Tag: Carson Hocevar

Carson Hocevar takes victory at Homestead, makes Championship 4

Carson Hocevar wins at Homestead-Miami Speedway for fourth victory of the 2023 season en route to a Championship 4 spot.

The NASCAR Truck Series went to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the final race of the Round of 8 and left with the official four drivers chasing a title. [autotag]Carson Hocevar[/autotag] won his fourth race of the 2023 season after a late-race pass sealed the deal. Hocevar got by Ben Rhodes as the latter was on older tires.

As for other drivers who made the Championship 4, Corey Heim clinched a spot at Bristol Motor Speedway and finished in fourth place at Homestead. Also, Grant Enfinger slid in with a fifth-place finish as he looks to earn GMS Racing a championship in their final start. Finally, Rhodes snuck in by one point after a brilliant strategy call.

The Truck Series now goes to Phoenix Raceway in two weeks for the Championship 4 as Heim, Hocevar, Enfinger, and Rhodes will fight for a title!

Baptist Health Cancer Care 200 top-10 finishing order:

  1. No. 42 Carson Hocevar
  2. No. 38 Zane Smith
  3. No. 99 Ben Rhodes
  4. No. 11 Forery Heim
  5. No. 23 Grant Enfinger
  6. No. 41 Bayley Currey
  7. No. 52 Stewart Friesen
  8. No. 88 Matt Crafton
  9. No. 24 Rajah Caruth
  10. No. 98 Ty Majeski

Carson Hocevar joins Spire Motorsports in the No. 77 Cup car for 2024

Carson Hocevar announced on Tuesday night that he will drive the No. 77 Cup car for Spire Motorsports on a full-time basis in 2024.

[autotag]Carson Hocevar[/autotag] has quickly risen through the ranks of NASCAR during the 2023 season due to his success and it paid off on Tuesday night. Hocevar announced on NASCAR Race Hub that he will drive the No. 77 Cup car for [autotag]Spire Motorsports[/autotag] on a full-time basis starting in 2024. The Michigan native will be on a multi-year deal.

Hocevar’s debut in the NASCAR Cup Series came in the No. 7 car for Spire Motorsports after Corey LaJoie was tabbed to replace the suspended Chase Elliott at Hendrick Motorsports for one race. Then, he became the focal point at Legacy Motor Club following Noah Gragson’s suspension. Hocevar will finish out the year in the No. 42 car.

Now, Hocevar will join LaJoie and Zane Smith at Spire Motorsports during the 2024 NASCAR season as the organization continues to grow in the sport. Overall, this is a brilliant move by Spire Motorsports as Hocevar represents a great long-term fit for the team. The organization will look to finish the 2023 season strong with LaJoie and Ty Dillon but brighter days are coming soon.

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Carson Hocevar to drive for Legacy Motor Club at Texas, Talladega

Carson Hocevar will drive the No. 42 Cup car for Legacy Motor Club at Texas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.

[autotag]Legacy Motor Club[/autotag] has used multiple drivers to replace Noah Gragson in the No. 42 Cup car during the 2023 NASCAR season; however, one driver has stuck out amongst the rest. [autotag]Carson Hocevar[/autotag] piloted the Legacy Motor Club entry during the Round of 16 and had a best finish of 11th place at Bristol Motor Speedway. Now, there will be even more races for Hocevar.

The NASCAR organization announced on Sunday night that Hocevar will drive the No. 42 car at Texas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. It is a well-earned opportunity for the Michigan native as Texas is the site of his first win in NASCAR’s top-3 levels. Hocevar has elevated the performance of the No. 42 car and should continue it moving forward.

Legacy Motor Club already announced that John Hunter Nemechek will drive the No. 42 car in 2024 but Hocevar’s efforts are being noticed as well. The Niece Motorsports driver is considered the top candidate to replace Ty Dillon at Spire Motorsports. If everything goes to plan, Hocevar could be racing full-time on Sunday afternoons starting next year.

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Carson Hocevar provides big update on 2024 NASCAR plans

Carson Hocevar gives a big update on his plans for the 2024 NASCAR season and whether he will be racing in the Cup Series.

[autotag]Carson Hocevar[/autotag] has broken out during the 2023 season as he looks for his first NASCAR Truck Series championship. Meanwhile, Hocevar is driving select races in the NASCAR Cup Series as a replacement in the No. 42 car for Legacy Motor Club. Overall, this has been a very successful season for the Michigan native and one that has been receiving close attention.

