Kris Wright and the No. 81 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing team recorded a 24th-place finish in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. After qualifying 29th, Wright worked his way forward throughout the opening two stages as the team continued making adjustments to improve the handling of the F.N.B. Corporation / A Mother’s Touch Movers Chevrolet Silverado RST.
Wright finished stage one in 26th after reporting a free-handling truck on entry and exit. A chassis adjustment helped the team make progress, moving up to 23rd by the end of stage two. The team made an additional tire pressure adjustment during the stage break, with a strong pit stop gaining two positions and putting Wright 21st for the final stage.
Wright battled through the final 67 laps, working his way back toward the top-20 after dropping back to 25th in the opening laps of stage three. After a long run resulting in green flag pit stops, the No. 81 F.N.B. Corporation / A Mother’s Touch Movers team fell a lap down. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native received the free pass on the lap 104 caution to return to the lead lap and ultimately crossed the finish line 24th, closing out the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.
Kris Wright Quote:
“I just want to thank everyone on this No. 81 team for all their hard work. This is a special group of guys and I’m glad we could put this season together. I’m very appreciative for the opportunity from Bill McAnally with the help of F.N.B. Corporation, iHeartRadio, Warranty Solutions, A Mother’s Touch [Movers], and everyone else involved.”
We are a licensed, bonded and insured moving company offering skilled moving services to the Melbourne FL, Palm Bay and Brevard County area. We offer free estimates on all our moving services. We provide full and partial packing and unpacking services to the Space Coast residents.
30 years of experience in the moving industry has taught us that nothing is more important than customer satisfaction, and we always give our best effort to ensure that you come away pleased following your move. Whether you need local or long-distance moving, full or partial packing or boxes and packing materials – A Mother’s Touch Movers based in Melbourne, FL get the job done.
We have all of the appropriate boxes and packing materials to ensure your belongings are safe and secure. Our Melbourne & Palm Bay, Florida area movers are committed to ensuring your complete satisfaction.
We will complete any job, big or small, and our movers will always be punctual and professional. We serve both residential communities and commercial properties in the Palm Bay & Melbourne area. We can be found online at https://www.motouchmovers.com/
Key Takeaway: Landen Lewis and the J.F. Electric team experienced some close calls and made some great saves in the season finale at Homestead-Miami. Lewis rolled off the starting grid from 14th and rebounded after making a substantial slide in stage one. After a smooth stage two, the No. 45 team made a charge to climb inside the top-10 in the final stage. With less than 20 laps to go, Lewis got clipped in the left-rear and executed another masterful save to hang onto his truck. The rookie kept his cool, pressed on, and crossed the finish line with a respectable result in 14th-place.
Landen Lewis’ Post-Race Thoughts: Interviewer: Landen Lewis, a hard-fought night. Just how did you feel about tonight overall?
“Overall, I thought, well, it’s my first time here, so I had a lot of learning to do throughout the first stage and made good gains. I feel like we ended up like 13th or 14th in stage one and had really good pit stops all night long. They did a great job on pit road and got me the track position. We were running right there inside the top-10 and I was really happy. Obviously, we want to go win and go run around the top-three, but you’ve got to build the stepping stones first before you start running.
I was really happy with everything how it was going, and then with how that cycle worked at the very end, there were a couple trucks that stayed out on older tires and it kind of jumbled everybody up and put me in a bad spot. We almost wrecked in turn three, had a good save, and at that point obviously the tires were just junked. But overall, it’s just a great night and I’m so proud of this J.F. Electric Chevrolet. Niece Motorsports, Phil Gould, and everyone just welcomed me in all year long by giving me good trucks and getting me the experience that I need. Again, I’m proud to be a part of this team, and I just can’t wait to build.”
About J.F. Electric: J.F. Electric is an electrical contractor that provides engineering expertise, backed by construction and installation know-how in a diverse range of service offerings, from utilities and commercial projects, to industrial and telecommunications customers. When having a long family history in an industry, a company not only builds on its knowledge and experience, it takes pride in cultivating a solid understanding of client needs, all the while nurturing strong relationships with its employees. Evolving through five generations of the Fowler family, J.F. Electric has matured into a well-managed and thoughtfully diversified electrical contractor which is poised to continue its growth and expansion into the future.
No. 4 Niece Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Connor Hall | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
Key Takeaway: Connor Hall and the Niece Equipment team maintained a smooth evening at Homestead-Miami. Hall qualified the highest out of his teammates in 11th-place, displaying a solid pace. The No. 4 Chevrolet slid back to 21st in both stage one and two, but Hall kept his team in the fight as he gained valuable experience. After making adjustments ahead of the final stage, Hall developed an issue which hindered his ability to extract the full potential out of his truck. He drove smart through the end of the race and closed the season with an 18th-place result.
Connor Hall’s Post-Race Thoughts: “After practice last night and after qualifying earlier today, I thought we were pretty good. I felt like maybe we could be a 10th to 12th-place truck, but I don’t know. Just right from the start, it fired off a little different than I expected. As it turned out, we figured out that we had something going south in the rear end and just had to manage the expectations of what we were able to accomplish. When we found that issue, I didn’t want to try and overstep by trying too hard and put myself in a compromising situation, especially after some of the lessons I learned at Kansas. I’m very thankful that I got to run all these races this year with Niece Motorsports. Huge thanks to Al Niece and Niece Equipment, Greg Fowler and Cory Darr with J.F. Electric, Josh Morris with DQS Solutions & Staffing, Cody Efaw, Jason Wilson, Mike Shiplett, and everyone on my No. 4 team for their hard work this year.”
About Niece Equipment: For over 40 years, Niece Equipment has provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Our reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. Each of our water and fuel/lube trucks are engineered with quality and durability in mind. Our capability ranges from 2,000 gallon water trucks to 12,000 gallon water towers. The fuel/lube trucks we offer range from 600 to 4,000 gallons.
Key Takeaway: Tyler Reif and the Utilitra team made gains throughout the race at Homestead-Miami. Starting in 25th, Reif ran conservatively early in the first two stages. The No. 42 team made handling changes to set up for the final stage, and Reif was in position to nab a solid result. On a late restart, Reif found himself in a treacherous situation as a wreck occurred directly in front of him, but minimized the damage after making slight contact with another truck. The rookie was able to stay on track and drove to a 21st-place finish to end the season.
Tyler Reif’s Post-Race Thoughts: “I thought tonight went really well overall. I think we came here with one goal, and that was just to learn and get better for next year. I don’t think that we had a top-10 run, but I would say we had potential to make it a top-12 or top-15 run tonight. We were up there on one of the last restarts when the No. 15 (Tanner Gray) and the No. 18 (Tyler Ankrum) got together in front of me and I had nowhere to go. We lost some spots there, then got caught out behind some guys on old tires. There were a lot of positives to take away from tonight. Definitely more positives than negatives, so I’m going to come out of here with that positive attitude and put it in the notebook to come back stronger next year.”
About Utilitra: Utilitra is a woman-owned firm specializing in utility and technology solutions with a diverse team of specialized professionals. Utilitra is committed to solving their client’s unique challenges, whether one expert or a team of experts is needed. By adapting to the needs of their respective industries, Utilitra has built a range of services for their utility and technology partners.
No. 44 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Andrés Perez de Lara | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
Key Takeaway: Andrés Pérez de Lara and the Freeway Insurance team were sidelined through no fault of their own in the season finale at Homestead-Miami. Pérez de Lara started the race in 22nd, but moved forward in every run. The team was poised for a solid result but became victims of circumstance after hitting oil when another truck lost its engine late in the event. After making repairs, Pérez de Lara was in the process of working his way back through the field when a multi-truck crash unfolded directly in front of him on lap 115. Unfortunately, he was unable to avoid the spinning trucks and received heavy damage. The No. 44 was forced out of the race, crediting Pérez de Lara with a 33rd-place finish.
Andrés Pérez de Lara’s Post-Race Thoughts:
Interviewer: Andrés Pérez, it looked like you had a decent night going. What happened there in that incident at the end?
“Yeah, I think it was just a decent night. We had decent speed, but were definitely just needing a little bit more. When the No. 77 (Nick Sanchez) leaked oil on the racetrack, I hit the wall after running through it. We restarted in the back after making repairs, then just ran into the other big incident with the No. 15 (Tanner Gray) and the No. 45 (Landen Lewis). I had nothing to do with it; they just came up the track. We had just a little bit too much damage to continue, so I hated to end the season like that, but that’s how the night went.
