BROOKLYN, Mich.—Carson Hocevar grew up about an hour from Michigan International Speedway but he had never taken a lap around the two-mile track before Friday.
After 10 laps behind the wheel of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, Hocevar was sixth on the speed chart in NASCAR Xfinity Series practice.
Minutes later, the 20-year-old Michigander from Portage was the second driver to make a qualifying run. His lap of 38.362 seconds (187.686 mph) held up for second over the next 32 competitors—until Justin Allgaier knocked Hocevar off the front row.
While Josh Berry won the pole for the Cabo Wabo 250 with a lap of 37.985 seconds, Hocevar will start seventh before his home crowd on Saturday in just his fifth career NXS race.
“I’m excited to be here and have a driver’s suit on,” Hocevar said with a smile. “I never ran a lap here, so this is brand new. A 20-minute practice session, then qualify the car.
“I’ve got a really fast Xfinity Series car today. Drove a handful of things this year and have been fast in them all. To have three wins in bank in the day job and then to have speed when I get to do these other fun gigs that I’m very fortunate to do is super rewarding. It’s super fun.”
That “day job” is driving for Al Niece in the Craftsman Truck Series. Hocevar raced Late Models and the ARCA Menards Series as he aged up into the Craftsman Truck Series with Niece Motorsports in 2020. He graduated to a full season in 2021 and has qualified for the Playoffs every year since.
As with any up-and-comer, Hocevar experienced his share of growing pains. But 2023 has proven to be a breakout year for the affable racer.
“I feel really good—just a really good mind-set,” Hocevar said. “I’m really comfortable, really confident coming to the race track and I think that shows regardless what car or truck I’m in. I feel like I belong here. And it hasn’t been a distraction from my day job.”
Hocevar scored four second-place finishes before he finally broke trough with a truck victory at Texas Motor Speedway in April. Over the next 11 races, he scored six additional top fives including two wins—most recently last Saturday at Richmond.
While he didn’t have the fastest truck, Hocevar remained patient and in striking distance throughout the closing laps. When Ty Majeski and the No. 98 ThorSport Racing team made a critical error—opting not to pit in the final run—Hocevar capitalized.
Hocevar and the No. 42 truck team enters the Playoffs third in the standings, nine points behind points leader Corey Heim and one point behind defending champ Zane Smith
“The fact that we have the most wins in trucks is big,” Hocevar said. “We’re third in points but I’m driving a car, so I feel like there’s no off weeks for me.
“I just want to get my hands on anything I can drive to constantly run laps, constantly learning and constantly being at the race track.”
Regardless of how his truck season ends, Hocevar has captured the attention of drivers and team owners in both the Xfinity Series and Cup. Ross Chastain has been a mentor for Hocevar. Denny Hamlin offered the youngster a shoutout on his Actions Detrimental podcast earlier this week.
When Corey LaJoie filled in for Chase Elliott in the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at World Wide Technology Raceway in June, Hocevar made his NASCAR Cup debut in the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. And he outran LaJoie before a broken brake rotor ended his day after 91 laps.
In his four previous Xfinity Series starts, Hocevar scored two top 10s.
“The fact that we have speed—in cars that I probably shouldn’t just yet—I feel my learning curve is a little bit quicker than even I would have expected,” Hocevar said. “I think going through the motions will make me better each day.”
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at: [email protected].
