidden bond remained unchanged.
Keep screening and life prediction separate. A laboratory comparison can identify a weaker candidate or a change after exposure without establishing how many years a finished vehicle component will last. Converting a short test into a service-life promise requires a justified relationship that a film name or an activation temperature cannot supply.
Choose peel strength evidence that matches the question
The automotive film page includes peel strength among the performance priorities that guide grade selection. It also links thickness to substrate texture and bonding requirements. These are related inputs, but neither a thicker film nor an isolated initial peel result is sufficient evidence of durability.
Specify what is being separated when evaluating a laminating adhesive. A test may expose an adhesive interface, tear foam or damage a face material, and those outcomes have different implications for the construction. Preserve the failure description with the measured value instead of comparing numbers that come from different material combinations or specimen preparation.
For a review of Teng Yang heat activated adhesive film for automotive interiors, ask for evidence tied to the intended substrate pair and the required condition after exposure. Initial attachment is useful information; retained performance under the agreed conditions is the question when service heat drives selection.
Solvent-free processing does not settle cabin emissions
A solid hot melt adhesive film offers a different application route from a solvent-borne adhesive. That process distinction should not be expanded into a claim of zero emissions, no odour or freedom from fogging in the finished interior. Those claims require their own evidence and a defined scope.
Teng Yang describes its film as solvent-free and separately offers emissions and fogging testing support for automotive programmes. Keeping those statements separate is appropriate: the absence of an application solvent is a material-processing description, while a cabin-related result concerns the tested grade or construction under specified conditions.
Ask which report applies to the supplied sample and which requirements remain for the assembled part. Other layers can contribute to the result, so an adhesive report does not automatically represent foam, decorative skin and backing combined. Avoid a general “clean material” claim when the relevant measurement has not been supplied.
Flammability qualification is separate from heat aging
FMVSS 302 is the US standard addressing burn resistance of specified interior materials. It treats materials adhering at every point of contact as a composite for testing with the adjoining materials, while materials without that continuous adherence are assessed separately.
Its prescribed conditioning includes 24 hours at 21°C and 50 percent relative humidity before testing. These controlled conditions show why a casual observation that a sample “resists heat” is not equivalent to a flammability result under the standard.
Use qualified laboratory evaluation and the responsible programme’s requirements. Heat aging asks whether the assembly retains its required properties after exposure; flammability testing addresses a different behaviour. Neither result can be inferred from the other, and supplier testing support is not evidence that an unidentified finished component has already passed.
Write acceptance around the part’s exposure
Define the candidate construction before approving the adhesive: face, foam or backing, carrier, film grade, thickness and the shape produced by the process. Record the service-heat requirement separately from activation conditions and identify which retained properties determine acceptance after exposure.
Make changes visible. A new foam, skin finish or forming geometry may alter the question even when the adhesive roll is unchanged, so the responsible team should review the affected evidence rather than allowing an old flat-sample result to follow every later version of the part without examination.
A heat activated adhesive is suitable when it can be processed without unacceptable damage and the resulting construction meets its separate service requirements. That conclusion comes from evidence about the part. Activation temperature helps make the bond; it cannot, on its own, predict how that bond will behave throughout the component’s working life.
Sammy Smith made his incoming presence as a full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor for next season known to the competition by navigating his way to his first series victory in the Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, October 23.
The two-time ARCA Menards Series East champion from Johnston, Iowa, led six times for a race-high 21 of 86 laps in an event where he qualified on the front row, led six laps throughout the first stage period and rallied from being shoved out of the draft to settle in ninth place at the first stage’s conclusion.
After getting shoved out of the draft and settling in 18th place at the second stage’s conclusion, Smith returned atop the leaderboard with 13 laps remaining. Leading three times for 13 laps in the final laps, Smith, who restarted with the lead for a two-lap shootout, dueled for nearly the entirety of the shootout with pole-sitter Ty Majeski before the latter and Kaden Honeycutt appeared to have the edge by motoring ahead of Smith within the draft with two turns remaining. With both Honeycutt and Majeski attempting to slingshot one another, Smith executed a race-winning move on Majeski through the tri-oval to achieve his first checkered flag in the Truck division and his second NASCAR national touring series victory at Talladega.
With on-track qualifying determining the starting lineup on Friday, Ty Majeski secured his third Truck pole of the 2026 season with a pole-winning lap of 177.389 mph in 53.983 seconds. Sammy Smith qualified in second place and started alongside Majeski on the front row with a lap of 177.173 mph in 54.049 seconds.
Prior to the event, Thomas Annunziata dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments to his No. 5 TRICON Garage Toyota entry.
When the green flag waved and the event commenced, pole-sitter Ty Majeski was pushed by Kaden Honeycutt ahead of the field from the inside lane through the first two turns. Through the backstretch, Sammy Smith gained a run with drafting help from Giovanni Ruggiero and drew alongside Majeski before he quickly transitioned to the inside lane in front of Majeski. As the field scrambled and began to fan out while navigating back to the tri-oval, Ruggiero managed to motor ahead of Smith and lead the first lap from the outside lane.
As the field fanned out to three-wide formation for the second lap, Smith regained the advantage and led the latter lap from the inside lane while Ruggiero fought back to Smith’s right side. Amid the three-wide action, Justin Haley tried to form a third drafted lane towards the outside lane before he had teammate Corey LaJoie move in front of him from the draft. By the fourth lap, Ben Rhodes jumped in front of the Kaulig Racing RAM entries as he tried to motor his way to the front, but the drafted lane towards the outside wall could not motor to the front as a majority of the field opted to remain behind Smith and Ruggiero through the two-stacked lane. At the front, Smith and Ruggiero continued to duel for the top spot for the following lap.