Interviewer: How do you feel about your season overall?
“Well, I think this year’s story is the same as this race. I feel like we have had some really good pace throughout the year, but probably didn’t finish most of the races where we deserved. Just very bad luck. We just had really bad breaks, and that’s how I feel, right? I feel like there was a lot of potential, but I just wish we could have explored it a little bit more. I’m just really thankful for all of the work my guys did, Niece Motorsports, Freeway Insurance, Acceptance Insurance, Telcel, just a lot of people to thank. I’ll take all the learnings and move on for next year.”
About Freeway Insurance: Built for drivers who like to do things their way, Freeway Insurance makes it easy to compare options, choose coverage that fits your ride and your budget, and save. With a simple click, call, or come in approach, we help drivers stay in control and keep moving forward. From auto and truck to motorcycle, homeowners, renters, and more, Freeway offers coverage designed for every journey. Compare. Choose. Save Freeway, Your Way.
About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team that has competed in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since 2016. The team is owned by Josh Morris of DQS Solutions and Staffing and the Fowler Family of J.F. Electric and Utilitra, and was founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. At its 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Salisbury, NC, Niece Motorsports is a full-service race vehicle build shop as well as a customizable fabrication shop for any manufacturing needs.
Follow the Team: To keep up to date with the latest team news, visit niecemotorsports.com or connect on Facebook and Instagram (@NieceMotorsports) as well as X (@NieceMotorsport).
Ford Racing Notes and Quotes NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Race — Homestead-Miami Speedway Friday, November 6, 2026
FORD WINS 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
Ford captured this year’s manufacturers’ championship thanks in part to 11 series wins by three drivers.
Layne Riggs led the way with seven while Chandler Smith had three and Jake Garcia one.
All six full-time Ford drivers representing Front Row Motorsports and ThorSport Racing scored manufacturer points by being the top finisher in at least one race.
Here’s a breakdown of Ford’s top finisher by race:
Layne Riggs (11): St. Petersburg, Darlington, Rockingham, Charlotte 1, Nashville, Michigan, San Diego, Indianapolis, Loudon, Charlotte 2, Phoenix
Chandler Smith (5): Daytona, Bristol, Watkins Glen, North Wilkesboro, Martinsville
Ben Rhodes (3): Atlanta, Texas, Kansas
Ty Majeski (3): Dover, Talladega, Homestead
Jake Garcia (2): Richmond, Bristol
Cole Butcher (1): Lime Rock
This marks the third manufacturers’ title for Ford and the first since 2000.
Ford’s other championship came in 1999 after posting a season-high 12 wins.
F-150 has been the only truck to compete in the series for Ford and has won 140 all-time races.
QUOTING MARK RUSHBROOK, GLOBAL DIRECTOR, FORD RACING:
“Our Ford Racing engineers have worked hard with our race teams throughout this year and it’s great to see all of that pay off with this manufacturers’ championship. This was truly a team effort and something we’ll celebrate with our global Ford employees, especially those who build the F-150 at the Dearborn Truck Plant. Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is important to us because we know a lot of the fans who are in the grandstands every weekend get there in an F-Series truck, so to be able and share something like this with them feels good.”
Ford Finishing Results:
4th – Ty Majeski
7th – Chandler Smith
8th – Jake Garcia
13th – Ben Rhodes
17th – Timmy Hill
22nd – Cole Butcher
25th – Matt Crafton
28th – Frankie Muniz
31st – Clayton Green
32nd – Layne Riggs
LAYNE RIGGS, No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops/Fleetguard Ford F-150 – WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT AFTER SEEING THAT HAPPEN SO EARLY IN THE RACE? “I’m thinking about how great of a season we had all year long. I don’t really know what happened there at the beginning. I felt like it kind of happened out of nowhere. I thought I was all good, but the next thing I knew I’m sideways and in the 77. I have no clue exactly what happened, but I had plenty of time riding around about 10 laps down to think about my day today, my year leading up to it. Of course, I’m disappointed about this one race, but, at the same time, I’m just so proud that I was even in a position to walk out on the stage before the race and had the potential at a championship. We knew we were gonna have to execute an almost perfect race and I think it was like lap two or three and, all of a sudden, that was out the window. I’m just proud of everybody on the team and the year that we had. We were there all the way to the end. We had speed all year long, but we just didn’t have the consistency that we needed to be champions.”
IS IT MORE DISAPPOINTING THAT ONCE THE TIRE ISSUE HAPPENED YOU DIDN’T HAVE A CHANCE TO BATTLE TO THE END? “I just know that when I had the tire issue, it was going down that entire run and I was losing spots and I just knew that no matter what I wasn’t ever gonna have a chance to know what we were gonna have or even if we were gonna have a shot.”
HOW DOES THIS SITUATION COMPARE TO DIFFERENT POINTS IN YOUR CAREER? “I think that racing is a hole. You have a lot more disappointing days than you have exciting days. Today just wasn’t that exciting day for us and, like I said before, I knew that it was gonna be a Hail Mary to get the job done. The pressures weren’t even up on the tires yet and we were already out of contention and never knew what the balance was gonna be, never knew how fast our truck was gonna be. I look at it as we blew up on lap two or three just from a notes standpoint. We don’t really know what we were gonna have, so that’s what is more disappointing for me.”
YOU AND KADEN WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HAVING ANOTHER SHOT AT IT? “Every year that you get to race and you have a shot to be competitive or a shot to win a championship that’s just where you want to be as a race car driver. When you’re running in the back it’s very difficult, but when you’re up front and you’re winning races, you’re competitive, you’re on TV, I have a media scrum with 15 of you people here. You just have to look at the positives and know that I’m very fortunate to be in the spot that I’m in.”
WHAT HAPPENED ON LAP TWO? “I don’t really know. I need to watch the replay. I was under the 77. I thought that I had some gap off of him and the next thing I knew I was getting sucked around sideways and into him, so no clue from my end.”
YOU JUST RUN IT OUT FROM THERE EVEN IF YOU THINK THE TIRE IS GOING TO BLOW? “Yeah. I mean, you’re just riding around at that point.”
HONEYCUTT CLAIMS TRUCK SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP Toyota Development Driver claims second straight title for Toyota, 11th overall
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (November 6, 2026) – Kaden Honeycutt made the pass for the win on the final restart and claimed his fifth win of the season and his first NASCAR Truck Series championship. It is the second straight title for Toyota and TRICON Garage and 11th overall.
The Toyota Development Driver returns to the seat of the No. 11 Toyota Tundra at Daytona in February.
TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) Homestead-Miami Speedway Race 25 of 25 – 201 Miles, 234 Laps
“This is team is a freaking hall of fame team. Scott Zipadelli is the best damn crew chief on pit road, and he is the best man out there. He’s just not a hall of fame crew chief; he’s a hall of fame man. He’s done nothing but mentor me and make me better each and every week. This is amazing. I’ve worked so damn hard to be here. Thank you to every owner. Thank you to everyone who has let drive their race car for them, whether it was dirt, asphalt, road course, it didn’t matter. That is because of you guys. I am sitting right here with this group behind me as champions.”
STEWART FRIESEN, No. 52 Halmar International Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Halmar-Friesen Racing
Finishing Position: 5th
Can you describe your race at Homestead tonight?
“We were like sixth or seventh most of the race there, and solid qualifying effort. Just lacked a little bit of forward drive on the long runs, but got to mix it up there with the boys there at the end. Good to be back battling, just needed a little more from the truck. I’m proud of the whole Halmar team. The last few weeks have been extremely tough, but to go into the offseason on an okay note, you always want more, but top-fives are a decent way to get the ball rolling for next year.
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.
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (November 6, 2026) – TRICON Garage’s Kaden Honeycutt captured the 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) championship after winning Friday night’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This is the first championship of Honeycutt’s young career, the second consecutive for TRICON Garage and marks Toyota’s 11th driver’s title in the Truck Series.
TOYOTA FAST FACTS
En-route to the 2026 Truck Series championship, Honeycutt accrued five wins, 16 top-five finishes and 19 top-10s across 25 races. His top-five and top-10 numbers ranked the best in the series.
