Carson Hocevar NASCAR Gateway struggles have been a defining aspect of his racing career as he prepares for this Sunday’s NASCAR Cup playoff event at World Wide Technology Raceway, near St. Louis. The 22-year-old driver from Portage, Michigan, has encountered multiple setbacks at this challenging 1.6-mile oval, yet his determination keeps growing despite past difficulties.
Hocevar’s involvement with Gateway began in 2022 during the Craftsman Truck Series, where he was involved in a severe crash that resulted in a broken ankle. Remarkably, he did not miss any races that year and finished the season in tenth place despite the injury. His troubles at Gateway continued the following year when he made his NASCAR Cup debut in 2023, only to crash into the Turn 1 wall on Lap 91. This solo wreck eliminated him from the race and placed him last in the 36-car field.
Signs of Progress Amid Past Setbacks
In 2024, however, Hocevar finally completed a full race at Gateway, finishing eighth, his best result at the track to date. This improvement indicates a turning point in his relationship with the challenging venue. Coming into this Sunday’s race, he hopes to build on his two career-best Cup finishes, both second-place results earned earlier this year at tracks similar to Gateway—Atlanta and Nashville.
Reflecting on his 2022 crash, Hocevar admits to consciously avoiding dwelling on the past incident.
“I try not to think about the wreck and the injury,”
he said earlier this week.
“I think that’s what most drivers would do, you just can’t worry about that.”
He also expressed the personal significance of returning to Gateway after his difficult debut.
“The Cup debut and then coming back last year to kind of make up for how that first race ended, means a lot more to me.”
Gateway Holds a Special Place for Hocevar
Despite the tough experiences he has endured at Gateway, Hocevar remains deeply connected to the track and regards it fondly. He shared the track’s importance in his career progression, especially regarding Spire Motorsports.
“That’s where all of this started,”
he said, referring to how team owner Jeff Dickerson first saw potential in him to advance in NASCAR.
“It’s where Spire Motorsports and Jeff Dickerson first saw something in me that made them think it might be good for me to move up.”
He continued on the emotional significance of Gateway beyond results.
“Whether other people think it was good or not doesn’t really matter, but Gateway is a special place for me and I love racing there every year.”
Looking Ahead: Hope for a Breakthrough at Gateway
Hocevar, now a rising figure in the NASCAR Cup series, does not expect Gateway to guarantee him a victory or even a top-five finish. Yet, the possibility of securing his first career Cup win at this track would symbolize a meaningful turning point, healing past difficulties and elevating his standing in the sport.
He encourages staying true to oneself throughout the tough and rewarding moments of racing.
“There will be a lot of tough days, but the good ones make up for them. You’ll piss off a lot of drivers, and that isn’t always fun, but you’ll end up with a good group of guys on the No. 77 who have your back and believe in you.”
This Sunday’s race at Gateway offers Hocevar a critical opportunity to rewrite his narrative at a venue that has both challenged and shaped his career so far, with hopes high for a breakthrough performance that could launch his comeback to new heights.
