Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar made his intentions for Sunday’s Jack Links 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway loud and clear. The driver of the #77 Chevrolet doesn’t plan on hanging back and saving fuel like the rest of the field but aims to run full throttle “out of protest” throughout the 500 miles of racing.
In recent years at the drafting tracks of Daytona and Talladega, NASCAR has seen drivers prioritize fuel conservation until the final pit stop. Consequently, many drivers run in the pack without utilizing 100 percent of the throttle to save gas.
On a recent episode of the Rubbin is Racing podcast, Hocevar was asked if he believes Sunday’s race at Talladega would mirror past fuel-saving events. As a former CRAFTSMAN Truck Series winner, he expected that would be the case but expressed his desire to opt out.
Hocevar declared his intention to put the pedal to the metal, disregarding any concerns about fuel mileage. The second-year Cup driver stated he is frustrated with how the Cup Series races at Talladega, announcing his intention to race full throttle out of “protest,” even if that means potentially running out of fuel. He said: “I’m racing full throttle out of protest!”
Sunday’s race will mark Hocevar’s fourth career Cup start at Talladega. Throughout his previous three attempts, the 22-year-old has struggled to finish inside the top 30, with his best result being a 35th-place finish last April.
In anticipation of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega, Carson Hocevar took to X to share a photo of his truck, which is painted similarly to one that Mike Skinner drove in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The truck is predominantly black, featuring the iconic Richard Childress Racing #3 on the side. While Dale Earnhardt famously made the #3 car legendary, Skinner drove the black #3 in the Truck Series. Hocevar tweeted: “This tribute is for the fans!”
Hocevar is in his second full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, having piloted the #77 Spire Motorsports car to Rookie of the Year honors last season and securing one top-five finish. This season, he achieved his best career result by finishing second at Atlanta.
As the racing world watches closely, Hocevar’s bold fuel strategy could significantly impact his performance and set a new tone for racing at Talladega. It remains to be seen how this approach will influence the race dynamics and whether other drivers will follow in his footsteps. With an audience curious and eager for a change, Carson Hocevar’s stance highlights a growing sentiment among drivers craving an exhilarating racing experience.