Honeycutt signed a driver development deal and moved over to Toyota in August 2025. Competing for Toyota-supported Halmar-Friesen Racing, Honeycutt finished third overall in the final championship standings before moving to TRICON Garage beginning with the 2026 season.
2025 was the fifth season Honeycutt competed in the Truck Series and his second full-time campaign.
Honeycutt will return to defend his Truck Series championship in 2027, continuing to pilot the No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra for TRICON Garage.
The 23-year-old Texas native is the ninth Tundra driver to win a championship. He joins the likes of Corey Heim (2025), Ben Rhodes (2021), Brett Moffitt (2018), Christopher Bell (2017), Erik Jones (2015), Matt Crafton (2013 and 2014), Todd Bodine (2006, 2010) and Johnny Benson (2008), who have also captured Truck Series titles for Toyota.
Scott Zipadelli is the first crew chief in Truck Series history to win the championship with three different drivers – Brett Moffitt, Corey Heim and now Honeycutt.
Toyota has scored a total of 257 victories since joining NCTS competition in 2004, and Honeycutt’s win was the 699th win in Toyota’s tenure in NASCAR.
“This is team is a freaking hall of fame team. Scott Zipadelli is the best damn crew chief on pit road, and he is the best man out there. He’s just not a hall of fame crew chief; he’s a hall of fame man. He’s done nothing but mentor me and make me better each and every week. This is amazing. I’ve worked so damn hard to be here. Thank you to every owner. Thank you to everyone who has let drive their race car for them, whether it was dirt, asphalt, road course, it didn’t matter. That is because of you guys. I am sitting right here with this group behind me as champions.”
PAUL DOLESHAL, general manager, motorsports and sponsorships, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA)
“Kaden is the epitome of hard work and dedication to your craft paying off in the biggest way. Everyone at Toyota and TRD knew Kaden had the ability to win races and championships when we signed him to his contract just 15 months ago, and he has delivered in every capacity. We could not be more pleased to see Kaden, his wife, Jessica, and his entire family celebrate this well-deserved title. Toyota and TRD are also thrilled for everyone at our partner team, TRICON Garage, who continue to showcase why they are the premier organization in the Truck Series. We are excited to help Kaden celebrate this incredible achievement and know he has everything in place to deliver a repeat performance in 2027.”
Live sports have always attracted passionate audiences, from football supporters following championship matches to motorsport fans watching competitive races. However, the way people access sporting events has changed significantly. Traditional cable and satellite television are no longer the only options, as internet-based streaming continues to transform how viewers follow their favorite competitions.
One technology attracting attention is Nordic IPTV, which introduces internet-based television options for viewers interested in live channels, international programming, and sports entertainment.
The Growing Popularity of Live Sports Streaming
Why Sports Fans Are Exploring IPTV
Sports broadcasting has evolved alongside improvements in internet connectivity and digital entertainment platforms. Today, many viewers prefer streaming solutions that provide greater flexibility across different devices.
Internet Protocol Television, commonly known as IPTV, delivers television programming through internet networks rather than conventional satellite or cable systems.
For sports enthusiasts, this technology can offer several advantages, including convenient channel navigation, compatibility with modern devices, and access to different types of programming through supported applications.
However, available sports channels and competitions depend on each provider’s broadcasting agreements and subscription packages.
Motorsport and Live Racing Coverage
Following Racing Events Through Digital Television
Motorsports remain an important part of the global sports entertainment industry. NASCAR, Formula 1, MotoGP, and other racing competitions attract audiences who appreciate competitive action, technical innovation, and dramatic championship battles.
For racing enthusiasts, reliable access to authorized live broadcasts is particularly important. Unlike recorded entertainment, live sporting events depend on accurate timing and consistent streaming performance.
Internet-based television platforms can make it easier to navigate available sports programming, although specific racing coverage depends on regional broadcasting rights.
Why Streaming Stability Matters During Live Events
Few things are more frustrating for sports fans than interrupted playback during an important moment.
Whether viewers are watching the final laps of a race or the closing minutes of a football match, connection reliability plays a significant role in their experience.
Streaming performance can be affected by internet bandwidth, Wi-Fi quality, server capacity, and device compatibility.
A stable network connection and suitable streaming equipment can help minimize interruptions.
Nordic IPTV and Modern Sports Entertainment
Exploring Internet-Based Television Options
Consumers researching live sports streaming may encounter services such as Nordic IPTV, which advertises access to television channels, sports programming, and entertainment content through compatible internet-connected devices.
The service promotes features such as electronic program guides, HD and 4K streaming options, and support for multiple device categories.
Before selecting any subscription, viewers should verify the current channel lineup, regional availability, and whether the provider holds the necessary rights to distribute the desired sports broadcasts.
Watching Sports Across Different Devices
Device flexibility is an increasingly important feature of modern television services.
Depending on application compatibility, IPTV technology can support Smart TVs, Android TV devices, smartphones, tablets, and computers.
This allows households to choose viewing equipment that suits their preferences.
For example, a television may provide a comfortable experience for watching a complete racing event, while a tablet offers a convenient alternative for viewing supported programming elsewhere in the home.
What to Look for in a Live Sports IPTV Service
Picture Quality and Channel Availability
High-definition streaming can improve the experience of watching fast-moving sports, particularly racing competitions where small visual details matter.
Full HD and 4K resolutions can provide clearer images when supported by the original broadcast, display, and internet connection.
Nevertheless, advertised picture quality should be evaluated alongside actual playback performance.
Subscription Transparency and Broadcasting Rights
Sports fans should examine subscription conditions before committing to a service.
Important considerations include pricing, customer support, device limitations, cancellation policies, and the availability of legitimately licensed sports channels.
Checking official broadcasting schedules can also help viewers identify which authorized platforms carry particular competitions in their region.
The Future of Live Sports Television
As broadband infrastructure improves, internet television will continue influencing how audiences consume sports entertainment.
Features such as improved video compression, intuitive interfaces, and enhanced program guides may make streaming platforms increasingly convenient.
For motorsport enthusiasts and other sports followers, the priority remains consistent: dependable access to high-quality, authorized broadcasts.
Conclusion
IPTV technology is changing how viewers discover and watch live television, including sports and motorsport programming.
Services marketed under names such as Nordic IPTV reflect growing interest in flexible, internet-based viewing options. However, choosing the right subscription requires more than comparing channel counts.
By prioritizing streaming stability, device compatibility, transparent pricing, and legitimate broadcasting rights, sports enthusiasts can make better-informed decisions about their live television experience.
The second bay, the taller door, the new chassis dyno in the back corner — the quote from your general contractor is the number you’ve been bracing for. The number nobody warned you about may show up later, on a notice from the assessor, and affect your property tax bill for years to come.
A shop expansion for a race team is one of those projects where the construction invoice is the easy part. The property tax implications can last much longer and become harder to address once the assessments are finalized. Walk through the process in order, and the surprises become easier to anticipate.
Before the First Shovel, the Bill Is Already Taking Shape
The decisions that drive your future tax bill get made in the design meetings, not at the ribbon cutting. Square footage, ceiling height, bay count, whether the mezzanine counts as a second floor, whether the paint booth is a fixture or equipment — every one of those choices can affect how the property is assessed.
It helps to know how the assessor is going to evaluate the project before you file the permit. New construction and expansions can add taxable value, and permits often alert assessors to improvements that may warrant a review of the property. Newly installed machinery may also be assessed separately from the building as business personal property, depending on the jurisdiction and how the equipment is classified.
That second part matters for a race shop with substantial equipment investments. A chassis dyno, a CNC mill, a tire machine, a plasma cutter, lift columns, and compressors may be classified as business personal property or as part of the real estate, depending on local assessment rules. When an assessment doesn’t reflect the property’s actual value, owners may be able to pursue informal review, formal hearings, and, where permitted, arbitration or litigation to challenge the result.
During Construction, Two Tax Conversations Run in Parallel
Most owners track one project. The assessor may be evaluating two different categories of property. Keep them separate in your head and the first assessment after the expansion becomes easier to understand.
The real property side. Walls, slab, roof, electrical service, the dock door, the office build-out — these improvements may increase the property’s assessed value. The value added is not necessarily equal to what you paid your contractor. San Mateo County’s assessor has a useful overview of how new construction can affect assessments, although specific rules vary by jurisdiction.
