The 2023 NASCAR season has been a memorable one for 20-year-old Carson Hocevar—for good and bad reasons alike. Barring the final Truck Series race in Phoenix, which saw him finishing 29th after the infamous run-in with Corey Heim, Hocevar was a strong contender for the championship throughout the year. Moreover, he got the opportunity of a lifetime when Spire Motorsports announced his first full-time stint in the Cup Series, driving the #77. However, not everything went his way this year.

Throughout the Truck Series season, he had multiple run-ins with fellow drivers, some of which resulted in DNFs. On the other hand, he appeared less combative—almost deferential—in the top tier. Owing to this difference in performance, it seems that Dale Earnhardt Jr has the perfect answer for Hocevar’s mellowed-down attitude in the Cup Series.

Dale Earnhardt Jr Unmasks Carson Hocevar’s differential treatment in the Cup Series

Carson Hocevar made an impressive debut in the Cup Series, running as a substitute for Corey LaJoie. He was able to impress many as he ran in the top 20 in the Gateway, but a brake rotor failure ended his hope of making the opportunity count. But an unanticipated turn of events found Jimmie Johnson in need of a driver for LMC’s #42 Chevy. Hocevar was handed the steering and he maneuvered skillfully.

While as a Cup Series driver, Hocevar displayed the highest level of professionalism, in the Truck Series finale as a championship contender, the same was missing. This irked NASCAR veterans, while NASCAR enthusiasts lashed out at him. Owing to this, Dale Earnhardt Jr, in the latest episode of The Dale Jr. Download, unraveled the reasons behind the difference between his racing styles in the two series. He also talked about what could be expected of Hocevar in his rookie year in 2024.

Dale Jr expressed, “Carson Hocevar, in the #77 Spire car, aside from turning the #54 at Martinsville, Carson does not wreck people on purpose in the Cup car. I think that is intentional. I believe that he knows in the Cup Series, they would bite back and I think he will be less likely to make those types of foolish decisions behind the wheel of the Cup car.”

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But Dale Jr was quick to add a bit of caution, “But I do see it potentially happening again and I do believe that the Cup Series directors, drivers, everybody involved will help straighten out that problem for him.”  Moreover, Junior was impressed in particular with how he raced in the season finale in Phoenix.

With Spire Motorsports on the rise, Dale Jr has high hopes for next year’s rookie

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With a seat confirmed for the 2024 Cup Series season, Carson Hocevar is finally on the verge of materializing his ultimate NASCAR dream. The Truck Series driver will be replacing Ty Dillon and joining Corey LaJoie at Spire. Moreover, with three seasons in the Truck Series and his short yet promising stint in the Cup Series, Dale Earnhardt Jr is hopeful of the fact that Hocevar will be able to rise above his aggressive image.

Continuing on the same lines, Dale Jr added, “And how will he run in the second Spire car, the only thing that we can base off of that is, how he’s drove in the #42, which I think he runs very well in that car. I watched him at Phoenix. He drove that car into the top 20 hung around all day, and didn’t cause any problems, and did really well with a team that is really trying just to get to the end of the year.”

As the countdown for the Daytona 500 has already begun and the preparations are underway, it will be interesting to see what awaits the rookie driver. Will he be able to display his fair share of professionalism or will fall flat on the face, is only a matter of time.

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