Leland Honeyman's race recap in the 2026 Chase race at Talladega

Leland Honeyman Jr. endured a difficult afternoon in Saturday’s The Progress Group 250 at Talladega Superspeedway, finishing 36th after starting 31st. The DGM Racing driver showed competitive speed during the middle portion of the event but ultimately finished six laps behind the leaders.

Honeyman initially worked through the field as JR Motorsports controlled the leading drafting lanes. His No. 71 Chevrolet became more competitive during Stage 2, allowing him to challenge for valuable track position. Honeyman eventually finished 10th in the second stage, recording a solid performance against several championship contenders.

However, his afternoon became more complicated following the stage break when his team received a pit-road penalty. The setback cost valuable track position and forced him to attempt a recovery during the final stage. His race became even more challenging on Lap 57 when he spun during a multicar accident involving Taylor Gray, Austin Hill and Brandon Jones.

Although Honeyman was able to continue competing, the incident disrupted his opportunity to secure a stronger finish. He ultimately completed 88 laps and finished 36th, six laps behind winner Sammy Smith. The disappointing result overshadowed his competitive showing during Stage 2.

Honeyman will look to build upon that speed during future NASCAR opportunities.

This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Leland Honeyman’s race recap in the 2026 Chase race at Talladega