The equipment side. The dyno, the lifts, the toolboxes, the pit carts, the fabrication tables, and the shop computers may be subject to business personal property taxes in jurisdictions that impose them. Where annual renditions are required, failing to report taxable equipment can lead to estimated assessments or penalties.
The reclassification risk. A shop that used to look like a warehouse on paper may be classified differently once the expansion is finished. Changes in property use or classification can affect the valuation methods and comparable properties an assessor considers, potentially resulting in a different assessed value.
The First Notice After You Open Is the One Nobody Reads Carefully Enough
Opening weekend is loud. The notice of appraised or assessed value that arrives after the expansion is complete deserves careful attention, particularly because the time available to challenge an assessment may be limited.
Read it the way a mechanic reads a scan tool. What square footage did they credit the addition at? What use code did they assign? What comparable properties did they lean on?
If the shop next door is still coded as a warehouse and yours is now coded as a specialty motorsports facility, the difference may affect how the properties are valued. That doesn’t automatically make the assessment incorrect, but it gives you a reason to examine the classification and supporting market evidence.
The Year After Opening Is Where the Real Money Leaks
By year two, several things may be happening at once: the real estate assessment reflects the addition, the personal property reporting includes newly acquired taxable equipment, and the valuation schedules used by the assessor may not fully reflect the equipment’s condition or market value.
Race shop equipment can experience substantial wear. A dyno that runs most days of the week, a tire machine that sees heavy use, and lifts that operate constantly may lose value differently from equipment used less frequently. Standard assessment depreciation schedules don’t always capture those differences. Where permitted, owners may be able to challenge equipment valuations with supporting evidence of condition, age, obsolescence, and market value.
A practical guide to the appeal grounds that may support a challenge — over-market valuation, unequal assessment, and factual errors — is worth reading before you write your first protest letter. This commercial appeal overview outlines common evidence requirements and deadlines, although the applicable rules depend on the jurisdiction.
The most effective approach is to review both real property and business personal property assessments as part of the expansion process, rather than waiting until an unexpectedly high tax bill arrives. Accurate equipment records, a clear understanding of how the improvements are classified, and timely review of assessment notices can help race shop owners identify potential errors and avoid unnecessary property tax costs.
Kaden Honeycutt executed a 14-lap dash to the finish with fresh tires to perfection that enabled him to earn his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship and win the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, November 6.
The 23-year-old Honeycutt from Willow Park, Texas, led three times for 15 of 134 scheduled laps in a finale where he managed through early concerns of having alternator issues and received strong mentorship and guidance from championship-winning crew chief Scott Zipadelli to preserve his entry while battling at the front. With his championship rival Layne Riggs having his title hopes evaporated early due to an on-track incident that cut Riggs’ right-rear tire and pinned him multiple laps down far from recovery, all Honeycutt had to do was steer his entry to the event’s distance.
After notching a pair of top-five results throughout the finale’s first two stage periods and steadily racing towards the front, Honeycutt pitted with nearly the entire field for fresh tires during a late-race caution with 24 laps remaining. After navigating his way into the runner-up spot during a brief restart with 21 laps remaining, Honeycutt turned up the notch during the final restart with 14 laps remaining to outduel Christian Eckes. With the lead in his possession, Honeycutt grew it by a second and maintained the top spot for the finale’s remainder as he proceeded to win the final Truck event of the 2026 season and etch his name as a first-time Truck Series champion.
With on-track qualifying determining the starting lineup on Friday, Nick Sanchez secured the final Truck pole position of the 2026 season with a pole-winning lap of 164.855 mph in 32.756 seconds. Chandler Smith qualified in second place with a lap of 164.424 mph in 32.842 seconds. Championship contenders Layne Riggs and Kaden Honeycutt started fourth and fifth, respectively.
When the green flag waved and the finale commenced, early three-wide action commenced as Corey Heim, who started in third place, was one of a handful of competitors to dive to the left-side bottom of the track. He along with Chandler Smith pinned pole-sitter Nick Sanchez in the middle lane as the former two duked for the lead for nearly a full lap in front of a fanned-out field. As Sanchez reeled in and tried to get beneath both Heim and Smith with a run entering Turns 3 and 4, Smith used the outside lane to motor ahead from Turns 3 and 4, which enabled Smith to lead the first lap.
During the second lap, Layne Riggs briefly got loose entering the backstretch when he made right-side contact with Sanchez amid close-quarters racing. Amid the contact that occurred in the top-five mark, Riggs, who sustained slight right-side damage to his No. 34 Love’s Ford F-150 entry, managed to motor forward despite dropping to fifth place. By then, Kaden Honeycutt, his title rival, overtook him to move into to fourth place. Riggs would then be overtaken by Stewart Friesen for fifth place before the former was challenged by Ty Majeski for more. Amid Riggs’ early adversity, Sanchez, who regained the lead on the third lap, was leading ahead of a hard-charging Smith by a tenth of a second while Heim and Honeycutt followed suit by the fifth lap mark.
Through the first 10 scheduled laps, Sanchez was leading by two-tenths of a second over Heim while Smith dropped to third place. Meanwhile, Honeycutt, who trailed the lead by a second in fourth place, was two spots and two seconds ahead of Riggs, with Riggs mired in sixth place in front of Majeski, Daniel Hemric, Giovanni Ruggiero and Tanner Gray, respectively. Heim and Sanchez then duked and battled for the lead a lap later before the former outdueled the latter. As Heim proceeded to lead the Lap 15 mark, Honeycutt was in third place while Riggs dropped to eighth place.
On Lap 16, Riggs’ championship hopes took an early hit when he made an unscheduled pit stop under green to have a flat right-rear tire and damage to his right-rear fender, which was a result of the earlier contact with Sanchez that cut the tire, addressed. By the time Riggs returned to the track, he was down two laps to the leaders and mired at the rear of the field in 35th place. Meanwhile, Honeycutt retained third place on the track and first place in the championship battle while teammate Heim continued to lead the finale over Sanchez. With Honeycutt reeling in Sanchez for the runner-up spot, Heim led by one-and-a-half seconds at the Lap 25 mark.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 30, Heim cruised to his fourth Truck stage victory of the 2026 season. Sanchez settled in second ahead of Honeycutt while Hemric, Chandler Smith, Majeski, Grant Enfinger, Christian Eckes, Stewart Friesen and Jake Garcia were scored in the top 10, respectively. Meanwhile, Riggs, who was trying to reel in Heim to regain one of his two lost laps back, was unable to do so as he remained mired in 34th place on the finale while Honeycutt notched eight stage points to his championship lead.
Under the finale’s first stage break period, the lead lap field led by Heim pitted for a first round of pit service. Following the pit stops, Heim retained the lead by exiting pit road first while Sanchez, Honeycutt, Smith, Hemric, Majeski, Eckes, Ruggiero, Friesen and Connor Mosack followed suit, respectively. During the break, Riggs used the wave around to regain one of his two lost laps.
The second stage period started on Lap 37 as Heim and Sanchez occupied the front row. At the start, Honeycutt, who radioed a possible alternator issue to his entry and briefly pushed Heim ahead from the inside lane, made a left-handed move beneath Heim to motor his No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry into the lead through the first two turns. As the field fanned out and jostled for spots through the backstretch, Hemric, who restarted behind Heim and Honeycutt, motored his way into the runner-up spot. Behind, Heim and Sanchez, who stumbled at the second stage’s start from the outside lane, were mired in third and fourth in front of Majeski and a stacked field as Honeycutt led the next lap.
Hemric then used a bold charge from the inside lane through Turns 3 and 4 to overtake Honeycutt and assume the lead prior to Lap 39. As Hemric led the Lap 40 mark, Sanchez moved into the runner-up spot while Honeycutt settled in third place in front of Heim and Majeski. Meanwhile, Riggs was mired the third competitor a lap down in 34th place and Heim would overtake Honeycutt for third place while both Heim and Majeski overtook Honeycutt for third and fourth, respectively.
At the Lap 45 mark, Hemric continued to lead by three-tenths of a second over a hard-charging Sanchez and Heim as the latter two battled against one another and reeled in Hemric for the lead. Behind, Majeski was up to fourth place while Honeycutt dropped to fifth place. Amid Honeycutt’s steady run at the front, Riggs, who was mired a lap down at the tail end of the field, pitted under green to have another flat right-rear tire and more damage to the right-rear area addressed.