Through the Lap 10 mark, newcomer Austin Green motored his way into the lead for the first time as he had Layne Riggs, Ruggiero, Ben Rhodes, Smith and Haley, the latter of whom led the previous lap, following in single-file formation and ahead of the stacked field. Smith would then get pinned in the middle lane and lose a bevy of spots through the tri-oval prior to the Lap 12 mark. Shortly after, Haley dropped off the pace due to a flat tire on his entry. After nearly getting sideways through Turns 3 and 4 while the field scrambled, bumped and jostled to avoid Haley’s entry, Haley managed to enter pit road and the event proceeded without drawing a caution. With Christian Eckes limping his entry below the apron with right-side damage and a flat right-front tire, after hitting the tri-oval’s outside wall, Green retained the lead by the Lap 15 mark.
Then on Lap 16, the event’s first caution flew when a multi-truck erupted through the first two turns. The carnage started when Stewart Friesen, who was racing in the middle lane towards the top-10 mark and was beginning to fall off the pace due to a flat tire, got sideways off the front nose of Andres Perez De Lara. This caused Friesen to get sideways, barely clip Kris Wright, with Wright shooting up the track and colliding into Corey LaJoie against the outside wall, before Friesen shot back up the track and into the path of Tony Stewart. Among other competitors involved were Cole Butcher, Daniel Hemric, Perez De Lara, Thomas Annunziata, and Cleetus McFarland, the latter of whom had eased off the throttle when the carnage occurred in front of him, but only to get bumped and turned as McFarland spun and hit the backstretch’s inside wall head-on. The wreck was enough for the event to be placed in a red flag period for 10 minutes and three seconds to have the carnage cleared.
The multi-truck wreck was also enough for the first sage period to conclude under caution as Ruggiero, who had assumed the lead prior to the carnage, was awarded his first Truck stage victory of the 2026 season. Teammate Honeycutt settled in second ahead of Green, Corey Heim and Riggs while Rhodes, Tanner Gray, Majeski, Sammy Smith and Mini Tyrrell were scored in the top 10, respectively. With Chase contenders Ruggiero, Honeycutt, Riggs, Rhodes and Majeski notching the event’s first round of stage points by being scored in the top-10 mark, the remaining Chasers that include Tyler Ankrum, Chandler Smith, Enfinger, Hemric and Eckes were mired in 14th, 17th, 18th, 34th and 36th, respectively.
Under the event’s first stage break period, the lead lap field led by Ruggiero pitted for service. Following the pit stops and with mixed pit strategies ensuing, Green, who only opted for fuel to his entry, exited pit road first ahead of teammate Smith while Majeski, Heim (the first with two fresh tires), Riggs, Tanner Gray, Brenden Queen, Landen Lewis, Grant Enfinger and Mini Tyrrell followed suit, respectively. During the pit stops, Riggs nearly ran over his front-tire changer while Ruggiero was mired with being stuck in reverse on exit while trying to navigate past Tyrrell as he tried to exit his pit stall. Ruggiero’s issues kept him mired in his pit stall, which dropped him out of the lead lap category, as Honeycutt pitted to have his front splitter assessed.
The second stage period started on Lap 22 as Green and Majeski occupied the front row. At the front, Majeski was pushed ahead of Green by Heim through the first two turns as Ruggiero’s entry was pushed behind the wall to have a new transmission installed. As the field navigated through the backstretch, Green fought back and muscled ahead from the outside lane through Turns 3 and 4. With teammate Smith pushing from behind, Green led the next lap before Majeski motored back ahead from the inside lane.
By lap 25, Majeski led the next lap while Heim, who was pushing Majeski, was pinned in the middle lane as he also dropped off the pace when he reported a tire issue to his entry. Amid Heim’s issues as the latter pitted under green, teammates Green and Smith dueled for the lead in front of two stacked lanes while Majeski and Riggs pushed from behind. Green and Smith continued to duel for the lead amid the draft over the next four laps before Riggs seized a run through Turns 3 and 4 while trying to duel Smith for the lead from the inside lane.
Prior to the Lap 31 mark, Smith was shoved out of the draft. This allowed Grant Enfinger to carve his way to the front and battle Riggs for the lead while Chandler Smith, who fell off the pace after losing a right-rear tire, pitted under green for repairs. Riggs would then motor ahead with a slight advantage and from a push by Green while Enfinger tried to reel in from the outside lane while being pushed by Rhodes. Enfinger proceeded to use a strong run through the first two turns to move in front of Riggs for the lead by Lap 33 as both Riggs and Rhodes fought back from the outside lane. Amid the latter two’s charges, Enfinger led the Lap 35 mark.
Then on Lap 37, the leader Enfinger dropped off the pace when he lost a right-rear tire and had the tire carcass slip out from his entry through Turns 3 and 4 as the field was about to enter the tri-oval. With Green pushing Enfinger at the time of Enfinger’s issues, he and the rest of the field, including Sutton as Sutton hit the tire carcass, scattered and barely avoided Enfinger as the latter limped around the track and was losing pace of the field. By then, Jake Garcia was also off the pace as the caution flew due to the debris from Enfinger’s tire carcass.
