In the unforgiving world of NASCAR Races, where fortunes can change with each turn, Carson Hocevar finds himself trapped in a storm cloud that refuses to dissipate. The promising Spire Motorsports driver, piloting the #77 Chevrolet, has become intimately familiar with racing’s toughest lesson – sometimes speed alone isn’t enough. There’s a famous saying: “You can have the fastest car on the track, but lady luck still has to ride with you.” For Hocevar, lady luck seems to have jumped ship, leaving him with a growing collection of DNFs and a heartfelt lament about residing in what he calls the “no fun department.”
What makes Hocevar’s situation particularly frustrating is the glimpse of potential shown early in the season. His second-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway behind Christopher Bell demonstrated the raw talent and competitive machinery at his disposal. But since that high point, the young driver has been caught in a bewildering cycle of misfortune that has left both him and his team searching for answers.
Racing’s Character-Building Moments
“We’re not a 30th place race car, we’re not slow,” Hocevar explained in a recent interview, the frustration evident in his voice. “Right now we’re just trying to find new ways to finish 30th.” After eight races in 2025, Hocevar sits 30th in the driver’s championship with 118 points. The statistics mask the speed and potential shown throughout race weekends. But the young gun isn’t exactly doing everything right on the racetrack.
The numbers tell a sobering tale: three DNFs in eight races and an average finish of 24.88 despite an average starting position of 18.5. Most revealing is the percentage of laps completed – only 85.51% of possible race laps, indicating how often mechanical issues or incidents have sidelined the #77 Chevrolet before the checkered flag. Following his 32nd-place finish at Darlington despite starting 13th, Hocevar’s frustration boiled over on social media when he responded to NASCAR insider Jeff Gluck’s race poll, writing: “I clicked no because I am beginning to become really tired of this current trend I am having in the no fun department. Can you please move me from the no-fun department back to the fun department on my next arrival?”
What keeps the Spire Motorsports team together through this trying stretch is the belief in their underlying performance and the leadership of team owner Jeff Dickerson. “Jeff Dickerson is the most understanding guy of like all time,” Hocevar acknowledged. “He’s the one that is just like ‘man, like we just got to finish a race’ but he’s like ‘I don’t know what to tell you how to finish.’” The team has faced a bizarre string of misfortunes – blown tires, mechanical failures, and what Hocevar describes as “freak things that are just trampling on each other.” You’ve got to feel for the driver with the way his races have ended, either due to bad luck or wrecks.
NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 18: #42: Carson Hocevar, Niece Motorsports, Chevrolet Silverado Niece with teammate #45: Ross Chastain, Niece Motorsports, Chevrolet Silverado GA Watermelon/CircleBDiecasts prior to the running of the Inaugural Rackley Roofing 200 on June 18, 2021 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, TN (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
At Phoenix, he tried to stay away from trouble, but he was caught up in other people’s mess during the stage 2 restart. The No. 77 Chevy had a hard contact with the wall in a four-wide situation sparked by Chase Briscoe and Justin Haley. At Homestead, his race car had mechanical and electrical issues that forced him to park the car late in the final stage run. However, at Darlington Raceway, Riley Herbst just shoved him into the wall during the stage 1 run and that eventually resulted in his third DNF of the season.
Winds have been knocked out of Hocevar’s sails as off now. The early moment he had with a P2 finish at Atlanta is history. The #77 team does have speed, but the driver needs to stay away from trouble to gain crucial points and solid finishes. The recent few weeks haven’t been all too good for Hocevar as, apart from his woes on the track, he had to experience a personal loss.
Racing Through Grief: Hocevar Carries Grandmother’s Memory to Bristol
In the midst of his challenging season, Carson Hocevar now faces an even greater test of resilience. He announced the passing of his grandmother, Margret Hocevar, earlier this week. The 22-year-old Spire Motorsports driver shared the heartbreaking news on social media, posting touching photos, including one of her name on his race car’s nameplate and another showing him holding her hand. “Unfortunately, we lost my grandmother this week. I drove to Michigan after the race on Sunday to say my final goodbyes,” Hocevar wrote, revealing the emotional journey he undertook immediately following the Darlington race.
The bond between Carson and his grandmother was clearly special, evidenced by the personal story he shared with fans. “Her favorite story to tell was when I was first born, she held me for the first time, and I saw her gold necklace and grabbed onto it and wouldn’t let go. That Monday, I wish I didn’t have to let go, but I’m glad I got to hold onto her one more time,” he revealed. Like Denny Hamlin, who raced to an emotional victory days after losing his grandmother in 2009, Hocevar now prepares to compete with a heavy heart but a newfound purpose. He is carrying her nameplate with him at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The NASCAR Race community has rallied behind Hocevar with an outpouring of support and encouragement. Fans filled his social media with messages of condolence. Many of them noted how proud his grandmother must have been to see her grandson compete at NASCAR’s highest level. “She was my biggest supporter, and I know she’s not only in a better place but now won’t have to miss anything as she’ll be watching above us,” Hocevar wrote, finding solace in the belief that his grandmother will now witness every lap from above. The young driver has the opportunity to honor his grandmother’s memory with a performance that would make her proud.
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