Carson Hocevar’s candid reaction to his performance in the NASCAR All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway drew attention Sunday evening, as the young driver openly admitted that winning the qualifying race just “didn’t feel right.” Despite leading 46 laps in the #77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and earning a crucial victory that advanced him to the main All-Star Race, Hocevar was quick to voice concerns with his car and his overall experience on the track.
After starting second behind Shane van Gisbergen, Carson Hocevar seized the lead on Lap 55 and held off a strong field to secure the checkered flag, finishing ahead of John Hunter Nemechek from Legacy Motor Club. With this result, both Hocevar and Nemechek clinched spots in the anticipated All-Star Race, continuing their momentum later that day. Despite the win, however, Hocevar was notably conflicted. Speaking with Frontstretch after the race, he shared his unfiltered thoughts, emphasizing his dissatisfaction with the car’s performance and suggesting that there was still considerable work to be done by his team. He remarked that, even in victory, the situation felt off, highlighting the complex emotions drivers can feel despite outward success.
Although Carson Hocevar had earned a coveted place in the All-Star Race, the main event that night presented new challenges. Starting from 21st position, flanked by seasoned competitors like Denny Hamlin and John Hunter Nemechek, Hocevar struggled to break into the top group during a crowded and competitive race. He ultimately finished in 11th place, just behind Chris Buescher of RFK Racing and ahead of Hamlin, as Christopher Bell took the win with Joey Logano trailing close behind as the 2024 All-Star Race champion. Hocevar’s honest appraisal of his performance underlined the intense pressures young drivers face in such high-profile events.
This season, Carson Hocevar’s progress in the NASCAR Cup Series has been closely watched. The 22-year-old from Portage, Michigan, is the top Spire Motorsports driver this year, amassing 230 points through 12 races and sitting 19th in the standings. His record includes a pole position, a Top 5 finish, two Top 10s, and 36 laps led, offset by three DNFs. Averaging a start at 17.333 and finishing at 22.167, Hocevar’s performance shows both his resilience and the need for continued growth.
Having entered the Cup Series part-time with Spire in 2023, Carson Hocevar’s journey saw a brief stint at Legacy Motor Club before he signed a full-time, multi-year agreement with Spire for 2024. His unfiltered perspective following the All-Star Open provides an unvarnished view into the emotional and technical complexities drivers encounter at the highest levels of racing, and his continued development will be of interest as the season unfolds. The anticipation now centers on how Carson Hocevar and his team will use this experience moving forward, both in terms of car performance and Hocevar’s own growth under the spotlight of NASCAR’s elite competition.