At the time of caution, which concluded the second stage period, Tanner Gray had cycled to the lead and was awarded his first Truck stage victory of the 2026 season. Riggs, Rhodes, Honeycutt, Majeski, Landen Lewis, Dawson Sutton, Green, Haley and Queen were scored in the top 10, respectively. With Chasers Riggs, Rhodes, Honeycutt and Majeski notching the event’s second round of stage points, the remaining Chasers that include Ankrum, Enfinger, Smith and Eckes were mired in 13th, 23rd, 25th and 27th, respectively, while Ruggiero and Hemric were behind the wall.
During the event’s second stage break period, the field led by Gray returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Dawson Sutton, who opted for only fuel to his entry, exited pit road first while Majeski, the first who pitted for four fresh tires, followed suit along with Riggs, Lewis, Green, Gray, Haley, Ankrum, Queen and Tyrrell, respectively.
With 40 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Sutton and Majeski occupied the front row. At the front, the latter two dueled for nearly a full circuit before Majeski motored ahead from the inside lane and led the next lap. Another two laps later, trouble struck for Sutton as he pitted under green with a flat tire spotted on his entry. Majeski retained the lead over Riggs and the field before the caution returned with 37 laps remaining due to debris on the backstretch. During the latest caution, the field pitted primarily for fuel and Riggs managed to cycle to the lead by exiting pit road first.
The event’s next restart with 32 laps remaining featured Riggs and Tanner Gray dueling for the lead through the first two turns before the latter used a push from Brenden Queen to gain the upper advantage through the backstretch. Queen then darted to the left to make a move on Gray, but the latter also darted left and nearly forced Queen off the track, though Gray was able to prevail out in front. Gray led the next two laps before he was shuffled back within the top-five mark. At the front, Honeycutt was pushed over Landen Lewis by Rhodes into the lead. Honeycutt maintained the lead just before the caution flew with 32 laps remaining. The latest caution occurrence was for Jake Garcia getting bumped in the rear by Conner Jones and going head-on into the backstretch’s outside wall. With Jones also losing control and spinning his Niece Motorsporst entry, Garcia darted back across the track to the left and ran into the side of Chandler Smith, which got Smith sideways and he was hit again by Jones.
Down to the final 22 laps, the event restarted as Honeycutt dueled with Rhodes in front of two-stacked lanes through the first two turns. Rhodes would then dart to the left and move in front of Honeycutt after he received a strong push by Tanner Gray through the first two turns on the outside lane. Gray would lead the next two laps before Rhodes led the following three from the inside lane. Gray then reassumed the top spot for the following lap before Riggs was push to the lead by Majeski with 15 laps remaining.
As the event reached its final 10-lap mark, Smith was leading over Chasers Riggs, Majeski, Rhodes, Honeycutt and Ankrum while Tanner Gray, Thomas Annunziata, Green and Lewis occupied the top-10 spots in front of Queen, Frankie Muniz, Cory Roper, Sutton and Enfinger, respectively. By then, the top-19 competitors were separated by one-and-a-half seconds of one another while Chandler Smith was mired 11 seconds behind in 20th place.
Three laps later, the caution flew when Annunziata, who was drafted into the lead seconds earlier through the tri-oval, got turned off the front nose of teammate Honeycutt entering the first turn. The contact caused Annunziata to hit the outside wall head-on before his wrecked entry was hit by Enfinger.
With the event restarting with two laps remaining, Sammy Smith and Riggs occupied the front row in front of Majeski, Honeycutt, Green, Ankrum and the rest of the field. Through the first two turns, the inside lane led by Smith gained the advantage as the latter was pushed by Majeski and Green entering the backstretch. Exiting the backstretch, Majeski made a move to Smith’s right and he was picked up by Riggs as he challenged Smith, who was being pushed by teammate Green, in a side-by-side duel through Turns 3 and 4 along with the tri-oval.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Majeski was ahead of Smith by a nose. As the field stacked up entering the first two turns, a wreck ensued that involved Sutton, Timmy Hill, Rhodes, Cory Roper, Jason White and Clay Greenfield. This incident did not generate a caution as Riggs got shuffled out of the draft amid his late drafting work with Majeski.
Riggs being shuffled out allowed Honeycutt and four competitors within a small lead pack to overtake Riggs as Majeski and Smith continued to duel for the lead through the first two turns and the backstretch. Majeski was then pushed by Honeycutt ahead of Smith exiting the backstretch before Honeycutt darted beneath Majeski’s left side and tried to motor ahead through Turns 3 and 4. Entering the tri-oval, Majeski received a strong push from Smith to overtake Honeycutt, but he darted to the left. This allowed Smith to overtake Majeski from the outside lane as the lead pack fanned out. With the checkered flag waving, Smith emerged victorious by 0.091 seconds.
Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.
With the victory, Smith, who will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet entry next weekend at Martinsville Speedway, became the 130th competitor overall to achieve a Truck Series win, the third first-time winner of the 2026 season and the eighth to achieve a first career Truck victory at Talladega. He also achieved his second NASCAR national touring series victory at Talladega after he won the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ fall event at ‘Dega in October 2024 with his current O’Reilly team, JR Motorsports.
Smith’s Talladega victory was the fifth of the 2026 Truck season for Chevrolet, and the manufacturer’s eighth series win at Talladega. He also achieved the fourth Truck victory of this season and the 13th overall for Spire Motorsports. Smith’s Talladega victory capped off an eventful day for the Iowa native, where he was announced to be joining TRICON Garage for a full-time Truck Series campaign in 2027.
