NASCAR imposed a $50,000 fine on Carson Hocevar after he spun his tires while safety personnel were attending to his vehicle at Kansas Speedway during last Sunday’s race. Hocevar, addressing the penalty the following Saturday, offered a thorough explanation, emphasizing that his actions were not intentional but rather a result of the circumstances after he lost control on Lap 260 of 273. The incident and ensuing fine have sparked discussion around race safety and driver conduct.
Hocevar Describes the Actions Leading to the Penalty
Hocevar explained that he revved his engine simply to shift the car into neutral, which proved difficult in the moment.
“I fired it up just to throw it into neutral,”
Hocevar said, as quoted by Matt Weaver of Motorsport.
“It’s sometimes hard to get these things into neutral so I fired it up. Honestly, I didn’t know it spun the tires. Obviously, there’s a tow truck in front of me so I’m not going anywhere.”
He clarified that the tires spinning was unintentional and that he was stationary when the safety crew was nearby.
He further reflected on the situation, noting,
“I was trying to go someplace earlier but the tires were off the ground and they just spin. But they judge based off of actions and visibility and not intent, right? The tires spun, black and white, so next time I might just have them rock the car to throw me in neutral. That’s on me not… I was sitting there in third gear doing a burnout so it’s on me not thinking about the tires spinning. It was educational for me. It’s expensive too. It’s educational for our guys too so I could just say I’m stuck in second and go from there.”
Regarding NASCAR’s perspective on the incident, Hocevar acknowledged the officials’ limited ability to assess intent during events:
“NASCAR doesn’t have the intent. They can’t know the plan and story behind everything and judge everything and sometimes they have to call it the way they see it.”
Why NASCAR Issued the Penalty and Hocevar’s Response
Hocevar accepted NASCAR’s decision without dispute, calling it a clear-cut determination under the sport’s regulations. The breach was classified under Sections 4.4.B and 4.4.D of the NASCAR Rule Book, which address actions that jeopardize the safety of the event and those deemed harmful to stock car racing’s integrity.
- Section 4.4.B explains that any actions compromising the safety of the event or risking the well-being of competitors, officials, spectators, or others are forbidden.
- Section 4.4.D covers behaviors by NASCAR members considered detrimental to the sport or organization.
Hocevar reiterated his acknowledgment of the fine and the incident, saying,
“It got to like 1200 RPMs right? I just fired it up, threw it into neutral and shut it off, and I didn’t even realize the tires were spinning,”
adding, “They called it right.”
Hocevar’s Season Status and Upcoming Race Preview
Currently competing in his second season with Spire Motorsports, Hocevar sits 22nd in the season points standings. His performance to date includes eight top-10 finishes, two top-5 finishes, and seven DNFs. Looking ahead, he is set to start 27th in the upcoming race on the Charlotte ROVAL, seeking to improve his position in the standings amid a challenging season.
Incident Footage and Community Reaction
The incident at Kansas Speedway generated considerable attention, with a video shared by NASCAR Communications capturing the events as they unfolded. The clip offers a detailed view of the situation that led to the penalty and has been referenced by media outlets covering the story.
Here's a look at the incident involving Carson Hocevar at Kansas Speedway. https://t.co/MexZKWjeMv pic.twitter.com/FnWTbxDnck
— NASCAR Communications (@NASCAR_Comms) October 2, 2025
