Carson Hocevar’s NASCAR performance drew attention and commendation after his disciplined finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 21. NASCAR veteran Tommy Baldwin, speaking on the Door Bumper Clear podcast with Freddie Kraft and Karsyn Elledge, highlighted Hocevar for staying out of trouble on the track, a notable shift given his past confrontations with competitors.
Hocevar Keeps Calm Under Pressure at New Hampshire
Racing in just his second season with Spire Motorsports, Hocevar has gained a reputation for clashing with big names such as Ryan Blaney, Ross Chastain, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Despite these earlier disputes, he steered clear of incidents during the recent playoff race. Blaney secured his third win of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season at the event, but Baldwin’s remarks centered on Hocevar’s clean run that saw him finish eleventh without interfering with other drivers.
“I’m gonna hate saying this, but kudos to the 77 yesterday,”
Baldwin said (26:30).
“I hate I’m saying this, but I watched…I had, you know, where we were pitted, did a good job. He didn’t run into anybody. He had a clean day. He ran in the top 10 all day because he didn’t run into anybody and hurt his car.”
— Tommy Baldwin, NASCAR Veteran
Baldwin further addressed Hocevar’s growth, expressing a cautious optimism while referencing the driver’s past struggles with self-control:
“It’s just…the kid gets… he short circuits there, but he didn’t yesterday.”
— Tommy Baldwin, NASCAR Veteran
Standing and Future Prospects in the Cup Series
Although Hocevar missed the playoffs this year, he continues to chase his first triumph in the NASCAR Cup Series. Currently ranked 21st, Hocevar holds eight top-10 finishes, two top-fives, and maintains a score of 616 points. Next, the Portage, Michigan native will compete in the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet at Kansas Speedway on September 28, broadcast on USA and available via MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Controversy Surrounding Comments in Mexico City
Earlier in the season, Hocevar attracted negative coverage during NASCAR’s inaugural trip to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. This marked the first time in 25 years that the NASCAR Cup Series hosted a race outside the United States. Hocevar came under scrutiny for a derogatory comment he made about Mexico City during a livestream, prompting a significant response from his team.
Hocevar’s public criticism resulted in a $50,000 fine from Spire Motorsports, with the funds directed to nonprofits in the local community. Following the incident, Hocevar issued an explanation regarding the motivations and background behind his remark.
“The issue wasn’t for the team having their kind of frustrations, not that I’m giving my opinion and putting it out there,”
Carson Hocevar said in a statement.
“It’s just the fact that, you know, my opinion wasn’t my opinion. It was just based off everybody else, you know, that I’ve heard or seen, right? I didn’t go do my own homework and voice my own opinion.”
— Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Driver
Shane van Gisbergen reached his fourth victory of the season at this international event and entered the playoffs but was eliminated in the first round. Focus now returns to Kansas Speedway as Hocevar aims to build on his latest, drama-free outing and pursue his first Cup Series win.
