Carson Hocevar, driver of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, met with the media before the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying sessions at World Wide Technology Raceway. Hocevar shared his thoughts on his racing career and personal interests, providing a revealing glimpse into his experiences and mindset ahead of the Gateway race.
Passion for Street-Legal NASCAR-Inspired Cars
Known for his enthusiasm for racing vehicles beyond the track, Hocevar discussed his growing collection of street-legal cars that resemble NASCAR models. He described how his love for these cars began during his youth in Kalamazoo Speedway. He fondly recalled the owner’s Intimidator SS, which inspired his interest.
“I’ve always wanted street legal cars as a kid. Kalamazoo Speedway, where I was from, the owner had one of the Intimidator SS’s and I thought that was like the coolest thing in the world. Every time I look at Facebook Marketplace, it seems like there’s more and more coming up. Either my algorithms knowing it or people are making these cars knowing I’ll probably buy them. I was literally in the hauler a minute ago looking at another one. I just enjoy cars, but I enjoy NASCAR’s, too. It’s a lot of fun when you drive it. The Dale truck — I blew a tire and I think I got 100 honks and ‘hell yeahs’, ‘Go Dale’ and stuff like that. I haven’t driven the Oldsmobile yet on the road, so I’m curious about that reaction. It’s pretty awesome. It’s a history of NASCAR, but also it’s super fun. The first time I drove the Dale truck, I had about six people walk over to me. I was stuck at a gas station for an hour. We just talked NASCAR. I think that’s what I’ve most enjoyed with it.”
— Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Driver
Joining the Documentary ‘Rising’: Sharing the Racing Journey
Hocevar opened up about his involvement in the documentary “Rising,” which highlights the journeys of three emerging drivers in the NASCAR circuit. Reflecting on his own path, Hocevar said he values the candid portrayal of drivers and the deeper insights it offers fans. He also pointed out how similar racing documentaries influenced his passion from a young age.
He mentioned being an avid collector of racing mini-documentaries featuring drivers like Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Dale Earnhardt Sr. These films helped cultivate his admiration for the sport and drivers alike. Hocevar expressed enthusiasm about helping bring more of these stories to the NASCAR audience, emphasizing the importance of transparency and family within the sport.
Perspective on Last Week’s On-Track Incident with the No. 9 Car
Discussing recent contact during a race involving the No. 9 car, Hocevar described the event as part of typical racing dynamics. He emphasized moving on without lingering tension, acknowledging the competing intentions behind the incident.
“Yeah, I mean you just move on. It was super early. It didn’t affect either one of us I don’t think too bad. You just move on. One thinks you’re going to give a little bit of extra room, and the other you’re trying to kind of play a pick. I think that’s just racing.”
— Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Driver
Consideration of iRacing Partnership
When asked about a potential iRacing sponsorship or partnership, Hocevar responded candidly. He acknowledged that while he is a frequent user of iRacing, his driving style might not be the perfect fit for representing the brand.
“Yeah, I mean it would be cool, for sure, because obviously I use it a lot. But for how I drive on iRacing, I don’t think I’m their brightest shining ambassador they would want, per se a little bit, so I kind of understand that too.”
— Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Driver
Addressing Pit Road Incident and Team Communications
Regarding the pit road incident involving Christopher Bell, who was reportedly upset, Hocevar clarified that the matter has been resolved through conversations among crew chiefs. He explained that drivers on pit road often have limited visibility, placing greater responsibility on team leaders to coordinate safely.
“Yeah, my crew chief (Luke Lambert) and Adam Stevens talked and they were all good. Obviously, you know heat of the moment, everybody can share their frustration, but they talked and they were all good. Drivers, most of the time on pit road, are kind of just blind, per se, right? It’s more on the crew chiefs from that aspect to guide us in and out, so they had that conversation and I think they’re plenty good moving forward.”
— Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Driver
Recounting the Buzz from His Cup Series Debut
Hocevar reflected on the excitement surrounding his NASCAR Cup Series debut at World Wide Technology Raceway. He described a whirlwind period where contract negotiations for his truck series position abruptly shifted to initiating a Cup ride within a short timeframe. Although the initial buzz may not have been immediate, the aftermath was a memorable surge of activity and opportunity.
“I do, yeah. I remember a lot of that that day. It was a lot of fun. It’s pretty crazy what it was like. I don’t know if there was a lot of buzz at the start, but I remember when I got out of the car, there was a lot of moving pieces on my end that it was all a very quick 180 of trying to sign an extension on my truck deal to legitimately getting the conversation started about driving a Cup car within 70 laps, which was pretty wild.”
— Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Driver
Growth After Starting in Secondary Equipment
Hocevar discussed his beginnings in suboptimal cars during his early Cup opportunities. While acknowledging nervousness about performance, he appreciated running well despite equipment limitations. He noted how the rapid improvements in his team’s performance sparked optimism and ambition within Spire Motorsports.
“I mean I was just very nervous about being slow. If I wrecked or ran 30th, I think it wouldn’t have been a shock, but if I ran really fast, I think that would have been the shock and the needle mover, per se. Luckily when the brake rotor broke, I was moving forward and we were like 15th or 16th, which I thought helped me a little bit theoretically because like a month later, it was like we were running eighth-place lap times. And then like two months later, the stories were that we were going to run top-five. And then you know six months later, we were going to win the race. I’m like — these are getting out of control a little bit. But it kind of helped a little bit of just kind of that ‘what-if’ aspect that I thought may Spire Motorsports hungrier to be aggressive and want to make that change for me being in the No. 77. I would have liked to see how that day played out, but honestly, I thought it couldn’t work out any better.”
— Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Driver
Reflections on Racing Against Cup Drivers in Truck and Xfinity Series
Hocevar weighed in on how competing against Cup drivers in lower series influences a driver’s perceived readiness for higher levels. He cited conversations with Jeff Dickerson, emphasizing that the presence of Cup veterans in Truck or Xfinity fields serves as a benchmark for evaluating emerging talent.
“Yeah, I mean I think any time you’re racing a Cup driver in Trucks or Xfinity, you know ultimately their owners are watching that and that’s how they really grade it. When there are no Cup guys in the field, I mean you could win 10 of them but if you if you go 0-10 — you know, split half and half, you go 10-0 against no Cup guys but you go 0-10 against Cup guys, I think that’s what a lot of teams really look at. You’re still really good but I think that is a true grade. (Jeff) Dickerson and I talk about it all the time because obviously he was an agent in there and he was there when the top-10 of Xfinity would be all Cup guys and — you’d be lucky to run 12th and you’d be pumped because you’re best in class. So yeah, I don’t think we need to get back there but I definitely think it would make it a lot easier. You know, I’m here because I got to go join the Cup field and race against them; got thrown to the deep end and I didn’t sink right away. So yeah, I think that’s the biggest thing is if I never got that shot, I would just be hoping Cup guys would come run Trucks and maybe I can outrun them. I remember Sonoma when I won the pole, there were like four Cup guys right behind me and that Truck pole meant a lot more because of that.”
— Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Driver
Challenges of Racing on Gateway’s Narrow Pit Road
Discussing the notoriously tight pit road at Gateway, Hocevar shared a mix of humor and insight. He pointed out how the increased frequency of pit stops and the competitiveness of the field have made pit road a demanding environment. Despite a recent pit road incident where he wrecked, he noted that drivers have adapted to the intensity and normality of close quarters during stops.
Hocevar explained how the number of cars on the lead lap has grown, heightening competition and forcing drivers through more frequent stops. Fast pit crews and tight spaces contribute to making the pit road a crucial battleground in NASCAR races.
Reflections on a Resilient Performance at Darlington
Hocevar looked back on his recent race at Darlington, where he recovered from a spin to finish in the top 10. He dismissed regrets over what might have been, crediting the speed of Toyota teams while expressing satisfaction with his Chevrolet’s performance. The ability to rebound quickly during varying performance levels has been key to his team’s overall results this season.
“I mean, I don’t know. The Toyota’s were super-fast. So yeah, I don’t think there was any like ‘what-ifs’. I think the only ‘what-ifs’ is if we could have ran best in class, from the Chevy aspect, to run like fifth or sixth versus ninth. But yeah, I was still really happy with that and the turnaround — to be able to go from like pretty good to the worst driving car I felt like I’ve ever had for a minute and then we put two-tenths of air or something and be pretty good right.”
— Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Driver
He also highlighted the advice of Jeff Dickerson, explaining that even top teams sometimes experience chaotic days but manage strong finishes, a strategy Spire Motorsports aims to emulate moving forward.
Looking Ahead: Building Momentum at Gateway and Beyond
As Carson Hocevar prepares to compete at World Wide Technology Raceway, his reflections reveal a determined and thoughtful competitor embracing both the challenges and rewards of NASCAR competition. His passion for the sport, dedication to continuous improvement, and role in documenting the next generation of drivers position him as an influential figure within the racing community. The Gateway race offers Hocevar another opportunity to build on his progress and further establish himself within the Cup Series field.
