The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will make its debut on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, with the OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 scheduled for Saturday, February 28. Due to rain, the drivers were limited to just about 10 minutes of practice, with no qualifying session held ahead of the race. During the brief session, Kaden Honeycutt, driving the No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage, posted the fastest lap, navigating the 1.8-mile street circuit in 78.922 seconds, averaging 82.106 mph.
Strong Performances from Experienced and New Drivers Amid Challenging Conditions
Honeycutt, hailing from Willow Park, Texas, has been a standout so far this season, having led every practice session in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series—first at Daytona International Speedway’s longer 50-minute practice and now at the St. Petersburg street course, despite the rain-shortened run. Notably, the series had no practice before its second race of 2026 at EchoPark Speedway.
Ben Maier, a newcomer to the series this season and making just his third career start, impressed by finishing second in the No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Niece Motorsports. Maier, a Trans Am Series graduate and defending champion of the zMAX CARS Tour Pro Late Model, has shown promise in his early Truck Series races.
Behind Maier, seasoned driver Ben Rhodes secured the third-fastest lap, followed by retired NTT IndyCar veteran James Hinchcliffe, who reached fourth place despite completing only four laps in a NASCAR Truck vehicle. Ty Majeski, driving the No. 88 Menards Ford F-150 for ThorSport Racing, rounded out the top five fastest drivers in the practice.
Additional Practice Results and Incidents on the Streets of St. Petersburg
Connor Mosack, who earned the pole position for Saturday’s race, recorded the sixth-best lap time. The top ten in the session was completed by Chandler Smith, Jake Garcia, Tyler Ankrum, and Adam Andretti. All 36 drivers entered in the event completed at least one lap during the session, although Colin Braun and Cole Butcher only managed a single tour of the circuit.
Rookie contender Cole Butcher, driving ThorSport Racing’s No. 13 Atlantic Tiltload vehicle, was eager to get experience on the road course in what marks his first-ever road course race at any level. Unfortunately, he brushed the outside wall early, narrowly missing the tire barrier but sustaining significant damage to his truck.
Legendary racer Dario Franchitti made his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start in nearly 20 years, completing eight laps in the No. 1 Dollar Tree Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. For a brief moment during the practice, Franchitti led the speed charts, showcasing his skill despite his long hiatus from the series. He ultimately finished 19th in the session.
Anticipation Builds for Saturday’s Inaugural OnlyBulls Green Flag 150
The OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 is set to begin at noon Eastern Time on February 28 and will be broadcast live on FOX, with radio coverage provided by the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. This first-ever street race for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series represents a new challenge on a tight and technical road course, where drivers like Kaden Honeycutt, Ben Maier, and Dario Franchitti will look to carry their practice speed into the race.
Given the limited practice and absence of qualifying, the race outcome is uncertain, heightening excitement and strategic complexity for teams and drivers alike. How Honeycutt and other strong performers adapt to the unique demands of the Streets of St. Petersburg under race conditions will be key in this historic season opener.
