“I Don’t Just Live Here”: Committed Carson Hocevar Reveals Rookie Year Resilience Behind Staying at Spire Shop

May 16, 2024 | 9:28 PM EDT

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There have been some unexpected wins, amazing career tales, and a colorful cast of characters from the sport’s inception in 1948 to today. Such is NASCAR! And along the way, it has also been peppered with some moments and stories that are undeniably funny and notice-worthy. They’re like the moments in a comedy film where you look around the theater wondering if it’s OK to laugh.

Remember Mark Martin’s numerous retirement pranks, which kept the NASCAR community amused? It looks like we have a similar tale. Rookie Carson Hocevar is scripting his humorous tales on and off the track, showcasing resilience in his debut season.

Carson Hocevar unpacked, saving drives by being a driver

The first year on track for Carson Hocevar has been a whirlwind of activity punctuated by humor. Bob being Bob, and the curious reporter he interviewed, Carson Hocevar, recently. Hocevar, like a first-timer in NASCAR, is having his fair share of blunders left-right. However, sharing his story and summing up his rapid immersion into professional racing, he said, “I flew in the red eye from Vegas because we went road course testing.”

Eventually, Hocevar took on a lighter tone while describing some of the practical challenges associated with such a busy schedule. “Yeah, commercial. And we had flown Statesville. So my truck was in Statesville, which had my car, which had my house keys, everything,” he amusingly said, explaining all the hidden intricacies behind the scenes. Here again is another example where Hocevar had to choose between taking short naps or continuing driving for long hours.

Spire President Doug Duchardt said he once found Carson Hocevar sleeping on a couch in the shop. I had to get to the bottom of the story. Here it is: pic.twitter.com/ItBAozV7fK
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 16, 2024

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Carson Hocevar explained how his team took his nap at their shop spontaneously. Spire President Doug Duchardt found Hocevar sleeping. He flawlessly seized on the opportunity for lighthearted banter. ” We got like a bed because we have like a doctor’s room now I guess and they said they are gonna put together a blanket and pillows for me,”

“I’m like guys I fell asleep here once; I don’t just live here” joked Hocever. This amusing exchange endeared him to fellow drivers. Fan reactions were also mixed on social media. A fan noted, “Great reason why I’m so glad social media was not around when I was young! These stories don’t fade away!” While another commented, “He was using his time wisely! 😁” and someone added, “he has to win the fan vote.”

Track to Triumph in Full Throttle 2024

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In the Cup Series, Carson Hocevar holds a steady rookie position. His team at Spire Motorsports, with his stats, shows how far he has come in 13 races this season. This shows quite a bit of consistency for a freshman driver. Currently, he stands at 21.9 as an average start position, closely mirroring his finish average of 21.62. Although a top-five finish is yet to be celebrated, he managed to secure a top-ten finish until now.

Hocevar’s best race this year was a P10 finish at Texas Motor Speedway. His driving style seems to fit well, and the car remained competitive throughout most of it. This adaptability and growth are reflected in such accomplishments as finishing in the top twenty in Atlanta or Phoenix.

Daytona, as usual, witnessed a crash that resulted in him taking 40th place. This illustrates that this season has had its fair share of challenges for him. However, these accidents typify the steep learning curve for the premiere NASCAR racing series. All practice is evaluated. Every competition offers Carson Hocevar costless feedback and learning opportunities on strategy adjustment and personal technique upgrades because all practice is evaluated.

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The Spire Motorsports team is positive to see Carson progress. The rookie is becoming more comfortable competing in the Cup Series. Every lap also brings new insights regarding how fast-paced racing works—something important when aiming for higher placements or even an eventual first win in a Cup Series race soon enough.