This NASCAR Driver is Quickly Becoming the Sport’s Next Supervillain
Carson Hocevar didn’t come to the NASCAR Cup Series to play nice. In his second season driving the No. 77 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports, the 22-year-old Michigan native is already shaking up the garage. He’s fast, bold, a little cocky at times, and not afraid to ruffle feathers. Whether it’s throwing a middle finger to Layne Riggs on his way to victory in a Truck Series race or throwing a block that sends his competitors into the wall, Hocevar is unapologetically himself, and the results are starting to follow. Just last week at Nashville Superspeedway on Amazon Prime Video, Hocevar turned heads once again with a strong second-place finish to Ryan Blaney.
It tied his career-best finish and was the second time this season that Hocevar finished runner-up, yet another reminder that he’s not just here to stir the pot, he’s here to win races. With two second-place finishes, a pole at Texas Motor Speedway, and a serious shot to win the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte before an engine failure ended his night, his 2025 campaign has already been very impressive. Not only because he’s 22 and inexperienced, but more because of the equipment he’s in. Spire Motorsports hasn’t traditionally been a weekly contender, but Hocevar has changed that narrative from the moment he arrived.
On the track, he drives like he’s a veteran who’s been in the sport for years. He’s aggressive, calculated when it comes to car control, and entirely unbothered by his reputation. Off the track, he’s equally unfiltered. Hocevar is active on Twitch, often streaming iRacing sessions to fans where his raw personality truly shines through. He shows up to the track in his Dale Earnhardt-themed Chevy Silverado—dubbed “The Dale Truck”—a nod to The Intimidator. The message Hocevar is sending is clear: He is not going to change who he is for anyone. Not on or off the track.
That attitude has quickly made him one of the most polarizing figures in the sport today. His latest dust-up came just days ago at Nashville when he and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. tangled early in the race. At the infield care center, Stenhouse didn’t stutter when telling the media, “He got one coming. He’s not going to last long if he keeps that up.” Hocevar brushed it off. “I’m not going to race any differently,” he told reporters. “I’m not going to change who I am because it makes someone mad.” As Hocevar’s list of enemies grows, he remains unfazed.
This isn’t new behavior for Hocevar. Earlier this year in Atlanta, he had disagreements with both Ryan Blaney and Ross Chastain. Blaney called Hocevar’s moves “unnecessary,” and Chastain had a conversation with Hocevar post-race. Hocevar was later scolded again, this time a few weeks later in Texas, by Ryan Preece. Preece was quick to criticize Hocevar to the media following an accident between the two on the track. “[Hocevar] has no respect for anybody out there—he’ll have his day.” None of it has seemed to bother Hocevar, who continues to double down on his aggressive style.
Hocevar’s path to Cup Series superstardom might feel familiar to fans who’ve followed the sport for decades. Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Kevin Harvick all entered the Cup Series with a chip on their shoulder, unwilling to conform to the status quo. Dale Earnhardt Jr. even said earlier this week that Hocevar reminds him of a “late 1970s version of his dad.” Incredibly high praise coming from the son of a NASCAR icon. Each of these drivers took their lumps early on, receiving harsh criticism, getting retaliated against, and even given the occasional penalty, but what all four of them have in common is that they all won championships later on in their careers. Hocevar seems cut from the same cloth. He’s brash but fiercely competitive and unafraid to take those risks.
Hocevar’s rise to the top is starting to draw attention from more than just fans. Chili’s, a major national brand, jumped on board as a sponsor earlier this season, a rare move for a young, unproven driver not racing for one of NASCAR’s powerhouse teams. Hocevar’s social media presence, mixed with his marketability, has turned him into a unique figure. He’s someone who appeals to the next generation while channeling the raw energy of an old-school racer. He’s building a brand at the same time he’s building a career, and he is a character that NASCAR has desperately needed for some time.
At the root of it all is a deep passion for racing and winning. Hocevar isn’t just pretending to be someone he’s not. He’s not playing politics in the garage or filtering himself for the cameras. Hocevar is being Hocevar. Naturally, that might make him a villain, but it’s also what makes him so captivating to watch.
His flashes of speed are more than just a hot streak. It’s the beginning of something bigger. Carson Hocevar isn’t just some fast kid. He’s a showman. He’s a threat every week. The longer this season goes, the more it feels like NASCAR is witnessing the rise of its next great antihero, someone you’ll either boo or cheer for, but you’ll never ignore. Either way, people will be making noise.