Hocevar has been linked to Spire Motorsports in the Cup Series as Ty Dillon has been struggling to perform in the No. 77 car. In fact, the Niece Motorsports driver was asked about his plans for the 2024 season by Frontstretch’s Dalton Hopkins a few weeks ago and whether it would be in the Cup Series.

“I know what I’m gonna do next year,” Hocevar said. “I don’t know if I’m going to be (NASCAR Cup Series) racing. I can’t say that or anything. Any race I can have in Cup is a good time. Hopefully, I get there whether that’s next year or five years but all of these races are gonna add up and help.”

It seems likely that Hocevar will receive a good ride for the 2024 season and that it won’t be with Niece Motorsports in the Truck Series. The driver of the No. 42 truck has shown his talent and it should be resulting in a Cup Series ride sooner rather than later.

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Carson Hocevar listed as driver of the No. 42 car for Legacy Motor Club at Kansas

NASCAR Truck Series driver Carson Hocevar is listed as the driver of the No. 42 car for Legacy Motor Club at Kansas Speedway next weekend.

[autotag]Legacy Motor Club[/autotag] announced in the week leading up to the first race of the 2023 playoffs that NASCAR Truck Series driver [autotag]Carson Hocevar[/autotag] would drive the No. 42 car at Darlington Raceway. This comes as the organization needs to find replacements for the entry after it parted ways with Noah Gragson following his suspension.

As Hocevar gears up for his second start in the NASCAR Cup Series, it may not be his only start with the race team. According to the NASCAR Roster Portal on September 1, Hocevar is listed as the driver of the No. 42 car for Legacy Motor Club in the Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway. This would be his third career start in NASCAR’s top level if this doesn’t change.

It would make sense for the Michigan native as the Truck Series will be in town for their final race of the Round of 10. Hocevar would be able to pull off double duty and make another start in the Cup Series. Plus, it could be beneficial to gain more experience if Hocevar does make the jump to the Cup Series in 2024.

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Carson Hocevar to drive No. 42 car for Legacy Motor Club at Darlington

Carson Hocevar will drive the No. 42 car for Legacy Motor Club in this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway.

[autotag]Legacy Motor Club[/autotag] needs to fill the No. 42 car for the remainder of the 2023 NASCAR season after the organization parted ways with Noah Gragson following his suspension. There have been several drivers to pilot the entry, such as Josh Berry and Mike Rockenfeller, but another talented driver has emerged for the race team.

[autotag]Carson Hocevar[/autotag] will drive the No. 42 car for Legacy Motor Club in this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway. There is no word on who will drive the entry in the following nine races. Hocevar is a Niece Motorsports driver in the NASCAR Truck Series and is currently chasing his first championship.

The driver of the No. 42 truck will be making his second career Cup Series start after he drove the No. 7 car for Spire Motorsports at World Wide Technology Raceway. Hocevar and Legacy Motor Club hope his second start in the Cup Series goes better than the first after the No. 7 car suffered a mechanical issue during the event.

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JR Motorsports should consider these drivers in the Xfinity Series for 2024

JR Motorsports should be interested in these drivers for the NASCAR Xfinity Series starting in 2024.

[autotag]JR Motorsports[/autotag] is one of the powerhouse organizations in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and their success during the 2022 season is the greatest example. While the race team didn’t win the title, three of its four drivers were in the fight at the Championship 4 event in Phoenix, AZ.

During the 2023 season, JR Motorsports has not been on the same level. Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, Josh Berry, and Brandon Jones have only combined for two wins. Plus, the organization is set to lose Berry to the NASCAR Cup Series as Stewart-Haas Racing has given him the opportunity to replace Kevin Harvick in the No. 4 car. So, which drivers would be good replacements in the No. 8 car to bring the team back to the top?

[autotag]Carson Hocevar[/autotag] is one of the top drivers that people will mention for JR Motorsports; however, Hocevar remains one of the top candidates at Spire Motorsports in the Cup Series. The Michigan native has a relationship with both organizations as JR Motorsports supports Spire Motorsports’ efforts in the Xfinity Series.

Hocevar is clearly ready for the next step and JR Motorsports represents the best opportunity in the Xfinity Series. The only question is whether a ride in the Cup Series will develop with Spire Motorsports, as Ty Dillon has seen a slight improvement in performance with the No. 77 car as of late. Either way, the rising NASCAR talent seems set for a new ride in 2024.