*This season marks the 10th time in 11 consecutive seasons where the Truck Series’ Chase event at Talladega was won by a non-Chase contender.
Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“Yeah, just a great team, honestly, [crew chief] Brian Pattie and the whole No. 7 Spire crew,” Smith said on the frontstretch on FS1. “Michael Fisher did a great job up on the spotter stand. The truck was fast. I felt like we did a good job putting ourself there in a good spot. Obviously, we lost track position, but man, thanks to Spectrum, everyone for coming on board. Spire for giving me this opportunity. I’m looking forward to racing trucks next year. I just want to win races, and that’s what I want to do. I am a winner, and I know I can win. I got another shot tomorrow with my No. 8 boys [in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series].”
Tyler Ankrum navigated his way to a runner-up result over newcomer Austin Green while Ty Majeski and Kaden Honeycutt finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Landen Lewis, Brenden Queen, Layne Riggs, Spencer Boyd and Corey Heim completed the top 10 in the final running order.
The fifth Craftsman Truck Series Chase event of the 2026 season at Talladega saw 32 lead changes among 15 leaders, and five cautions over 26 laps. In addition, 17 of 36 starters finished on the lead lap.
Results:
Sammy Smith, 21 laps led
Tyler Ankrum
Austin Green, 14 laps led
Ty Majeski, seven laps led
Kaden Honeycutt, eight laps led
Landen Lewis
Brenden Queen
Layne Riggs, six laps led
Spencer Boyd
Corey Heim
Tanner Gray, nine laps led
Frankie Muniz
Jason White
Chandler Smith
Clay Greenfield
Timmy Hill, one lap led
Ben Rhodes, three laps led
Cory Roper – OUT, Accident
Dawson Sutton, one lap down, one lap led
Justin Haley, two laps down, two laps led
Christian Eckes, three laps down
Josh Reaume, four laps down, one lap led
Thomas Annunziata – OUT, Accident, one lap led
Grant Enfinger – OUT, Accident, four laps led
Giovanni Ruggiero, 29 laps down, five laps led
Jake Garcia – OUT, Accident, three laps led
Conner Jones – OUT, Accident
Mini Tyrrell – OUT, Radiator
Cole Butcher – OUT, Accident
Stewart Friesen – OUT, Accident
Andres Perez De Lara – OUT, Accident
Kris Wright – OUT, Accident
Corey LaJoie – OUT, Accident
Tony Stewart – OUT, Accident
Daniel Hemric – OUT, Accident
Cleetus McFarland – OUT, Accident
*Bold indicates Chase Drivers
After the fifth Chase event of the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, Kaden Honeycutt continues to lead the standings by 43 points over Layne Riggs. The rest of the 10-Truck Chase field is displayed below.
Kaden Honeycutt
Layne Riggs -43
Ty Majeski -141
Chandler Smith -142
Christian Eckes -144
Giovanni Ruggiero -177
Daniel Hemric -194
Ben Rhodes -203
Tyler Ankrum -214
Grant Enfinger -219
Next on the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Chase schedule is Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia, for the Black’s Tire 200. The event is scheduled for next Friday, October 30, and will air at 6 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM.
HONEYCUTT DELIVERS TOP-FIVE AT TALLADEGA, EXPANDS POINTS LEAD Toyota Development Driver continues top-10 streak, increases lead to 43 with two races to go
TALLADEGA, Ala. (October 23, 2026) – Kaden Honeycutt (fifth) earned the most stage points and delivered another top-five finish in the Chase to lead Toyota in Friday night’s NASCAR Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. The Toyota Development Driver leads Layne Riggs by 43 points with two races remaining. No other driver is within 100 points of the front duo heading to Talladega.
In the last 10 races, Honeycutt has seven top-five finishes – and no finish worse than 11th. He has finished every Chase race in the top-eight. Toyota drivers Gio Ruggiero and Tanner Gray also swept the stages – both earning their first stage wins of the season.
TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) Talladega Superspeedway Race 23 of 25 – 226.1 Miles, 85 Laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Sammy Smith* 2nd, Tyler Ankrum* 3rd, Austin Green* 4th, Ty Majeski* 5th, KADEN HONEYCUTT 10th, COREY HEIM 11th, TANNER GRAY 16th, TIMMY HILL 18th, CORY ROPER 23rd, THOMAS ANNUNZIATA 25th, GIO RUGGIERO 30th, STEWART FRIESEN *non-Toyota driver
“It is good. I’m just so disappointed in myself to not make the right moves at the end of the race to get the win. I should have locked on to Ty (Majeski) longer than trying to make the move too quick. I did the same thing at Daytona, and just didn’t execute where I needed to, to finish the race off. Just thank you to Safelite, TOYOTA RACING, TRICON Garage, Mobil 1 – everyone on this race team, Scott Zipadelli (crew chief), and this entire crew that does a great job. Looking forward to Martinsville, and got a good cushion, but you never say it is over till it is over. I’m sure we will be racing hard for the win next week, and we will move on to Martinsville. I also want to apologize to my teammate, Thomas (Annunziata). Definitely got plummeted by the 77 (Austin Green) from behind and got him in the left and spun him out, so very sorry to him and his team. I hated to see that happen. P5. We will take it and move on to Martinsville.”
STEWART FRIESEN, No. 52 Halmar International Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Halmar-Friesen Racing
Finishing Position: 30th
What happened from your point of view?
