NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race at Watkins Glen

Kaden Honeycutt watched the chaos in his mirrors and waited for it to come to him. It did.

Driving the No. 11 Safelite + Foster Love Toyota Tundra TRD for TRICON Garage, Honeycutt drove off the rear of the field after a closed-pit-road penalty, took the front row when Gio Ruggiero violated the restart zone while leading on Lap 69, and cleared Connor Zilisch through a tight Turn 1 on the first lap of overtime to win the Bully Hill Vineyards 176 — the first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory of his career, and the second half of an ARCA Menards-Truck Series doubleheader sweep at Watkins Glen on the same afternoon. The Texas native crossed the line 0.902 second clear of the No. 71 Trackhouse Labs Chevrolet of Zilisch.

Brent Crews set the day in motion with the first pole of his career, posting a 125.602 mph qualifying lap and leading the field to the green flag. Daniel Hemric grabbed the early initiative through the Esses to win Stage 1, and Zilisch — leading a race-high 28 laps in the No. 71 — controlled the long-run pace through Stage 2 to take that segment for himself.

Honeycutt's race nearly ended in the second stage. Caught coming to pit road as it cycled closed, he was assessed a penalty that sent him to the rear of the field for the start of the 32-lap final stage. From the back to the front in 32 laps on a 2.45-mile road course is normally a fantasy ask. But Watkins Glen handed him two gifts in eight laps.

Ross Chastain led with eight to go in regulation, lined up beside Zilisch for the restart, and powered the No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet before he reached the restart zone. NASCAR sent him to the back. He was collected in a multi-truck incident in Turn 5 on Lap 70 and finished 28th. Then on Lap 69, Ruggiero — leading the field — committed his own restart-zone violation, which slid Honeycutt forward to the outside of the front row alongside Zilisch for the overtime restart.

Honeycutt cleared Zilisch through Turn 1 on the first lap of overtime. The No. 71 had nothing for him over the final lap and a half.