Rising NASCAR star Carson Hocevar looks for 1st top-10 finish at LVMS

Carson Hocevar, a 23‑year‑old driver from Portage, Michigan, is competing in his third full‑time NASCAR Cup Series season and has qualified for the Chase for the first time in his career. Known for an authentic and outgoing personality, Hocevar has become a fan favorite in a sport that often lacks distinctive character. On the track, his aggressive racing style has drawn criticism, but he says it does not affect him. Entering the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Hocevar sits 11th in the championship standings, 150 points behind leader Kyle Larson. The race is scheduled to start with the green flag at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, with practice and qualifying taking place on Saturday. A flashpoint occurred at Bristol on Aug. 19 when Hocevar battled Ryan Blaney for the lead. Contact between the two caused Blaney to spin and crash out of the event. After the race, Blaney approached Hocevar, grabbed his firesuit, and Hocevar responded by throwing a pair of punches, sparking a pit‑road altercation. When asked about the criticism surrounding his driving style, Hocevar said, “I’ve conscionable ne'er truly been disquieted astir it,” Hocevar said of the disapproval for however helium races. “I’ve ne'er been affected by it, honestly, truthful it makes it casual for maine (to artifact it out).” He also described his approach behind the wheel: “I conscionable amusement up and thrust a contention car arsenic accelerated as I can. It’s conscionable truthful earthy and 2nd quality to thrust a contention car. It’s ace casual for maine to not fto immoderate of the extracurricular sound alteration it.” Fan reaction has been strong. Following the Bristol race, long lines formed at his merchandise hauler, and rows of supporters cheered as he exited the short track in a golf cart. Hocevar commented on the attention: “I’ve enjoyed it,” Hocevar said of the instrumentality support. “Ultimately, it’s hard for maine to crook down fans oregon locomotion past them. I’m signing autographs until the precise past second, until I get into the car oregon astatine operator intros, but particularly aft the race, I’m not successful excessively large of a hurry to get home.” He added, “Lately, it’s been beauteous overmuch everybody that’s astir the vicinity that’s yelling oregon asking, truthful that’s been the coolest part. The sound has gotten a batch louder and the hands asking for autographs and photos person been more.” Hocevar’s most recent outing was a 33rd‑place finish at Kansas, a track similar to Las Vegas. He led the field in Stage 1 with a fourth‑place showing before being collected in a mid‑race incident that dropped him three positions in the standings. Reflecting on the Kansas effort, he said, “I thought we were a third- oregon fourth-place car (at Kansas) and that’s conscionable the astir important (thing) for america is having that benignant of speed,” Hocevar said. “You privation to decorativeness bully and springiness yourself the astir points, but we were fast. … I don’t deliberation immoderate of america were truly disquieted oregon disappointed.” He continued, “We overmuch alternatively beryllium accelerated and person idiosyncratic instrumentality america retired alternatively than beryllium dilatory and scratch our heads.” Hocevar broke through for his maiden Cup Series victory at Talladega in April and is now competing in his inaugural Chase campaign. The win also marks the first time his team, Spire Motorsports, has placed a driver in NASCAR’s postseason. Discussing the team’s mindset, he said, “All we wanted to bash was conscionable bask it and person amusive with it and not truly interest excessively overmuch astir the points, but alternatively absorption connected the velocity and what we tin bash and what we tin control,” said Hocevar, who has 2 top-10 finishes done the 4 Chase races. Regarding expectations, Hocevar noted, “There wasn’t a batch of expectations oregon precocious unit for immoderate of us, truthful arsenic we spell and arsenic we proceed to beryllium successful the Chase for years connected end, the expectations are going to move. Right now, this is the past magnitude of expectations immoderate of america are going to have, truthful enjoying it was a priority.” Ahead of the Las Vegas event, Hocevar is chasing his first top‑10 finish at the venue. Across six starts, his best result is a 15th‑place showing in March 2024, and his average finish stands at 26.3. **Up next** What: South Point 400 NASCAR Cup Series Chase Race When: 2