“Must have hit something going into (turn) one and cut down a tire, and tried to get out of it, and there was nowhere to go. Couldn’t hang on to it and collected a bunch of trucks. Bummed. I felt like our Halmar Tundra was pretty good and really upset that we had an issue and tore up a bunch of stuff.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of over 50 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
Ford Racing Notes and Quotes NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Love’s RV Stop 225 — Talladega Superspeedway Friday, October 23, 2026
Ford Finishing Results
4th – Ty Majeski 8th – Layne Riggs 12th – Frankie Muniz 13th – Jason White 14th – Chandler Smith 17th – Ben Rhodes 22nd – Josh Reaume 26th – Jake Garcia 29th – Cole Butcher
LAYNE RIGGS, No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops/Peak Ford F-150 – “I still have to decipher exactly what happened and what we could have done better there. I’m just kind of disappointed about how it finished there. I felt like me and the 88 were gonna get side-by-side for the win. We worked well together all day and it looked like he pushed me out and shoved me to the third lane, so I’m not exactly sure if that’s what happened. It seems like he’s not really sure, either. He was just running his race.” HOW DO YOU PROCESS BEING 43 POINTS BEHIND NOW? “We set as a goal that if I was 45 or worse back, we’re not gonna have a shot. Obviously, I think the 11 can’t be as good as us. We’re gonna have to go dominate the next two races. I know this team can do it. We’ve done it all year long. I’m excited. This is gonna be fun.”
TY MAJESKI, No. 88 Ideal Door/Menards Ford F-150 – “We knew the points situation. We knew the guys that were around us had bad days. We really wanted to finish today to take advantage of it. I could have been a little bit more aggressive on my blocks with the 7 coming to the line, but I thought I executed everything pretty well up until that point. He gave me a pretty good hit in the tri-oval and I was knocked free. I was trying to save it and block him at the same time and I realized that I probably wasn’t gonna be able to save it and block him, so I decided to take the finish. I don’t know that I would have been able to execute that block with how out of shape I was, but, all in all, it was a good day for our Menards Ford F-150.” YOU WERE ABLE TO CAPITALIZE AND MOVE TO THIRD IN THE STANDINGS. “That’s two weeks in a row. We could have easily won Phoenix. We had the best truck for over half the race and here we were leading at the white flag. If we win these two races, we’re way in it. Unfortunately, it didn’t go that way, so we just have to keep executing and do the best of our ability these next two races and try and get the best points finish we can.”
JAKE GARCIA, No. 98 Quanta Services/Curb Records Ford F-150 – “I just got hit in the right-rear area. I haven’t seen a replay, but the 33 and the 95 ahead of me were getting really antsy and couldn’t stay straight. I think that kind of messed up the whole lane and I was trying to follow them to hit them square if I had to and whoever was behind me just completely ran through me and right hooked me into the wall. It’s unfortunate. It was a pretty hard hit, but I’m alright. That’s kind of the expectation when we come to these races, so I can’t say I’m disappointed, but obviously we could have had a much better result than that today.” THE SECOND HIT SEEMED TO BE PRETTY HARD. “Yeah. I lost brakes and then I tried to turn the wheel and I couldn’t turn the steering wheel either. The damage was so severe from the first hit that I was just along for the ride for the rest of it. It is what it is.”
Ty Majeski stormed to the pole position for the Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, October 23.
The event’s starting lineup was determined through a two-round qualifying session. The first session featured 38 competitors battling for 36 starting spots, all of whom cycled once around Talladega to post the fastest lap. At the end of the first session, the top-10 fastest qualifiers advanced to the second and final round, where they contested for the pole position.
Majeski posted the fastest lap during the first qualifying round at 177.287 mph in 54.014 seconds. After being one of 10 competitors to transfer to the second round, the Seymour, Wisconsin, native posted the fastest lap at 177.389 mph in 53.983 seconds. Majeski’s single lap run in the final session was enough for him and his No. 88 Menards/ThorSport Racing Ford F-150 team to snag the top-starting spot at the 2.660-mile tri-oval superspeedway venue in Lincoln, Alabama.
With the pole, Majeski achieved his third NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole position of the 2026, his first since Michigan International Speedway in June and the 14th of his career, which ties him with Corey Heim for the eighth-most poles in the Truck division. Majeski also achieved his fourth on a superspeedway venue and his first at Talladega. Majeski, who is currently ranked in fifth place in the 2026 Chase standings, trails the points lead by 135 points as he strives to both achieve his first victory of this season and remain strking distance of contending for his second championship with three-scheduled events remaining.
Majeski will share the front row with Sammy Smith, the latter of whom is making his penultimate Truck Series start of the 2026 season and was announced to drive for TRICON Garage for the 2027 Truck season. Smith, who was the fifth-fastet during the first round, posted the second-fastest lap in the latest round at 177.173 mph in 54.049 seconds.
Points leader Kaden Honeycutt, teammate Giovanni Ruggiero and rookie Cole Butcher will start in the top five, respectively. Newcomer Austin Green, Tyler Ankrum, Corey Heim, Layne Riggs and Ben Rhodes, all of whom transferred to the second and final qualifying round along with Majeski, Smith, Honeycutt, Ruggiero and Butcher, completed the top-10 starting grid, respectively.
With six Chase contenders (Majeski, Honeycutt, Ruggiero, Ankrum, Riggs and Rhodes) set to start in the top-10 mark for Friday afternoon’s main event at Talladega, the remaining Chasers that include Chandler Smith, Grant Enfinger, Christian Eckes and Daniel Hemric will start 14th, 18th, 20th and 27th, respectively.
