Carson Hocevar Bio
Carson Scott Hocevar (born January 28, 2003) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports. He also runs part-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Hocevar is a former member of the Drivers Edge Development program and was named the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year.
Early Life and Background
Carson Scott Hocevar was born on January 28, 2003, in Portage, Michigan. He is the son of Scott and Amy Hocevar. His father, Scott, worked as a crew member and sponsor for various local racing teams, which gave young Carson early exposure to the sport and to several professional drivers.
Hocevar began racing quarter midgets at age seven and quickly found success, winning 79 feature races and fifteen national championships at that level. He started competing at Berlin Raceway in 2015 as a twelve-year-old and won the track’s Outlaw Late Model championship that same year. He won his first Super Late Model race at Berlin in 2016 before a NASCAR rule temporarily kept drivers under fourteen off sanctioned tracks.
Hocevar returned to competition in 2017 and captured the Super Late Model championship at Berlin Raceway. He graduated from Gull Lake High School in 2021. Through his father’s racing connections, he was mentored by Bryan Clauson and later by Johnny Benson, for whom he worked as a mechanic before driving in Benson’s Outlaw Late Model program.
Path to NASCAR
Hocevar’s path to the national NASCAR ladder began in the ARCA Menards Series, where he competed in eleven races between 2018 and 2019. He posted nine top-ten finishes and two pole positions during that stretch and joined the Drivers Edge Development Program in 2019.
He made his NASCAR national-series debut in the 2019 Eldora Dirt Derby, driving the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado for Jordan Anderson Racing. On December 20, 2019, he signed with Niece Motorsports for a nine-race Truck Series schedule in 2020, and the partnership was expanded to a full-season ride for 2021. During his rookie Truck Series campaign, Hocevar finished second at Charlotte and fourth at Las Vegas, signaling his arrival as a rising talent.
Carson Hocevar Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Hocevar began his national touring career in the ARCA Menards Series in 2018 at Toledo. Over the next two seasons, he built a reputation as a quick, aggressive young driver with strong short-track instincts. He added two pole positions to his resume before moving on to the Truck Series.
In 2019, Hocevar ran select Truck Series events with Jordan Anderson Racing, including the Eldora Dirt Derby and the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix. His 2020 Truck Series schedule with Niece Motorsports gave him his first extended national-series experience and laid the foundation for a breakout 2021.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Hocevar’s first full Truck Series season came in 2021 with Niece Motorsports, where he posted multiple strong runs and re-signed with the team for 2022. His 2022 campaign was cut short at Gateway when a late-race crash broke his right tibia, but he returned quickly and continued to develop.
The 2023 season marked his true Truck Series breakthrough. After a twelfth-place run at Daytona, Hocevar scored his first career Truck win at Texas in double overtime. He added victories at Nashville, Richmond, and Homestead, the last of which locked him into the Championship 4. He finished third in the final Truck Series standings and was named the series’ top performer before moving up.
From 2023 through early 2026, Hocevar added two more Truck Series wins, bringing his total to six, including a victory at Kansas in 2025 and another at Texas in 2026 driving the No. 77 for Spire Motorsports. Across his Truck Series career, he has recorded six wins, 38 top-ten finishes, and one pole position.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2023–Present)
Hocevar made his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity Series) debut in 2023 at Circuit of the Americas, originally scheduled with SS-Green Light Racing before a brake failure led to a 36th-place finish. He then ran a partial schedule with Spire Motorsports’ new No. 77 Xfinity entry, finishing sixth at Darlington and eighth at Charlotte.
In 2025, he returned to the series with SS-Green Light Racing and BRK Racing at COTA and later drove the No. 11 for Kaulig Racing at Iowa. Through his limited O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts, Hocevar has yet to record a victory but has posted three top-ten finishes.
NASCAR Cup Series (2023–Present)
Hocevar made his Cup Series debut in the 2023 Enjoy Illinois 300 at Gateway Motorsports Park, substituting in the No. 7 Spire Motorsports entry. He later drove the No. 42 for Legacy Motor Club and signed on for the remainder of the 2023 season. In October 2023, he announced he would bypass the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and move directly to Cup full-time with Spire Motorsports in 2024 under a multi-year deal.
Hocevar’s 2024 rookie campaign featured steady growth. He opened with a 40th-place DNF at the Daytona 500 but recorded his first Cup top-ten at Texas and tied his best finish of eighth at Richmond. A qualifying run of second at Darlington gave Spire Motorsports its best starting spot in team history. At Watkins Glen, Hocevar scored a third-place finish, leading a triple top-ten day for Spire. He closed the year by winning the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year award.