[autotag]Christian Eckes[/autotag] is another talented Truck Series driver that currently drives for Chevrolet. Eckes competes in the No. 19 truck for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing and seems poised to make a run at the 2023 Truck Series title. Both drivers mentioned to this point would make sense for JR Motorsports if the overall goal is to bring the most talented drivers to the team.

The New York native could also be a fit with Richard Childress Racing if Austin Hill decides to depart for the Cup Series. Eckes has opened some eyes during the 2023 season and his good performances are likely to be rewarded in the next few years. If Hocevar makes the jump to the Cup Series with Spire Motorsports, it makes sense for Eckes to be the next target for JR Motorsports.

[autotag]Jeffrey Earnhardt[/autotag] is certainly the most popular driver on this list as he is the nephew of JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. It has been an up-and-down journey for Earnhardt but this would be his best opportunity yet. Earnhardt Jr. has also named dropped the North Carolina native as a possible replacement for Berry in the No. 8 car.

Earnhardt would be a feel-good story as a full-time ride would finally go his way in the Xfinity Series. He wouldn’t be a young option at 34 years old; however, it would be a full-circle moment for the Earnhardt family to be together at JR Motorsports.

For now, these three drivers make the most sense on the surface but JR Motorsports will have plenty of options moving forward.

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Carson Hocevar viewed as a top candidate to join Spire Motorsports in 2024

Carson Hocevar is viewed as a top candidate for the No. 77 Cup car if Spire Motorsports decides to replace Ty Dillon after the 2023 season.

[autotag]Carson Hocevar[/autotag] currently drives the No. 42 car for Niece Motorsports in the NASCAR Truck Series; however, his status as a future driver in the sport’s top level is beginning to improve. This comes after a three-win regular season in the Truck Series and good performances in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Hocevar competes for Spire Motorsports in the Xfinity Series and has two top-10 finishes in five career starts. The Michigan native also drove the No. 7 Cup car after Corey LaJoie replaced Chase Elliott at Hendrick Motorsports following his suspension. This partnership with the organization has created a scenario where Hocevar could be a Cup Series driver as early as 2024.

According to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, Hocevar is viewed as a top candidate at Spire Motorsports if the organization decides to replace Ty Dillon, who has struggled in the No. 77 car this season. Dillon sits 32nd in the point standings but recently finished in 20th place at Michigan International Speedway.

No one could have imagined that Hocevar would be a Cup Series driver to start the 2024 season but the possibility is starting to grow due to his success. If the Niece Motorsports driver continues to impress, LaJoie could be partnered with a competitor that would be a perfect fit for Spire Motorsports.

Hocevar uses tire gamble to win Truck Series regular season finale at Richmond

Carson Hocevar’s race started in the pits with a flat tire even before the green flag for Saturday night’s Worldwide Express 250 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway and ended with a celebration in Victory Lane. The 20-year-old driver of the No. 42 Niece …

Carson Hocevar’s race started in the pits with a flat tire even before the green flag for Saturday night’s Worldwide Express 250 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway and ended with a celebration in Victory Lane.

The 20-year-old driver of the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet passed the night’s most dominant driver, Ty Majeski, with only three laps remaining thanks to pit road strategy and a fast Chevy Silverado to claim his third win of the season by 2.308s.

“We didn’t come here to run second,’’ Hocevar said, adding, “I knew we had to do something different and new tires prevailed.’’

Corey Heim officially secured the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 2023 regular season championship with a third-place finish in the opening stage. The 21-year old driver of the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota will start the seven-race Playoff portion of the season with an important 15-point bonus thanks to an incredible run to the regular season title that included a pair of wins. He finished sixth on Saturday – his series best 13th top-10 finish in 16 races.

“It really means a lot,’’ Heim said. “With TRICON Garage and Toyota Racing coming such a long way from the beginning of the year, I really felt like we had a lot of progress to make in the first four or five weeks and we’ve really been improving ever since.

“Tonight, it was a rough night at Richmond. It is kind of a unique race track. On the normal tracks, we’ve been really consistent. Still a good finish for us, but definitely want to do better leading into the Playoffs.”

After earning his second pole position of the season, Majeski absolutely dominated much of the race, sweeping both stage wins for the first time in his career and leading a dominating 168 of the 250 laps in the No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford. His truck was so good Saturday that he even overcame a mid-race pit stop speeding penalty to regain the lead late race and try to hold off Hocevar. Majeski stayed out while Hocevar pitted for tires with 40 laps remaining, however, and was ultimately unable to hold off the fresh tires in the closing laps.

