Simply stated, that was a Kaden Honeycutt and Tom Usry Racing beatdown.
Honeycutt started the Thunder Road Harley Davidson South Boston 200 in third place and took the lead from Landen Lewis by Lap 10 and was uncontested over the remainder of the race.
Sure, there were moments where Trevor Ward looked capable of challenging for the win but Honeycutt’s No. 17 Reynold’s Racing Chassis was exceptional in clean air and navigating traffic.
He led the final 190 laps to kick off NASCAR’s Virginia Triple Crown for the Late Model Stock division.
“Man, that was awesome,” Honeycutt told Short Track Scene after the race. “I just cannot tell you how much I am proud of my team, Tom Usry Racing, Charlie Long Racing Engines, Five Star Bodies, Swift Springs, Fayetteville Heating & Air …. We couldn’t do this without them.
“I did the bow because I feel like that was an old KFB (Kyle Busch) race. Trevor was definitely getting to my butt there. He was hauling the mail. I actually thought he was better in traffic and took care of his stuff and I’m just glad we didn’t have a caution and we brought it home.”
The victory celebration! Kaden Honeycutt celebrates his first career Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 win! pic.twitter.com/OQXsoGIIjG
— South Boston Speedway (@SoBoSpeedway57) June 27, 2026
Ward needed to drive from 13th to fifth by the Lap 100 halfway break. He closed in on Honeycutt as they approached traffic in the closing laps but Ward lost ground as they navigated the slower cars.
“I think it was a trade-off, you know, lap traffic and everything played out for him right there,” Ward said. “So really, kudos to him. I feel like we needed a 210-lap race instead of 200 but I was also really free. I thought he looked really free too so I was needing to be disciplined myself.
“I had a rabbit to chase and he couldn’t see where I was making gains. That’s how we were able to capitalize a little bit. It sucks to come up short by one spot in another crown jewel here but I’m also looking at the positives with a track championship and Triple Crown and finished second versus the best in the business.”
That is how Landon Pembleton looked at is as well in finishing third after needing to drive from the back of the field.
“After the break I was good in traffic but I just couldn’t … I was too far back,” Pembleton said. “I eventually got caught up to Trevor and then I got hung up behind a big group and they were just racing their guts out and I don’t blame them. That’s part of it.
“I wish I could have gotten through them quicker but I was okay running third. I was kind of hoping for a caution because I was saving a little bit. I’m pretty content with today. I’m wore out.”
There were two incidents of note with the first occurring on the first lap and collecting Conner Jones, Ryley Music, Mini Tyrrell, Landon Huffman, Carson Loftin and Tyler Matthews.
The other notable incident transpired on Lap 44 when Pembelton took Peyton Sellers and Andrew Grady three-wide out of Turn 2, resulting in the latter two getting crashed. With nowhere to go, Lee Pulliam drove his JR Motorsports No. 8 right into it.
It left Grady frustrated with Pembelton.
Andrew Grady had some spicy words after that incident.
For his part, Pembelton wanted to offer Grady an explanation.
“I want to talk to him,” Pembelton said. “That was not on me. I was on the flat and (Sellers) tried to shoot a hole in between me and him that wasn’t there. I let him do it like three times before, but enough was enough.
“I was already there close and then he kept on coming down and I’m there, so I want to tell Grady that wasn’t my fault. I’d have to go back and watch it obviously, but I have a 99 percent confidence that wasn’t on me.”
Sellers said ‘on paper,’ that was his fault but from a ‘common sense department,’ it was on Pembelton since it was so early in the race.
South Boston 200 XX South Boston Speedway June 27 2026
Matt Weaver is the owner and founder of Short Track Scene. Weaver grew up in the sport, having raced himself before becoming a reporter in college at the University of South Alabama. He also has extensive experience covering NASCAR, IndyCar and Dirt Sprint Cars.