Notably, Cleetus McFarland, who is making his third Truck career start with Niece Motorsports, will start in 24th place while Tony Stewart, who is making his second Truck start of the 2026 season with Kaulig Racing, will start in 29th place. In addition, Brenden Queen, Stewart’s teammate, was the lone competitor who did not post a qualifying lap. With his No. 12 Kaulig Racing RAM entry ranked in 21st place in the owner’s standings, he obtained the final-starting spot for Friday’s main event.
With 38 competitors vying for 36 starting spots, Norm Benning and Bryan Dauzat were the two who failed to qualify for the main event.
Talladega – Starting Lineup:
Ty Majeski, 177.389 mph, 53.983 seconds
Sammy Smith, 177.173 mph, 54.049 seconds
Kaden Honeycutt, 176.676 mph, 54.201 seconds
Giovanni Ruggiero, 176.666 mph, 54.204 seconds
Cole Butcher, 176.565 mph, 54.235 seconds
Austin Green, 176.324 mph, 54.309 seconds
Tyler Ankrum, 176.120 mph, 54.372 seconds
Corey Heim, 175.848 mph, 54.456 seconds
Layne Riggs, 175.410 mph, 54.592 seconds
Ben Rhodes, 174.971 mph, 54.729 seconds
Jake Garcia, 175.552 mph, 54.548 seconds
Kris Wright, 175.526 mph, 54.556 seconds
Tanner Gray, 175.375 mph, 54.603 seconds
Chandler Smith, 175.218 mph, 54.652 seconds
Stewart Friesen, 175.211 mph, 54.654 seconds
Cory Roper, 175.096 mph, 54.960 seconds
Justin Haley, 175.048 mph, 54.705 seconds
Grant Enfinger, 174.939 mph, 54.739 seconds
Thomas Annunziata, 174.863 mph, 54.763 seconds
Christian Eckes, 174.824 mph, 54.775 seconds
Clay Greenfield, 174.776 mph, 54.790 seconds
Corey LaJoie, 174.639 mph, 54.833 seconds
Mini Tyrrell, 174.623 mph, 54.838 seconds
Cleetus McFarland, 174.461 mph, 54.889 seconds
Andres Perez De Lara, 174.433 mph, 54.898 seconds
Dawson Sutton, 174.423 mph, 54.901 seconds
Daniel Hemric, 174.369 mph, 54.918 seconds
Conner Jones, 174.296 mph, 54.941 seconds
Tony Stewart, 174.036 mph, 55.023 seconds
Landen Lewis, 173.976 mph, 55.042 seconds
Frankie Muniz, 173.790 mph, 55.101 seconds
Spencer Boyd, 173.629 mph, 55.152 seconds
Josh Reaume, 173.620 mph, 55.155 seconds
Jason White, 173.538 mph, 55.181 seconds
Timmy Hill, 173.312 mph, 55.253 seconds
Brenden Queen, 0.000 mph, 0.000 seconds
*Bold indicates Chase Drivers
The 2026 Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway is scheduled to occur on Friday, October 23, at 4 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.
Rackley W.A.R. will end its NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program at the conclusion of this weekend’s event at Talladega Superspeedway.
The announcement was made in a joint statement from co-owners Willie Allen and Curtis Sutton on Friday, October 23, ahead of this afternoon’s event at Talladega. In the statement, the co-owners released the following:
“After six seasons of competing full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, we have made the difficult decision that tonight’s race at Talladega Superspeedway will mark the end of Rackley WAR’s NASCAR Truck Series program.”
“We are incredibly grateful for our determined and hardworking drivers, employees, and partners who have made this team their home. We have had so many great memories on and off the racetrack, with the 2022 Talladega Victory standing as one of our proudest accomplishments.”
“While this chapter of Rackley WAR in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is coming to a close, our commitment to the sport remains as strong as ever. We all remain hungry for wins in our national late model driver development team.”
“Since bringing W.A.R. (Willie Allen Racing) and Rackley Roofing together at the beginning of 2021, we have earned nearly 50 late model wins across the country, and we have no plans to slow down racing anytime soon.”
Rackley W.A.R. debuted in the Truck Series division at Daytona International Speedway in 2021. Since then, the organization has made a combined 146 starts contributed by 14 competitors over a six-year span (2021-26). Within the starts, the organization notched 27 top-10 results, six top-five results, 37 laps led and a single Playoff appearance, which occurred in 2023 with Matt DiBenedetto. DiBenedetto also recorded Rackley W.A.R.’s first Truck victory at Talladega in October 2022.
Rackley W.A.R., which first fielded the No. 25 Chevrolet entry on a full-time basis from 2021 to 2024, would evolve by fielding the No. 26 entry as a part-time entry from 2022 to 2024 before the latter entry became a full-time entry. Rackley also fielded the No. 27 entry for a single event with William Byron at Nashville Superspeedway in June 2021 before it became a part-time entry this season, with Toni Breidinger and Kasey Kleyn making select starts.
Dawson Sutton, who made his first two Truck career starts with Rackley in 2024, serves as the team’s primary competitor since 2025. He campaigned the entire 2025 Truck season with Rackley, where he notched a career-best fourth-place result at Talladega in October, two top-10 results and an avereage-finishing result of 19.4 before he settled in 18th place in the standings. This season, Sutton, who is set to join TRICON Garage in 2027, recorded a single top-10 result, which was a seventh-place run at Bristol Motor Speedway in April, five laps led and an average-finishing result of 21.0. He will pilot Rackley’s No. 26 Chevrolet entry for the organization’s final event at Talladega.