Amid Riggs’ issues, which cost him an additional five laps and dwindled his hopes of winning his first championship, Heim reassumed the lead over Hemric by Lap 47 while Sanchez and Majeski followed suit, respectively. With Honeycutt retaining fifth place on the track, Heim led Hemric by four-tenths of a second on Lap 50 before the duo dueled dead even for the lead five laps later.
When the second stage period concluded on Lap 60, Heim, who prevailed in his battle with Hemric, earlier, captured his second consecutive Truck stage victory of the finale and his fifth of this season. Hemric settled in second ahead of Sanchez and Eckes while Majeski, Honeycutt, Smith, Friesen, Ruggiero and Tanner Gray were scored in the top 10, respectively. By then. Riggs was mired at the tail of the field, 37th, and seven laps behind while Honeycutt notched an additional five points to his championship lead.
During the finale’s second stage break period, the field led by Heim returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Heim retained the lead by exiting pit road first for a second consecutive break period. Heim was followed by Eckes, Sanchez, Smith, Majeski, Enfinger, Friesen, Honeycutt, Mosack and Landen Lewis, respectively. Following the pit stops, Majeski along with Matt Crafton and Spencer Davis were penalized for uncontrolled tire violations. Hemric was also sent to the tail end of the field as a penalty for speeding on pit road while Sanchez made an extra trip to pit road to have loose lug nuts addressed.
With 68 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Heim and Eckes occupied the front row. At the start, a tight four-wide action occurred at the front as Chandler Smith aggressively navigated his way into the lead beneath Heim, Eckes and Grant Enfinger through the first two turns. As Smith led the next lap over a stacked field, Enfinger rocketed his way into the runner-up spot before he battled Smith for the lead. Eckes then bolted his way past Smith and Enfinger amid a tight, bold move in between the latter two starting through the exit of the backstretch to lead the next lap. As Eckes led, Smith, who threw a block on Eckes amid Eckes’ charge and three-wide move to the lead, tried to reel in the latter back from the runner-up spot while Enfinger, Honeycutt, Friesen, Heim and Hemric followed suit, respectively.
As the finale reached its final-60 mark, Eckes led Smith by seven-tenths of a second while Heim, Enfinger and Honeycutt, the latter of whom continued to lead the championship battle, followed suit in the top five, respectively. Behind, Friesen, Hemric, Mosack, Tanner Gray and Landen Lewis trailed in the top 10 on the track while Riggs was mired seven laps down in 35th place.
Ten laps later, Eckes added another tenth of a second to his lead, with the latter leading by eight-tenths of a second over Heim while Honeycutt trailed in third place by three-and-a-half seconds. Behind Honeycutt were Enfinger, Hemric, Smith, Friesen, Mosack, Garcia and Sanchez while Riggs was still mired seven laps down in 35th.
With 40 laps remaining, a late cycle of green flag pit stops slowly started to commence Chandler Smith pitted under green. More names like Jake Garcia, Corey LaJoie and Conner Hall pitted before Sanchez pitted a lap later. Friesen, Andres Perez De Lara, Tanner Gray and Crafton pitted before Hemric pitted. Amid the pit stops, Sanchez pitted before more names like Ben Rhodes, Heim, Honeycutt and Enfinger pitted over the next two laps.
Then with 37 laps remaining, the leader Eckes pitted from the lead. Amid Eckes’ pit stops and the leaderboard being shuffled with the occurrences of pit stops by the competitors and front-runners on the track, Eckes managed to cycle ahead of Heim and be the first competitor scored on the track with fresh tires on his entry. Eckes would then cycle back as the leader with nearly 30 laps remaining, with Heim trailing by a second and Honeycutt trailing by three seconds in third place.
Then with 30 laps remaining, the caution flew due to fluid on the course. This happened when Sanchez dropped off the pace, pulled his No. 77 Modo Super Gaming App Chevrolet Silverado RST entry off the track through the first two turns and stopped when his entry caught on fire, thus terminating his strong event from further contention. During this caution period, nearly the entire lead lap field led by Heim pitted while Mosack, Justin Haley, Parker Kligerman and Leland Honeyman Jr. remained on the track.
The following restart with 21 laps remaining only lasted for nearly a lap when the caution returned for a multi-truck incident through Turns 3 and 4. The incident occurred when Tanner Gray, who was racing within the top-15 mark, got loose underneath Landen Lewis and slid sideways while barely clipping Lewis through the turns. Amid Gray’s spin, he was hit by Tyler Reif, Andres Perez de Lara and Tyler Ankrum, which left all four competitors with damaged trucks while the rest of the scattered field dodged the carnage. Meanwhile, Eckes used fresh tires to rocket past Mosack and fend off Honeycutt for the lead.
During the next restart with 14 laps remaining, the field fanned out and jostled for late spots as Eckes motored away from Honeycutt, Chandler Smith and Heim to retain the lead for half a lap. Then through Turns 3 and 4, Honeycutt threw his entry beneath Eckes and tried to motor ahead of the latter, but was unable to clear Eckes through the frontstretch as they dueled for the lead. Amid Eckes’ charge from the outside lane through the first two turns, Honeycutt made the inside lane prevail to draw even with Eckes through the backstretch and rocket ahead with the lead entering Turns 3 and 4. Honeycutt then slid in front of Eckes and had all lanes to his control by the next lap.
Down to the final 10 laps, Honeycutt continued to lead by two-tenths of a second over Eckes with 10 laps remaining, with Heim, Hemric, Smith, Friesen, Majeski, LaJoie, Garcia and Enfinger trailing in the top 10, respectively. Over the next five laps, Heim scraped the wall and briefly dropped off the pace, but continued in the top-10 mark. By then, teammates Eckes and Hemric trailed in second and third ahead of Majeski, Friesen and Smith while Honeycutt stretched his late lead by more than a second over Eckes with five laps remaining. Honeycutt’s lead stabilized by more than a second over the next four laps.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Honeycutt remained in the lead by more than a second over Eckes. With no competition reeling in from behind, Honeycutt smoothly navigated around Homestead-Miami Speedway for a final circuit before he cycled back to the frontstretch and took home both the finale victory and the championship.
Overall, Honeycutt, who won the title by 83 points over Layne Riggs, became the 23rd competitor to win a championship in the Truck Series division and the first from Texas to achieve the feat since James Buescher made the first in 2012. Honeycutt, who notched the fifth victory of the 2026 season and of his Truck career by winning the finale at Homestead, recorded the second consecutive championship for TRICON Garage, the organization’s No. 11 Toyota team that won the title a year ago with Corey Heim and the third overall for veteran crew chief Scott Zipadelli. Speaking of the number 11, Honeycutt, driver of the No. 11 entry, delivered the 11th Truck driver’s title for Toyota and TRICON’s No. 11 team doubled down with both the driver’s and owner’s championship for a second consecutive year.
Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.
Honeycutt, who joined TRICON Garage at the start of this season and finished in third place in the 2025 standings after making the Championship 4 round amid a mid-season swap from Niece Motorsports to Halmar Friesen Racing, caps off his first championship-winning season with 16 top-five results, 19 top-10 results, 592 laps led and an average-finishing result of 7.6 through 25 scheduled events. He will remain at TRICON to defend his Truck Series title in 2027.
“We did it, mom and dad!” Honeycutt exclaimed on the frontstretch on FS1. “This [No. 11] team is a freakin’ Hall of Fame team. Scott Zipadelli is the best damn crew chief on that pit road, and he’s the best man out there. He’s not just a Hall of Fame crew chief. He’s a Hall of Fame man, and he has done nothing but mentor me and make me better every single week. Man, this is amazing. I worked so damn hard to be here. Thank you to every owner, thank you to everybody that’s let me drive their race car for them, whether it was dirt, asphalt, road course, it didn’t matter. That is because of you guys, and I’m sitting here with this group behind me as champions…I was saving [my truck] the first half of the race. I didn’t want to push it too hard and then, [the finale] fell in our hands and I put my nuts on the dash and wanted to win the race.”
