NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar sparked confusion when it was widely reported that he had purchased the Chili’s restaurant in his hometown of Portage, Michigan. However, just before Sunday’s playoff race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Hocevar clarified the situation, revealing the incident was a prank meant to counter misleading rumors. This explanation sheds light on the viral “Carson Hocevar Chili’s prank” that caught the attention of many fans.
The Real Story Behind Hocevar’s Chili’s Announcement
Hocevar addressed the situation by explaining that he never actually bought the Chili’s location. Instead, it was a playful response to a false report circulating in Portage, which claimed the restaurant was shutting down. A local radio station had asked Hocevar to promote the fact that the Chili’s was not closing, so he jokingly claimed ownership until his “first payment hits,” creating another layer of clickbait to fight the original misleading news.
“In Portage, some radio station made a clickbait thing about the Chili’s shutting down. They asked me if I would promote it that it’s not closed and I was like, can’t I just say bought until the first payment hits? They loved it so you know, that’s kind of how you fight fire with fire nowadays.” – Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Hocevar’s Current NASCAR Campaign and Performance
Carson Hocevar, 22, is in his second year driving the No. 77 Chevy Camaro for Spire Motorsports. Despite showing promise, he has yet to earn his first Cup Series victory. Earlier this year, Hocevar claimed a win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Kansas, highlighting his rising talent. Through 31 races this season, he has achieved two top-five finishes and eight top-10s, while leading a total of 116 laps. Currently, Hocevar sits 22nd in the driver standings with 625 points, keeping hopes alive for a breakthrough win this season.
Although Hocevar is not part of the playoff contenders, his upcoming appearance at the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte offers another opportunity to gain valuable experience. The race will be broadcast live on USA Network starting at 3 pm ET on Sunday, October 5. Fans can also follow live updates via PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.
Incident at Kansas Speedway Leads to $50,000 Fine for Hocevar
Hocevar’s recent race performance faced a significant setback when he received a $50,000 fine from NASCAR for his conduct during the Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway. On Lap 260, his No. 77 car spun out on the backstretch, causing multiple tire damages and prompting a caution flag. When safety workers arrived, Hocevar attempted to restart his car by revving the engine and spinning his tires, which NASCAR considered a violation of its member conduct rules.
“NASCAR has fined Carson Hocevar $50,000 for what NASCAR termed as a behavioral infraction,” reported Bob Pockrass on X. “After he spun and came to a stop at Kansas and safety workers had gotten to his car, he revved and spun his tires as he tried to rejoin the field.” – Bob Pockrass, Motorsport Journalist
At the time of the incident, Hocevar was running 13th but ultimately finished 29th, four laps behind the leader. Chase Elliott, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, won the race, securing his second victory of the 2025 season.
What This Means for Hocevar’s Career Moving Forward
The revelation about the Chili’s prank shows Hocevar’s awareness of the power of media and social platforms to counter false information, albeit in a humorous way. Meanwhile, the fine for his on-track behavior reflects NASCAR’s strict approach to safety and sportsmanship. As Hocevar continues to develop his career, managing both public perception and on-track discipline will be crucial for his chances of reaching his first Cup Series victory.
The upcoming Charlotte race represents a fresh challenge where Hocevar can demonstrate his skill and focus amid the competitive playoff environment. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how he responds following both the viral prank and disciplinary action earlier this season.
Carson Hocevar bought the Chili's restaurant in his hometown. Or at least, that's what he said on the internet. But you should never believe everything you see on the internet: pic.twitter.com/huGmJg033i
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) October 4, 2025
NASCAR has fined Carson Hocevar $50,000 for what NASCAR termed as a behavioral infraction. After he spun and came to a stop at Kansas and safety workers had gotten to his car, he revved and spun his tires as he tried to rejoin the field.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 1, 2025
