Carson Hocevar suffers Michigan heartbreak with late flat tire, ending a promising bid for his first NASCAR Cup Series win at his home track after leading a race marked by late drama. The Michigan event’s emotional swing also saw William Byron falter on fuel, allowing Denny Hamlin to claim victory as both Byron and Hocevar’s hopes faded in the final laps.
Late Race Misfortune Derails Two Leaders
With just 20 laps to go, the Michigan race turned into a tense showdown between William Byron and Carson Hocevar. Both drivers appeared poised to dominate, but fate intervened: Byron struggled with fuel conservation and was eventually forced to surrender the lead, while Hocevar encountered a flat left-rear tire that sent him to the pits, wiping away his shot at a breakthrough Cup Series triumph.
Momentum from Nashville and Michigan Hopes
Hocevar arrived at his home race with energy, building off a strong runner-up finish in Nashville the previous week. For 32 laps, Hocevar commanded the Michigan field—a personal best in Cup Series laps led—while the No. 77 team carefully calculated fuel against the demands of Michigan’s long green-flag runs. Strategy indicated they risked running out of gas with four laps remaining, but that chance evaporated when Hocevar’s tire gave out with 18 laps left. The unexpected trip to pit road shattered his chance at celebrating a long-awaited home victory.
Driver’s Perspective on a Tough Result
After the race, Hocevar reflected candidly on the incident and his team’s gamble on pace and fuel, recognizing that circumstances outside their control sealed their fate.
“I felt like I screwed us a little bit by going a little early to put us in that fuel number,”
—Carson Hocevar, Driver
“You lose the race both ways, right? You either run out (or this). But they should probably go to bed a little bit (easier) that somehow, some way we ran something over or something in the universe wanted a left-rear flat.”
—Carson Hocevar, Driver
A Repeat of Heartbreak in Two Series
The Michigan Cup race result was a near mirror image of the challenge Hocevar faced in the Craftsman Truck Series the day before. In that event, he led with eight laps remaining before a flat left-rear tire forced him to pit, dashing his hopes for victory. This latest incident in the Cup race, coming just one day later and at the same track, added to a difficult weekend for Hocevar.
Finishing Strong, Looking Forward
Despite the adversity, Hocevar managed to get his wounded Chevrolet back across the finish line in 29th place, coming in just behind Byron, whose own race unraveled as his fuel ran dry less than two laps from the end. Hocevar brought a resilient outlook, posting online about his back-to-back tire failures:
“Two days in a row with a flat LR leading… Today is a little more disappointing. Thankful to be upfront all weekend at home. Headed home with our heads held high.”
—Carson Hocevar (@CarsonHocevar) June 8, 2025
Tough Odds and Betting on Track Position
The Michigan contest was stacked against Hocevar even before the tire let go. Running at a pace that maximized his position, his team understood that their No. 77 machine had even less fuel in the tank compared to Byron’s car. Choosing to push for victory rather than conservatively drop back, Hocevar gambled on race flow, hoping for a caution to reset the field. No yellow flag materialized, and his chance slipped away with both declining fuel and the untimely tire issue.
Continued Progress Toward Playoff Goals
Although heartbreak marked his home race, Hocevar’s recent performances have reinforced his place among NASCAR’s emerging front runners. He did not gain ground in the championship standings, holding 18th position, and now trails the playoff cutline by 14 points with 11 races left to secure a postseason slot. The Michigan outcome, while frustrating, demonstrated his grit and capability to contend at the highest level on tracks that matter most to him.