“Just didn’t have enough there,’’ a frustrated Majeski said. “Obviously made a mistake there, speeding on pit road, but we had a chance to win even with the penalty. It’s just so disappointing. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a dominant vehicle that much faster than the field and to not win with it is so hard.

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“But we have fast race trucks and we’ll make a run at the Playoffs,’’he added.

The Playoff field – in points order – includes Heim, the 2022 series champion Zane Smith, who finished third at Richmond, Hocevar, Christian Eckes, Grant Enfinger, Majeski, 2021 series champion Ben Rhodes, rookie Nick Sanchez, Matt DiBenedetto and three-time series champion Matt Crafton.

Stewart Friesen came into the race ranked 11th, trailing Crafton by nine points, but Friesen’s No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Chevrolet had a disappointing qualifying run – 23rd – and never really mounted a challenge forward on Saturday. He finished 27th.

“We brought a dull knife to a gunfight tonight,’’ a disappointed Friesen said.

Hocevar led 64 laps on the evening – moving into the lead position while Majeski was recovering from his pit road penalty.

“We passed every single truck here. The No. 98 (Majeski) was the class of the field but I thought we were second and won with the second best truck because I have the first best pit crew and first best crew chief on the box,’’ Hocevar said.

“I just love it,’’ he added.

Rookie Jake Garcia and Matt Mills rounded out the top five. Heim finished sixth, followed by Crafton, Sanchez, Enfinger and 16-year old William Sawalich making only his third series start.

The 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs begin on Aug. 11 with the TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (9 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Enfinger is the defending race winner.

RESULTS

Hocevar grabs hard-fought second Truck Series win at Nashville

Carson Hocevar took the lead with 40 laps remaining in Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway and held off every challenge necessary in the closing laps – including a frantic push from his …

Carson Hocevar took the lead with 40 laps remaining in Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway and held off every challenge necessary in the closing laps – including a frantic push from his competitors on a re-start with three laps remaining – to earn his second career victory.

Hocevar held off reigning series champion, Front Row Motorsports’ Zane Smith and Friday’s polesitter Nick Sanchez by a slight 0.271s margin in a tightly-contested final push toward the finish line among the trio. The win for the 20-year old driver of the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet makes him the fourth multi-race winner of the season. And it’s an impressive fifth consecutive top-five for Hocevar.

Ironically, Hocevar’s first career win came after Smith and Sanchez wrecked at the front of the field on the final lap of double overtime at Texas Motor Speedway. This time, the only drama was the Michigan-native’s impressive pace out front in the closing laps.

“I’m so excited I can finally put that other to rest,” Hocevar said of the circumstances of his first win, adding, “And hopefully I can win a lot more races for them (Neice Motorsports).”

The young driver’s effort earned him not only the one-of-a-kind Nashville winner’s guitar but also an extra $50,000 as part of the Truck Series’ Triple Truck Challenge program. He joins Ben Rhodes and Grant Enfinger as the three recipients of the three-race bonus money this season.

Corey Heim and Bayley Currey rounded out the top five on Friday. Heim led the most laps — 57 of the 150 on the night — and won stage two in the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota. He also leads the championship by 16 points over Smith.

Although he missed out on his first trophy, it was still an impressive night for Sanchez, who earned his third pole position of the season.

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In the opening laps, Sanchez and Rajah Caruth set the pace out front; the former ARCA competitors and NASCAR Drive for Diversity graduates running nose-to-tail and door-to-door throughout the opening stage. Sanchez, 22, led the opening 35 laps in his No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet. And after multiple spirited duels between the two, the 21-year old Caruth finally got around Sanchez on lap 36 to lead his first career lap in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition — only to slow and have to pit his No. 24 GMS Chevrolet a lap later and relinquish the lead. He returned to the race many laps down and ultimately settled for a 32nd place finish.

The opening stage concluded in similar drama when Smith got by Sanchez in the closing laps to claim his second stage win of the season.

“At the end of the day, it was a good points night, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed,’’ Sanchez said.

Chase Purdy, Matt DiBenedetto, Tyler Ankrum, Ben Rhodes and Jake Garcia rounded out the top 10.

It was a tough day for veteran Stewart Friesen, who was involved in two incidents that brought out caution periods. He dropped from ninth to 11th in the standings with only three regular season races remaining to set the 10-driver Playoff field.

Sanchez’s effort at Nashville combined with Friesen’s tough-luck night moved the Miami rookie into that all-important 10th place position with a six-point advantage on Friesen.

The series takes a week off and resumes with some road course racing July 8 — the O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (1:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

RESULTS