Photo by Mitchell Pavel for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“This is for all the dirt track racers back at home in Texas that I raced with when I was 12 years old all the way til 17,” Honeycutt added while on the championship stage. “I worked with my daddy in the shop for so dang long to even be in the dirt track business. Running on Friday and Saturday, running a stock car, running a modified, anything I can hop in. I moved to North Carolina to work on the trucks, and the only opportunity I had was to work on the vehicles I was going to drive. Man, I’m so fortunate. Last year, I’ve transitioned to the driver, and man, we’re a champion. First time together with this No. 11 team…I was not a champion driver to start the season. I was very out of my comfort zone. I was caving into the pressure so much just from the team that had the success last year. I finally found my comfort zone halfway through the year, and we racked up some amazing numbers. It’s not because of me, it’s because of this race team and the trucks they build that I’m so lucky to drive.”
As Honeycutt celebrated the 2026 championship, Layne Riggs was left disappointed on pit road after having his bid for his first championship evaporated right from the finale’s start amid his on-track contact with Nick Sanchez and two separate trips to pit road to have flat right-rear tires and damage assessed. Riggs, who finished six laps down in 32nd place, settles in a career-best runner-up result in the final standings and caps off his third full-time Truck campaign with a series-best seven victories, five poles, 13 top-five results, 15 top-10 results, 988 laps led and an average-finishing result of 10.9.
Amid the disappointment, Riggs focused more on the positives, the achievements and fight he exhibited both on and off the track that enabled him to contend for the title. Like Honeycutt, Riggs will remain in the Truck Series and at Front Row Motorsports as he will strive for redemption next season.
“I had plenty of time to think about it when I tried [to rally] about 10 laps down out there,” Riggs said. “[I was] Just kind of thinking about the year that we had. The success that we had. Obviously, we weren’t able to put the consistency together to be champions tonight. We knew [that when] we were gonna have to come out here, we were gonna have to run an almost perfect race. That’s hard to do any time at any series and any level of [motorsports] division. I’m just proud of the entire team that we were even in the [championship] talk. We were in the mix. We even had a chance to become a champion. It was just disappointing to know, I really didn’t even know what my truck was gonna be because after that initial contact, I don’t know what happened with [Sanchez]. I thought I was good, the next thing I knew, we were really close together and I got super free up under him, and the next thing I knew, we cut a tire down. The pressures weren’t even up yet, and I already didn’t know what the balance was gonna be at the end of the race.”
“[Me and my team will] Regroup, be better, look at all the positives that we have,” Riggs added. “[We’re] Excited for next year. I have made solid progression every single year I’ve been in the Truck Series, and I feel like I’m still progressing and maturing every single race as a driver. I’m just super thankful to even be on the racetrack and have top-notched equipment. Obviously, today was a disappointment, but I’m not gonna put a bad look on the entire year as a season just from this one race. We knew it was gonna be a Hail Mary to get it done anyways. Congrats to [Honeycutt]. They did a great job. They had a very consistent season. Hopefully, we can do it again next year.”
Christian Eckes and Daniel Hemric, both of whom inked contract extensions to remain at McAnally-Hilgemann Racing for the 2027 Truck season, finished second and third on the track behind Honeycutt while Ty Majeski and Stewart Friesen finished in the top five, respectively. Corey Heim, Chandler Smith, Jake Garcia, Grant Enfinger and Corey LaJoie completed the top 10.
Notably, Chandler Smith finished in third place in the final standings and in his final event with Front Row Motorsports, as Ty Majeski and Christian Eckes finished in the top-five mark in the final standings. Giovanni Ruggiero, Daniel Hemric, Ben Rhodes, Grant Enfinger and Tyler Ankrum, all of whom made the 2026 Chase along with Honeycutt, Riggs, Smith, Majeski and Eckes, completed the final top-10 mark in the driver’s standings, respectively.
Photo by Mitchell Pavel for SpeedwayMedia.com.
Jake Garcia, who is replacing Smith in the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford entry, emerged as the highest-finishing non-Chase contender in the 2026 final standings in 11th place over Stewart Friesen, while Brenden Queen, driver of the No. 12 RAM 1500 entry for Kaulig Racing, wrapped up the 2026 Truck Series’ Rookie-of-the-Year title. While Toyota achieved the 2026 Truck driver’s title, Ford achieved the manufacturer’s title.
Lastly, the 2026 finale at Homestead marks the final time Craftsman will serve as the Truck Series’ title sponsor, as FedEx Freight will assume the title in 2027.
The 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Race generated 20 lead changes for nine different leaders, and four cautions for 25 laps. In addition, 27 of 35 starters finished on the lead lap.
Results:
Kaden Honeycutt, 15 laps led
Christian Eckes, 46 laps led
Daniel Hemric, eight laps led
Ty Majeski
Stewart Friesen
Corey Heim, 45 laps led, Stages 1 & 2 winner
Chandler Smith, three laps led
Jake Garcia
Grant Enfinger
Corey LaJoie
Giovanni Ruggiero, one lap led
Mason Massey
Ben Rhodes
Landen Lewis
Parker Kligerman
Connor Mosack, five laps led
Timmy Hill
Connor Hall
Justin Haley
Brenden Queen
Tyler Reif
Cole Butcher, one lap led
Mini Tyrrell
Kris Wright
Matt Crafton
Spencer Davis
Tanner Gray
Frankie Muniz, one lap down
Leland Honeyman Jr., one lap down
Spencer Boyd, two laps down
Clayton Green, three laps down
Layne Riggs, six laps down
Andres Perez De Lara – OUT, Accident
Tyler Ankrum – OUT, Accident
Nick Sanchez – OUT, Driveshaft, 10 laps led
*Bold indicates Chase Drivers
Final Chase Standings:
Kaden Honeycutt
Layne Riggs -83
Chandler Smith -131
Ty Majeski -152
Christian Eckes -163
Giovanni Ruggiero -219
Daniel Hemric -222
Ben Rhodes -230
Grant Enfinger -261
Tyler Ankrum -275
The NASCAR Truck Series’ teams and competitors enter an off-season period before returning to action at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2027, to commence a new season of competition.
TOYOTA RACING – Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin NASCAR Cup Series Quotes
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (November 6, 2026) – Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin were made available to the media on Friday prior to the NASCAR Cup Series race from Homestead-Miami Speedway.
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Progressive Insurance Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 Rheem Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
How do you maintain a sense of optimism that the championship is still possible?
DENNY HAMLIN: “I mean, I don’t have any optimism. I don’t. I’m here to try to have fun and try to win the race if possible. But I don’t, yeah, I just, no matter what, I mean, there’s obviously a chance you can win the lottery as well (laughter), but can you really count on that?”
How do you put the errors behind you and move forward from those things?
CHRISTOPHER BELL: “Yeah, I mean, it was certainly not ideal. I mean, we had the had the car performance, had the speed, and yeah, just execution, lack of it, was a reason why we’re not in it and they’re in the spot that they are.”
Do you feel like 2026 was your last best shot at winning the championship? DENNY HAMLIN: “I would think next year would be my last best shot, but, I mean, we obviously had a great regular season, and the Chase tracks lined up great, but obviously we just did not perform at a championship level the last nine races. So, this is what you get.”
From your team owner hat was there anything from the State of the Sport that stood out in a good way or a bad way?
DENNY HAMLIN: “Not in particular. I thought that it was pretty straightforward. Some of the things that he talked about for the first time with y’all those conversations had been had a few months ago. So, we kind of knew some of the things that are coming along around the bend for next year. But no, not really. Nothing, nothing really surprised me or caught me off guard or anything like that.”
Do you do anything this weekend for 2027 or are you still looking at Sunday?
DENNY HAMLIN: “I don’t. I think probably both just kind of, like, really focus on trying to qualify as good as we can, race as good as we can and win the race. I certainly, from my standpoint, I’m not thinking about ‘27 this weekend by any means.”
How valuable has the Progressive relationship meant to the team?
DENNY HAMLIN: “I mean, the number one car insurer in the U.S. is on our car, and I don’t know if it’s because of my lack of DNF’s really turns them on (laughter) or what it is, but it’s really been a great partnership. I think that right from the beginning, I think things kicked off really well with us in ‘25 winning in our first few races with them, and building that relationship, on and off the racetrack. It is a blue-chip brand, my car is going to be far more recognizable with three quarters of the races being back to one car again. I’m really looking forward to that. If they had their way, it’d probably be all, all races, but we’ve got some great people on 11 car that has been very loyal to us over the years, and I’m looking forward to representing them as well, but regardless of the landscape, it just seems like we went from 2025, beginning of the year, having an all-white hauler to, again, the momentum just took off. Now, winning races helps. Really does help, but obviously, JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) does a great job of making sure that the return on investment for them is has really been good, and obviously they’ve done a lot with commercials that they’ll continue in doing next year. So, I’m really happy that I’m going to be in that Progressive blue most of the year.”
