Carson Hocevar, currently driving for Spire Motorsports, discussed the future of the Chicago Street Race during a pre-race interview ahead of the Grant 165, emphasizing that keeping a street race in the NASCAR schedule remains important. His insights into the Carson Hocevar Chicago Street Race future add to ongoing conversations about how such events fit within the broader vision for Cup Series racing.
Hocevar’s Perspective on Future Street Races
In his conversation with NASCAR journalist Dalton Hopkins, Carson Hocevar was candid about the role street courses play in his season and for his team. He entered the Cup Series in 2023, initially participating with Spire Motorsports and then competing with Legacy Motor Club to finish his rookie year in 48th place. In 2024, he secured a full-time seat at Spire and improved his performance, ending his sophomore season in 21st.
The topic of the Chicago Street Course arose when Dalton Hopkins questioned Hocevar about whether he felt the event deserved a spot on next year’s calendar. Hocevar referenced the impact that races like this have on local sponsors and his own racing experience:
“I mean, we have a lot of road courses. I mean, this works really well for me. In terms of Zeig Auto Group, they have crap, some dealerships down here and everything, and it works well for them. So for my racing, it works well that this race exists even though I’m not the fastest.” —Carson Hocevar, Driver
Hocevar continued, sharing his preference to see traditional venues return while also highlighting the atmosphere that a street race brings:
“But I would love to have Chicago land back, because I think we could have a lot better shop showing up to a Chicago area race and winning versus this one. But yeah, I think this event is super cool. So biggest thing for me is I want to see a street race still on the schedule. But I think one is enough. Is there a specific place, you’d like to see,” he concluded. —Carson Hocevar, Driver
Hocevar is slated to compete in the upcoming Challenge Two The Grant 165, taking place at the Chicago Street Road Course on Sunday, June 6, 2025. The 75-lap race, an eagerly anticipated event for competitors and fans alike, will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. ET on TNT Sports, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90, and MAX.
Reviewing Hocevar’s Season Progress So Far
The start of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season saw Hocevar face early setbacks. During the Great American Race at Daytona 500, he qualified 33rd and finished 30th. At Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hocevar made an impressive showing, finishing as runner-up, only to drop to 13th place at the Circuit of the Americas the following week.
Piloting the #77 Chevy Camaro ZL1, Hocevar reclaimed competitive form at Nashville Superspeedway, finishing just behind race winner Ryan Blaney. His subsequent races, however, proved challenging, with 29th in Michigan, 34th in Mexico City, and 18th at Pocono Raceway. Still, determination saw him rebound at Atlanta, where he clinched a spot in the top ten.
Building on that momentum, Hocevar recently secured a top-five qualifying position for the upcoming Chicago Street Course Race, raising expectations for both his performance and the influence of street races on his career path. Key figures such as Ryan Blaney and institutions like Legacy Motor Club and Spire Motorsports continue to shape the season’s dynamic.
The Implications of Keeping Street Races on Schedule
Carson Hocevar’s comments highlight an important ongoing discussion within NASCAR: whether street races should remain a fixture on the annual schedule. His acknowledgment of the benefits for sponsors like Zeig Auto Group and the unique excitement brought by these events reflects broader industry and fan interest. NASCAR’s decision on the future of the Chicago Street Course could influence not only driver strategy but also sponsor engagement and local economic impact.
As the 2025 Challenge Two The Grant 165 approaches, the eyes of fans and teams will be on Hocevar’s performance and on what NASCAR’s next scheduling choices will mean for the sport’s evolving landscape.
