Jun
Even though Carson Hocevar has already spent many hours behind the wheel of a simulated NASCAR Cup Next Gen vehicle, the opportunity to take control of a real one this weekend still took him off guard.
Spire Motorsports has selected Hocevar to make his Cup start on Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis. Hocevar has been a full-time participant in the Truck Series since 2021 and made his Xfinity Series debut earlier this season.
Hocevar, 20, will take Corey LaJoie’s place behind the wheel of Spire’s No. 7 Chevrolet. This weekend, Lajoie will be driving Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 9 Chevrolet instead of Chase Elliott, who was earlier this week given a one-race suspension by NASCAR.
“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.
“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 on Sunday. I work really well and love everybody at Spire Motorsports. They trust me enough to drive their Sunday car.”
The 2023 Xfinity season will feature six races for Hocevar, Spire revealed earlier this year.
He has made two appearances in the No. 77 so yet; the first was in Darlington, South Carolina, and the second was the weekend before at Charlotte. In both races, he was excellent, placing sixth and eighth, respectively.
“Those two races, I didn’t know I was auditioning for a Sunday ride,” he said.
Not completely new to Next Gen
Hocevar will not go into this weekend with no prior experience driving the Next Gen Cup Series vehicle.
Hocevar has been working on Trackhouse Racing’s Next Gen car in the Chevrolet simulator for the past 1.5 years.
“I do a lot of work when Ross (Chastain) and Daniel (Suarez) can’t get in, so I’ve gotten to learn this car a lot,” he 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 (on 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, which I think is helping me a lot. I feel I’m prepared as I can be.”
We bring out some of the most well-known NASCAR drivers’ apparels , all of which are available at reasonable costs. Visit our link now if you are interested in the racing clothing collection!
Nascar, NASCAR Cup Series, Nascar 2023, Xfinity, Carson Hocevar, Next Gen, Spire Motorsports