In 2025, Hocevar opened with a 30th-place DNF at the Daytona 500 and followed it with a runner-up finish at Atlanta. He earned his first career Cup Series pole at Texas. He continued to push for top results at Nashville, where he finished second. On April 26, 2026, Hocevar scored his first career Cup Series victory at Talladega in the Jack Link’s 500. Across his Cup career, he has one win, 22 top-ten finishes, and two poles.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hocevar’s very aggressive driving style has earned him the nickname “Hurricane Hocevar” from announcer Leigh Diffey. He is known for strong short-track and superspeedway instincts and is comfortable making bold moves in heavy traffic. His willingness to race door-to-door and fight for position has made him one of the most talked-about young drivers in the Cup garage.
Notable Races and Milestones
Hocevar’s signature moments include his first Truck Series win at Texas in 2023, his 2024 Cup Series Rookie of the Year award, and his first Cup Series victory at Talladega in 2026. He has also won major short-track events such as the 2020 Winchester 400, the 2020 Redbud 400, and the Money in the Bank 150 in 2020, 2021, and 2025.
Carson Hocevar Career Wins
Across stock car racing’s national and regional levels, Carson Hocevar has built a versatile win ledger. His victory list spans Super Late Model crown jewels, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the NASCAR Cup Series, with a total of one Cup win and six Truck Series wins verified.
NASCAR Cup Series Highlights
Hocevar’s lone Cup Series victory came at Talladega Superspeedway in April 2026 in the Jack Link’s 500. He has added 22 top-ten finishes and two pole positions to his Cup resume, with his best previous finishes being second at Atlanta in 2025 and third at Watkins Glen in 2024. His 2024 Rookie of the Year award cemented his place among NASCAR’s next generation of stars.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Hocevar has six career Truck Series wins. His first came at Texas in 2023, followed by wins at Nashville, Richmond, and Homestead that same year. He added a fifth Truck win at Kansas in 2025 with Spire Motorsports and a sixth at Texas in early 2026. He has 38 top-ten finishes and one pole position across the series.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the national NASCAR ranks, Hocevar has won the Winchester 400 (2020), the Redbud 400 (2020), and the Money in the Bank 150 (2020, 2021, 2025). On November 15, 2025, he and co-driver Cleetus McFarland won the fifth-annual 2.4 Hours of LeMullets at the Freedom Factory. He also captured ARCA Menards Series top-ten finishes early in his career.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Cup Series | 1 | 22 | 2 |
| NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 6 | 38 | 1 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 0 | 13 | 2 |
Carson Hocevar Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Carson Hocevar is the son of Scott and Amy Hocevar. His father, Scott, has long been involved in racing as a crew member and sponsor for local teams, which gave Carson access to mentors and machinery from a young age. Through Scott’s connections, Carson was mentored by Bryan Clauson and later by Johnny Benson, for whom he worked as a mechanic before driving in Benson’s Outlaw Late Model program.
Personal Life
Hocevar graduated from Gull Lake High School in 2021. He has been active off the track as well, joining NASCAR on Fox’s Cup driver-only broadcast team as a pit reporter in March 2025. In 2026, he filled in as a pit reporter for High Limit Racing and attended the Met Gala with E!, where he spoke publicly about being a fan of singer Sabrina Carpenter.
2025 Season Performance
Carson Hocevar’s 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season built on his 2024 Rookie of the Year momentum. He opened with a 30th-place DNF at the Daytona 500 but rebounded with a runner-up finish at Atlanta in a controversial overtime finish. He earned his first career Cup Series pole at Texas and continued chasing top results throughout the year, including another runner-up at Nashville.
Off-track headlines followed his on-track results. After the Mexico City road race, Spire Motorsports fined Hocevar and ordered cultural-sensitivity training for comments made during a livestream. Later, during the Hollywood Casino 400, he was fined an additional $50,000 for member conduct violations related to actions after a crash.
Despite the turbulence, Hocevar remained a consistent threat in the midfield, pairing with Spire Motorsports to push the team’s performance forward. His 2025 Truck Series win at Kansas and Money in the Bank 150 title showed his versatility across series. Entering the back half of the schedule, Hocevar and the No. 77 team looked poised to keep building toward playoff-caliber form.
