Following a contentious moment with Christopher Bell in Atlanta last weekend, Carson Hocevar is aiming for a mistake-free outing in the upcoming NASCAR race at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA). After finishing fourth in Atlanta’s overtime restart incident that sent Bell into the outside wall, Hocevar wants to maintain momentum and avoid the errors that made headlines.
Mixed Results on Road Courses Highlight COTA as a Challenge
Hocevar carries an average finish of 21.7 on road and street courses. However, his record at COTA stands out with less consistency, including a 22nd place in 2024 and a 17.5 average finish in two attempts overall. Despite these numbers, the Spire Motorsports driver is motivated to reverse this trend and build on recent promising performances.
Recent Races Shape Hocevar’s Approach to Road Courses
Earlier setbacks at Daytona, where Hocevar led until a last-lap incident caused by Erik Jones ended his bid, were followed by a stronger showing in Atlanta. In Atlanta, Hocevar rebounded with a solid fourth-place finish, strengthening his resolve to improve results on road courses like COTA.
Confidence in Team and Equipment Ahead of COTA
Hocevar credited his team’s work, stating,
“Our guys on the No. 77 team have done a great job this year building us fast Camaros, and I don’t see that changing this week. Of all the road courses, this is definitely the one that has been the most challenging for me.”
He acknowledges the difficulty of COTA but remains hopeful due to recent progress.
Maintaining Composure to Maximize Results
Reflecting on his qualifying performance at COTA last year, Hocevar said,
“We always qualify well on road courses. The goal for Sunday is to keep it on the asphalt and not make mistakes. If we can keep it clean, we’ll maximize our day and come out of the weekend with a solid points day.”
Balancing Aggression and Caution in Racing Style
Hocevar’s mention of avoiding mistakes hints at steering clear of incidents like the one in Atlanta that affected Christopher Bell and drew criticism from experienced drivers such as Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Nevertheless, Hocevar is known for his competitive racing style and is unlikely to race cautiously merely to avoid contact.
Staying out of the “blast zone” while maintaining assertiveness on the track may be his strategy for navigating COTA’s challenges effectively, aiming to improve his track record and gain valuable points.