What is one takeaway from this year’s Chase that you will carry into next year’s Chase?
CHRISTOPHER BELL: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the new format for sure. I guess one thing that I’ll take away is just the optimism of it doesn’t matter where you finish the regular season it comes down to 10 weeks, winning races. I forgot who was asking me at that media day, but someone, one of you guys was asking of like, what’s the final seed that can win the championship Chase, and that number, I think, got blown out of the water by most of our picks. So, yeah, it’s just all about winning races, that bonus for the wins is really important, especially whenever it’s only 10 races. So, yeah, it truly is not how you start, but how those 10 races go.”
DENNY HAMLIN: “It’s a really good journalistic question, Jeff (Gluck). I think as long as the season is, this Chase can be defined by a few really small, short moments, and you just don’t really know what they are until it happens, or it’s postmortem, but, yeah, it’s a long, grueling season, and, but there’s just little moments that just was, like, the turning point that you’re either going to end up winning the championship or not. So that, for me, is my biggest takeaway.”
Toyota won 18 races. How disappointing is it for them not to win the championship?
CHRISTOPHER BELL: “Yeah, I mean, I was probably, I was very confident that it was going to be a Toyota driver, that won the championship, and ultimately, I think whenever we got into the Chase, the 5 (Kyle Larson) car had a pickup in performance, but I still think by the numbers, there have been guys in Toyota cars specifically that have been faster than them, but just we all shot ourselves in a foot, one way or the other. All of us, myself, Chase (Briscoe), and Denny (Hamlin) all have unique circumstances that got us to where we’re at today, and the 5 team just had the cleanest 10 races or nine races, and, and they put themselves in the right spot.”
DENNY HAMLIN: “I think it needs to be looked at personally, internally with Toyota and JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) and LEGACY (MOTOR CLUB) and 23XI, I think we have to figure out that the win ratio to the championship ratio, is just not been as good as it needs to be. So, I think that that needs to be a deep dive and honestly figure out what needs to be changed. I don’t think we should just rinse and repeat and let’s just do this all again next year. I think we really should think about what it’s going to take to win the big prize at the end because our cars are too fast for there to be just a few, I think, two, and Martin (Truex Jr) is in there. It’s three championships in 20 years. We got to fix that.”
“There’s a disconnect there that some and it could be all different things. Is it engine failures, one year? I’d love to see how it all gets broken down into how it didn’t end up happening year after year.”
The last person to clinch a championship at Homestead was Kyle Busch. How does that effect you as you come back to the track?
DENNY HAMLIN: “When you lose someone that’s obviously as big as he was to this sport, I think that it’s tragic and very unfortunate. The only positive is that you actually get to hear how he’s affected other people, and then, hopefully, it inspires you to be a better person yourself. I mean, that’s kind of my takeaway from it. I think that hearing the stories of how he’s affected so many people within this sport, and even out the sport, it certainly was eye opening to me, because all we see sometimes is the clips or we see within the walls, when we’re teammates, and there’s definitely a different side of people that you just don’t know until something like that happens.”
How has execution affected this Chase for you?
DENNY HAMLIN: “It was a few times. I mean, I had a role. I think Vegas is certainly one. Now did I love pitting? No, and did I feel a sense of urgency to make up for that? Yes, but those are mistakes no one, no one on the team’s fault for a couple of the incidents I had, the (Michael) McDowell one, I mean, I don’t know, that probably could have gone either way, but it’s, yes, we have an execution problem, but I’m not going to totally remove myself from that problem.”
How do you look at this collectively and say how do you clean this up?
DENNY HAMLIN: “Yeah, because you just don’t know how long that you’re going to continue, most of my career I’ve had fast cars, capable of winning championships, but, I mean, if anyone really did a deep dive in the sea, what happened in the Playoffs or Chase for the 11 year after year, it’s an anomaly of things that just doesn’t make sense, that just don’t happen. So, that’s just unfortunate, and some of it’s just execution of, we’re not performing as well, and we’re not executing as well, like you talked about. So, it’s so frustrating because you know that you’re definitely capable, but you have to still play the game. No one’s going to go out there and score for you.”
Can you compare this championship to last year’s Championship 4?
DENNY HAMLIN: “I felt like last year was like a sudden death, and this one was just a slow bleed. Truthfully. I mean, that really was how it was. I mean, I just was in shock for that, I don’t know, 10- minute period from 3 to go to the checker waves. I’m behind the 5 (Kyle Larson) somehow. I hadn’t seen them all day, that was a shock moment for me. Then this year, through each Playoff race, I mean, I’m on the way home, just thinking, gosh, it’s all right, though, we’ll have to just make up for it next week, and then we’ve just been tricking, trickling along and staying somewhat mathematically possible by being solid, but this one was definitely a cut to the wrist and just watch it bleed.”
After Michigan, if you were told that you would have a mathematical shot at the Championship, how do you think your emotion would have been?
CHRISTOPHER BELL: “Yeah, I mean, in that moment, like leaving Michigan, I think, if you’d have told me, hey, you’re going to go into Homestead, second in point, 67 back, be like, okay, yeah, that’s pretty good, but, yeah, just the way that we got here, the way that the Chase unfolded, obviously has been disappointed, and yeah, I mean, overall, I think, I don’t know, three months from now, it, I’ll look back at it and maybe, I don’t know, man. Don’t know. It’s just we’re in the moment today and it is what it is. So, we’ll go out there and race hard.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 48,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 35 million cars and trucks at our 11 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
NASCAR Cup Series Homestead-Miami Speedway Team Chevy Driver Quotes November 6, 2026
Connor Zilisch, driver of the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the season finale race weekend of his NASCAR Cup Series rookie campaign at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Media Availability Quotes:
Connor, just how do you assess what this rookie year has been and what you’ve learned from where you were in February to where you are now in November?
‘Yeah, I’d be lying if I said it was what I hoped for. It certainly hasn’t been a picture-perfect year by any means, but I’m just glad the last few months we’ve started to show some growth and I feel like I’ve gotten better as the year has gone on. It’s certainly taken time. There’s been some rough patches for me, for sure, and that’s been mentally and inside the racecar. It’s definitely taken a toll on me, but these last few months, I feel like we’ve been qualifying better, running better, and at least in the game; staying on the lead lap and just doing the basics. Hopefully we can continue that going into next year. But yeah, certainly not the year I hoped for or wanted, but I’m proud of myself for sticking through it and getting some results on the back end.”
What specifically, if anything, do you feel like has changed the last couple months? You’ve had more top-20s, a top-10 at Gateway, so what do you feel has changed the last couple months?
“I would say the biggest thing is starting our weekends off right on Saturday. We’re unloading better. We’re not swinging through the fences Saturday afternoon trying to figure out what we’re going to do to the racecar for Sunday to make it better. We’re qualifying better, which is a huge thing in the Cup Series. You qualify outside the top-25 at a lot of racetracks and your chances of staying on the lead lap in Stage 1 are slim to none. It’s so hard when the leaders get to the back of the field so quick and you’re kind of stuck back there. You’re in dirty air. You can’t do a ton. You see a lot of the fast cars that are able to do it and make a decent day out of it, but it’s just very difficult to dig yourself out of a hole if you don’t have a good day on Saturday.
We’ve done a better job of that. We’ve had some really good qualifying runs lately, at least in my perspective. We’ve been starting better on Sunday’s, which just completely changes your outlook on your day. You get a better pit stall. You have a track position to start the race. It’s kind of crazy how much it does, and I didn’t realize that coming into the year and probably didn’t put enough emphasis on it. I feel like I’ve done a better job of that.”
Ever since your announcement that you’re going to Hendrick Motorsports in 2028, it seems that people are trying to find a way for you to get there in 2027. Has that just been noise, or has there been any discussions or anything about you trying to get over to Hendrick Motorsports or a Hendrick Motorsports affiliate team?
