Carson Hocevar reacts to making first NASCAR Cup Series start

Carson Hocevar will make his first-career NASCAR Cup Series start in this Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway.

The 20-year-old was tapped by Spire Motorsports to fill in for Corey LaJoie and drive the No. 7 Chevrolet. LaJoie’s ride came available after Hendrick Motorsports chose him to drive the No. 9 Chevrolet after NASCAR suspended Chase Elliott for one race for intentionally wrecking Denny Hamlin during this past Monday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Hocevar described the opportunity as a “dream come true.”

“It’s a dream come true regardless of whose car it is. It means the world whether you’re driving the car that’s first in points or the car 38th in points on Sunday,” Hocevar said, via Motorsport. “There were a lot of times [sponsor] Worldwide Express wanted me at the race track on Sunday last year and I sat there hoping one day I’d get to have a driver’s suit on getting to that point.

“A lot of those thoughts came to mind when I found out I’d finally get to drive the car… I work really well and love everybody at Spire Motorsports. They trust me enough to drive their Sunday car.”

Hocevar is a regular in the Craftsman Truck Series. He’s recorded one win, five top 10s and four top 5s this season. He currently sits eighth in the points standings driving the No. 42 for Niece Motorsports. Additionally, Hocevar has made two starts in the Xfinity Series driving the No. 77 for Spire. He finished sixth at Darlington Raceway and eighth at Charlotte.

“Those two races, I didn’t know I was auditioning for a Sunday ride,” Hocevar said.

Carson Hocevar amped up for NASCAR Cup Series opportunity

Though Sunday will be Hocevar’s first time on-track in the Next Gen car, he isn’t as inexperienced as you’d think. He said he’s spent the last year-and-a-half testing it out in the Chevrolet simulator for Trackhouse Racing.

“I do a lot of work when Ross [Chastain] and Daniel [Suárez] can’t get in, so I’ve gotten to learn this car a lot,” Hocevar said. “For me, I’ve just wanted to drive the [real] car once, whether it was a wheel-force test or something, just to help them out. I take my role as a sim driver very seriously and I want to be as good as I can. The first thing they texted me [Wednesday] was, ‘You finally got your wish. You can actually feel what it’s like.’

“I already sort of have a hint at how I’d like the car to drive like… Think [that] is helping me a lot. I feel I’m prepared as I can be.”