Carson Hocevar, the Spire Motorsports driver, recently shared insights into his unique spotter code system during an appearance on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast, the Dale Jr. Download. The 22-year-old revealed how these codes help him stay composed and focused during high-pressure moments on the NASCAR tracks.
Having stepped into the NASCAR Cup Series in 2023 with Spire Motorsports and Legacy Motor Club, Hocevar secured a full-time ride with Spire in 2024. Now in his sophomore season in 2025, he has shown promising potential but is yet to clinch a victory in the Cup Series. His evolving spotter communication strategy plays a vital role in maintaining his composure during races.
How Carson Hocevar Uses Spotter Codes to Stay Calm On Track
On the podcast, Hocevar explained that his team employs a variety of code words designed to keep him centered and prevent frustration from affecting his performance. These words serve as signals to alert him when he is becoming overly emotional or unproductive in communication.
“We have code words, just like when they think I’m like going to get ready to see red. Yeah. You know they they tell me, like, we have code words for everything now of just like, just to just click me out. I had a I had a stint where I was just like being unproductive on the radio, and so they, you know, the code word was ‘bubble goggles’ because they were going to make me wear these bubble goggles and look like a on the way home if I was any more upper or just like was mouthing off to them.” —Carson Hocevar
He also shared details about another code word related to moments when his temper rises during the race. The team uses “Superman” as a signal to indicate he is about to make an aggressive move or take a risky driving line, reminding him to calm down before reacting.
“Yeah. And um, after a few weeks I kind of fixed it because they would just, like, I’m just like, okay, yeah, you got it, man, like, perfect. And, um, you know, anytime you hear Superman, that’s when I’m getting ready to tee somebody up or just go drive bonsai this thing four wide or six wide because I just got you know, I’m just, you know, just got used up or something happened. So Tyler Green will just be like Superman relax Superman I’ll get here, man. And um, yeah, so we have we have a bunch of code words there that just you just kind of trigger for that,” he concluded. —Carson Hocevar
Overview of Hocevar’s 2025 Season Performance and Challenges
The early part of Hocevar’s 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season reflected some difficulty in finding consistent form. His campaign started modestly with a qualifying spot outside the top 30 for the Daytona 500, finishing that opening race in 30th place. At Atlanta Motor Speedway, he achieved a strong second-place finish, but was unable to maintain this momentum, falling to 13th at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) circuit.
Following this, Hocevar experienced a series of struggles, failing to consistently break into the top 20 across several events. Nevertheless, he rebounded impressively at Nashville Superspeedway, finishing just behind Ryan Blaney in second place. Subsequent races at Michigan, Mexico City, and Pocono Raceway posed additional challenges, with results below expectations.
Hocevar regained some steadiness at Atlanta Motor Speedway later in the season, securing a tenth-place finish. However, a setback occurred during the 19th race at the Chicago Street Course, where he was involved in an accident, resulting in a 35th-place finish. Despite these ups and downs, Hocevar currently holds 21st place in the Cup Series standings, accumulating 368 points.
Upcoming Event and Broadcast Details for Hocevar
Looking ahead, Carson Hocevar is scheduled to compete in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on July 13, 2025. Fans can follow the 110-lap event live on TNT Sports, with radio coverage available via PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. The race will begin broadcasting at 3:30 pm Eastern Time.
