Kaden Honeycutt Earns First Career Pole for Tennessee Army National Guard 250

NASCAR Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway promises intense competition with new Chase playoff format

Apr. 11, 2026 at 11:23am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movement and energy of a NASCAR Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, with the iconic track and silhouettes of the racing trucks broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color.The new Chase playoff format adds an extra layer of intensity to the NASCAR Truck Series season, as drivers like Kaden Honeycutt vie for the championship in a fractured, high-energy race at Bristol Motor Speedway.Bristol Today

Kaden Honeycutt will make his first career pole start in the Tennessee Army National Guard 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway, as the NASCAR Truck Series season continues with a diverse lineup of veteran and up-and-coming drivers. The race will feature the new Chase playoff format, adding extra intensity to every event as only 10 drivers will battle for the championship from Race 19 onward.

Why it matters

Honeycutt's pole position is a significant milestone in his career, while the new Chase system has the potential to elevate the profiles of certain drivers as the spotlight intensifies on the championship contenders. The race at Bristol, known for its short-track excitement, will provide an early test of the new format's impact on the season.

The details

Kaden Honeycutt, driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, secured the pole position for the Tennessee Army National Guard 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He will be joined on the front row by his teammate Christian Eckes. The lineup also includes veteran drivers like Kyle Busch and Ross Chastain, as well as rising talents such as Carson Hocevar and Gio Ruggerio. With the race scheduled for a Friday night start at 7:30 pm ET, the drivers will have a short turnaround to adapt to the unique challenges of Bristol's short track.

  • Kaden Honeycutt will make his first career pole start in the Tennessee Army National Guard 250 on April 11, 2026.
  • The race is scheduled for a Friday night start at 7:30 pm ET on April 11, 2026.

The players

Kaden Honeycutt

A rising star in the NASCAR Truck Series, Honeycutt will be making his first career pole start at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Christian Eckes

Honeycutt's teammate at Kyle Busch Motorsports, Eckes will start alongside him on the front row.

Kyle Busch

The veteran NASCAR driver will be competing in the Tennessee Army National Guard 250.

Ross Chastain

Another experienced driver in the NASCAR Truck Series, Chastain will be part of the diverse lineup at Bristol.

Carson Hocevar

An up-and-coming talent in the NASCAR Truck Series, Hocevar will be looking to make an impact at Bristol.

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What they’re saying

“This is a huge opportunity for me, and I'm ready to make the most of it. The team has worked hard, and I'm excited to see what we can do on the track.”

— Kaden Honeycutt, Driver

“The new Chase format is going to add a lot of excitement to the season. Every race is going to be crucial, and we're all going to have to bring our best stuff to the track.”

— Kyle Busch, NASCAR Driver

What’s next

The Tennessee Army National Guard 250 will be broadcast live on FS1 on April 11, 2026, at 7:30 pm ET, providing fans with an up-close view of the action.

The takeaway

The Tennessee Army National Guard 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway marks an important milestone for Kaden Honeycutt, who will be making his first career pole start. The race also showcases the impact of NASCAR's new Chase playoff format, which has the potential to elevate the profiles of certain drivers as the championship battle intensifies.