Rackley W.A.R.’s final NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start is scheduled to occur on Friday, October 23, at Talladega for the Love’s RV Stop 225. The event’s broadcast time is scheduled to commence at 4 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.
TALLADEGA, Ala. (October 23, 2026) – TRICON Garage partner and general manager Kevin Ray, along with 2027 drivers Sammy Smith and Dawson Sutton, were made available to the media on Friday prior to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race from Talladega Superspeedway.
KEVIN RAY, partner and general manager, TRICON GARAGE
SAMMY SMITH, No. 15 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON GARAGE
DAWSON SUTTON, No. 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON GARAGE
Opening Remarks.
KEVIN RAY: Good morning. It’s great to see this nice of a crowd for a Truck Series press announcement. My family and I have a great history here at Talladega, so, it’s only fitting that we’re able to announce TRICON’s next full-time lineup here at Talladega. It’s been very exciting working with Dawson (Sutton) and Sammy (Smith) to get them into our lineup. They both come with great history. So, we’ve enjoyed great success, since forming TRICON back in 2022. David (Gilliland, partner, TRICON Garage), Johnny (Gray, partner, TRICON Garage), myself, it’s been a huge commitment. Most people probably thought that we were crazy when we jumped out and went five full-time teams right out of the bat, but it’s been very, very rewarding and beneficial to see what is happening on track. However, we could not do what we do without our 73 people back at the shop, and their commitment to building good fast race trucks, safe race trucks, and we’re extremely excited to have Dawson and Sammy come full time. Sammy has a history with us. He’s been with us before, and at 22, being a rookie in the truck series is, is kind of fun. We’re excited about having him, join us, and he’s got a lot of great partners that will be a part of the Truck Series, new partners to the Truck Series. Then with Dawson and all of his grassroots success; Dawson goes very well with our commitment at TRICON to development. We want to develop great talent. David’s prior experience as a driver, Johnny’s prior experience as a driver. Mine has a steering wheel holder, but we won’t talk about that (laughter). Someone like Dawson can lean on the experience from all of our other drivers and Sammy and Kaden (Honeycutt) and Gio (Ruggiero), it’s going to be an exciting 2027 season for everyone at TRICON.”
What does TRICON have that right fit for you is you take the next step in your career?
DAWSON SUTTON: “Yeah, for sure. I feel like it’s honestly just the place to be. It’s going be a big change for me. Having four teammates, but at the same time, I race late models and I had teammates, so I think it’ll be really cool to lean on them a lot and also just use my prior success in the grassroots stuff, and also the past few years, I’ve learned a lot and I’m just super excited for the future. This is the place to be, and I’m super excited to take it to the next level. I’m here to win races and I feel like I can do that on any level. I’m just excited to finish off today and then move on to next year.”
What excites you the most about that next chapter in your career?
SAMMY SMITH: Yeah, I think what excites me most about joining TRICON and Toyota, I think, is just getting back in the program. When I left Toyota in 23, I think it was a surprise to some, but obviously when I had everything happened over the summer of splitting from JRM, I really assessed all my options and really felt like TRICON and Toyota was really my best option to be able to go out and win races and, um, yeah, I really appreciate Kevin Ray (general manager and partner, TRICON Garage), Johnny Gray (partner, TRICON Garage), Matt Puccia (competition director, TRICON Garage); Toyota welcoming me back with Jack (Irving, general manager, TRD), Slugger (Labbe, engineering manager, vehicle support, TRD), Trent (Rodriguez, manager, driver development, TRD), Tyler (Gibbs, president, TRD), everyone to really bring me back in the program. I’m really looking forward to it. So, yeah, really looking forward to kind of getting the season started in ‘27.”
Are you guys going to be running a fifth part time truck this year?
KEVIN RAY: “Yes, we will run the 1 truck as our all-star truck. We will continue to have five full-time trucks, and the 1 truck will be a rotation of drivers. Those will be announced soon.”
Can you talk about these years having driven your family team and then kind of spreading your wings and leading the nest and going off to a big opportunity like this one?
DAWSON SUTTON: “Yeah, for sure. The past 2 years with Rackley has been a great experience and to build relationships with those guys have been really great. I don’t have a whole lot to comment on there. This is the last race, but I’m looking forward to just going out and doing the same thing, trying to win. This is the final dance, so hopefully you can go on win.”
Do you expect to do any, um, more late model racing with Rackley WAR next year or have you not gotten that far yet?
DAWSON SUTTON: “Yeah, for sure. We plan on it. Right now, we’re just focused on the All American 400 in a few weeks and then the Snowball Derby. We work toward next year soon and hopefully we can line up some more races.”
Do you expect Corey Heim to raise any of your all-star truck next year?
KEVIN RAY: “Not sure yet. We’re still working through our driver lineups. We’re going to have a couple of new guys through the program again, and a couple of returning guys, so Corey (Heim) has been with us for four years now, and has done a phenomenal job, and he has at least one race with us this year after today. He has Homestead, so we’re looking at all of our drivers and funding and making sure that we pair the best available to each track, with Corey’s full-time cup schedule, we just don’t know what he’s going to be able to do.”
Obviously, Tanner Gray’s driven you for the last few years, doesn’t look like he’ll be back next year, just kind of went into that decision.