“Yeah, it’s been a lot of noise. Alex (Bowman) has a commitment to run one more year. I have sponsors to fulfill obligations for another season. I’m excited about that. I think it’d be great to go race for Hendrick Motorsports next year and get that opportunity quicker, but at the same time, I’m happy in the spot I’m in. I get to learn in a lower-pressure situation with less eyeballs on me. I feel like I can just go out and focus on myself. I’m focused on results right now, but I feel like in that position, it would be a lot more stressful each weekend. I feel like it’s good for me to be able to learn in this situation and get to race with Trackhouse Racing for one more year and finish what we started. I would not want to leave Trackhouse after a season like this. I want to end on a good note. I want to be able to leave saying that we achieved all we could and gave it our best effort, which we have. Hopefully next year can go better; we can take something away from it and have a good last season together.”
Is there any one thing that you really learned this year? Something that really sticks out that you maybe weren’t anticipating or something that you felt like, okay, this is what I have to do.
“Yeah, I would say mostly mental. I think for me, I didn’t realize how hard it is. My entire life racing, I’ve raced for wins. I’ve been the guy to beat. I’ve showed up to the track and expected to win. This year, I haven’t had that. I think trying to find motivation when you’re not racing for the win every weekend is something that I’ve never experienced in my life. I’ve never dealt with that kind of adversity. I had to find a way to keep myself motivated and my team motivated through races where you’re not contending for wins every week. I’d say that’s been the biggest thing that I’ve learned is just trying to find goals that are achievable and just focus on those and block out the outside noise because it’s really easy to focus on the results sheet Sunday night and see where you finish. At the end of the day, that is important, but for me, my first year and being a rookie and just trying to learn, it’s not important. I just want to be a better racecar driver, and I think that’s been the biggest thing that I’ve had to learn is to not focus so much on where I’m finishing and just try and allow myself to learn without listening to the noise around me.”
Knowing that you’re going to be going into Hendrick Motorsports, does it give you some sort of comfort in that you can learn and you can learn these things… inaudible?
“It helps, but I still put pressure on myself every weekend to perform, and I expect a lot out of myself. Although I know that I have at least a couple more years of getting to do this, it’s still important to me to run well every weekend. I’m not taking it easy because I know that I have a couple of years of racing in the Cup Series ahead of me.
Yeah, I would say I still put as much pressure on myself, but it is nice knowing that I can have bad weeks and not have to worry about losing my job.”
What do you want to do and accomplish next season?
“Yeah, I just want to do better than I did this year, honestly. I put it as simple as that, and that doesn’t mean I want to finish 32nd in points instead of 33rd. I want to see a larger jump than that. I want to race for wins. I want to get to be on the lead lap each weekend and feel like I’m in the fight. I just want to feel more at home and be able to have confidence in myself to go out and do my job every week and succeed. I’m not setting any goals of amounts of top-10s or where in the points I want to finish. Certainly, I just want to have more confidence in myself to run up front and do better than I did this year.”
Last week on the pit road at Martinsville, Shane (van Gisbergen) mentioned that there were some big team changes coming to Trackhouse Racing next year. Without getting into details, what do you expect to see from Trackhouse from a performance standpoint next year?
“Yeah, it’s not my position to talk about it, but I wouldn’t expect anything major.”
On crew chief Randall Burnett:
“Yeah, I think the plan right now is to stick with Randall (Burnett). Randall’s been great for me. Obviously, the results haven’t been good, but he’s been very helpful for me. It takes time. When you put two new people together, it’s never easy right away. He doesn’t know what I like and what I want to feel out of the racecar every weekend. As we start to build that relationship, it’s only going to get better. I don’t want to have to restart that from square one. I think Randall’s done a good job of progressing as the year has gone on. We’ve made some changes internally in our team, outside of the crew chief position, just to try and help our team and make things better. We’ve seen gains. We just have to try and continue that.”
How has that personal relationship with Randall Burnett grown over this year?
“It has a lot. Randall and I are good friends away from the racetrack, which is super important. We get along well. I’ve gotten close with his kids and watch his son’s racing. He’s just been a great person for me to lean on. He stays pretty even through all the good days and bad days. We try and make fun of it, even when the weeks aren’t going great.”
First off, how many times did you have to pay for losers dinner this year?
“I paid for 12 of the 36. Not bad, but hopefully we can get that number down next year.”
So it’s going to continue?
“Yeah, I hope so. We all love it. After every single race, I always look at the scoring pylon and make sure that I at least beat one of them. It’s a battle within a battle.”
Secondly, talking about this year and going through the journey of a rookie season, is there anything that you can look at and say you’re grateful for having gone through this year?
“Yeah, there’s a lot I’m grateful for. First of all, the opportunity. I don’t think many drivers have raced in the Cup Series at 20 years old, so the fact that I was able to do this at this age and get a jump start on it is great. It hasn’t been great, but I’d rather learn it at a young age than wait until later. I’m grateful for Justin Marks and believing in me; Red Bull and everybody who was a part of it for giving me the opportunity. I’ve tried to take in every experience, whether it was walking out and seeing how many fans were in the stands. I still remember the Daytona 500 walking out with Jimmie Johnson. It was like my childhood dream. It was kind of crazy.
At the end of the day, I’m still living out my dream. I’m grateful for everything that I’ve been able to do, but it’s tough to remember that sometimes.”
The whole Rookie of the Year thing, it’s just kind of funny to me because I feel like every time you’re here or at a media scrum or whatever, it’s always just man, it’s a struggle, I hope I do better next year. But for all that, you’re going to have this title for the rest of your career, the rest of your life. What do you hope the prevailing emotions is when you either look at the trophy that was collecting dust or see your name as Rookie of the Year. What do you expect that emotion to be?
“Yeah, I just hope the stat sheets never show how many were racing for it in parentheses next to it because if that happens, then it’ll be a little embarrassing (laughs). But yeah, I guess I have to accept my award and take it. If I was a betting man, I would have put a lot of money on the fact that I would have won Rookie of the Year in February. But unfortunately, I can’t bet on our sport. If I could, then I probably wouldn’t have made much money because there would have been great odds.
But yeah, it’s kind of just comical after the year I’ve had to have to go to the banquet and collect an award. I feel like I shouldn’t be going, but here we are. I’ll take it.”
I think it was New Hampshire in August that we started having longer practice sessions. As a rookie driver, how does that help you guys as you’ve rolled through this final dozen or so races as you get these longer practice sessions?
“Yeah, I mean, it helps having two sets of tires and everybody goes out together. You can kind of gauge yourself off the fast guys. It’s a little bit easier to know where you are on Saturday afternoon when everybody’s in one group and you all go out there together. And also, getting two sets of tires, you’re able to make changes and put another set of tires on and see if it makes your car better or not. It certainly hasn’t hurt us as a team and just getting myself ready for qualifying. So yeah, I’ve enjoyed it.”
Can you just talk a little bit about your relationship with Jeff Gordon? I know he’s talked about not wanting to interfere with the rest of your time at Trackhouse, but what kind of role has he played with your transition?
Yeah, I mean, Jeff (Gordon) is somebody I look up to. I’ve known him for a little bit, but I really haven’t gotten to spend much time with him until the last few months. Getting to spend time with him and hear from him and his experiences is super valuable for me. Not only was he a great racecar driver, but he’s a very smart businessman, as well, and that’s something that I want to be myself. So yeah, I look forward to spending more time with him and as time goes, I’m sure I will, but I certainly look up to him and the person he is.”
You’re talking about some of the moments throughout your rookie season. Are there any that stand out to you that you’ll kind of look back on going forward or anything like that? “You know, I wouldn’t point to one situation in particular, but I kind of just look back on the entire season of the experiences I’ve gotten to live through. There’s nothing very glamorous that I’m going to point back to and remember, but just the hard times and trying to get through it all and figuring things out week by week is something that I’ll cherish and remember.”
About General Motors
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future.
GM Motorsports, including the Cadillac Formula 1® Team develops and proves advanced technologies in the most demanding environments, accelerating innovation in performance, safety, efficiency, and electrification for its production vehicles. Cadillac Racing is one of the leading manufacturers in the IMSA and FIA World Endurance Championships (WEC). Chevrolet competes in single seaters in the US IndyCar series, and in NASCAR with multiple team partners and drivers. Corvette customer teams compete in GT series across the globe including IMSA and WEC. Learn more at GM.com.