KEVIN RAY: “We will let Tanner talk about his future plans. Not for TRICON to disclose what he’s going to do for the future. He’s been a staple of our program since the inception. We’re certainly going to miss him as part of TRICON. He’s been there since, since the beginning. What more can we say about one of our founding drivers not coming back. It’s bittersweet but we do wish him all the best in the future.”
Are you able to say definitively, is Tanner Gray outside of the organization or is there a possibility he might be in the all-star truck at any race next year?
KEVIN RAY: “As of right now, we don’t have anything inside TRICON for Tanner (Gray) for next year.Currently we don’t have any, any open races for him.”
What kind of performance and expectations do you have for each of these guys respectfully next year?
KEVIN RAY: “Our goal is always to win every race. Sammy’s (Smith) a proven national series winner. Dawson (Sutton) has won some of the biggest, late model races out there, so we do expect these guys to go perform. You’ve got Gio (Ruggiero), you’ve got Kaden (Honeycutt). They’ve been in the program for a couple of years now. So that is the experience that they can lead on our other drivers. But then again, when you look at the depth of our organization, from David (Gilliland, partner, TRICON Garage) to Johnny (Gray, partner, TRICON Garage) to Matt Puccia (competition director, TRICON Garage), there’s a lot of depth inside the organization. These guys, they have the racecraft, so we do expect them to go out and perform.”
What can you just say about Kaden’s development this year and growth and also the prospects of having him back?
KEVIN RAY: “Watching Kaden (Honeycutt) over the course of this year, I think everyone has been excited, especially inside our program, to see the progression that he has made. Not only on the racetrack, but as a person. Our philosophy inside TRICON is we can all build the same parts and pieces. It’s about the people that we surround ourselves with. I think that Kaden has done a very good job coming into the program and leaning on that experience. We expect him to continue to contend for the championship this year, and our, our intent is for all four of our guys, full-time guys, to be going for the championship at Homestead next year.”
Sammy, you’ll make your 11th career truck series start, and you’ve had six top-10 finishes. What have you learned throughout your truck series races?
SAMMY SMITH: “I feel like I’ve learned kind of how the trucks drive. Obviously, I’ve had a dazzle of stars the last couple years, two or three every, every year, so it’s been good. To be able to race for Spire, some running today, obviously, and then running Martinsville. It’s always enjoyable to race on a weekend where I’m running O’Reilly Series just to get more experience and obviously, I love to race. I feel like going to next year will kind of be a rookie learning year of learning the trucks, but I know I have a lot of great resources around me to be able to go capitalize on that and try to go win races.”
###
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of over 50 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
TRICON Garage revealed the additions of Sammy Smith and Dawson Sutton to the organization’s driver lineup for the 2027 NASCAR FedEx Freight Truck Series season.
The reveal, which was made at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, October 23, will feature Smith replacing Tanner Gray to pilot the No. 15 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry while Sutton will drive the No. 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry. Both competitors will compete on a full-time basis.
Smith’s transition to TRICON Garage for the 2027 season will mark his first full-time campaign in the Truck Series division. In 10 previous starts in the series over a four-year span (2023-26), the 22-year-old Johnston, Iowa, native recorded two top-five results, six top-10 results, 32 laps led and an average-finishing result of 9.7. He is set to compete in the upcoming Truck Chase events at Talladega and Martinsville Speedway for Spire Motorsports.
Smith is currently competing in his fourth consecutive season in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series division and third in a row with JR Motorsports. As one of 12 Chase contenders, he is currently ranked in seventh place in the standings and he trails the points lead by 137 points with three-scheduled events remaining this season. He has accumulated three O’Reilly victories, including one at Talladega in October 2024, three poles, 30 top-five results, 66 top-10 results, 530 laps led and an average-finishing result of 14.4 through 138 series’ starts.
Compared to Smith, Sutton has previously competed in the Truck Series division on a full-time basis, which occurred in 2025 with Rackley W.A.R. During the latter season, he notched an average-finishing result of 19.4, two top-10 results, a career-best fourth-place result at Talladega before he settled in 18th place in the standings. The 20-year-old Sutton from Lebanon, Tennessee, is set to compete in what will be Rackley W.A.R.’s final Truck start this weekend at Talldega.
Through 53 previous starts in the Truck division (2024-26), Sutton has achieved two top-five results, four top-10 results, six laps led and an average-finishing result of 19.9 as he continues his pursuit of his first series’ championship while preparing to etch a new chapter to his racing resume in 2027.
Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“We are excited to welcome Dawson and Sammy to the TRICON family for 2027 and are confident they’ll be great additions for our program,” Kevin Ray, partner and general manager, TRICON, said. “Sammy’s experience and prior success, combined with Dawson’s ability and growth as a driver, give us a lot to look forward to. We are confident in the lineup we have assembled and look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.”
TRICON Garage’s additions of Sammy Smith and Dawson Sutton to the Nos. 5 and 15 entries occurs two days after both Kaden Honeycutt and Giovanni Ruggiero were confirmed to remain with the organization and drive the Nos. 11 and 17 entries for the 2027 Truck Series season. In addition to TRICON’s four full-time entries and competitors that have been finalized, the organization will also continue to field the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry that will serve as the ‘all-star’ entry and feature various competitors that remains to be announced.
With its driver lineup set, TRICON Garage’s 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season resumes this Friday, October 23, at Talladega Superspeedway for the Love’s RV Stop 225. The event’s broadcast time is scheduled to commence at 4 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.
