11/03/2026 02:22:00
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11/03 14:21 CST NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar suspended for season finale
following on-track actions at Martinsville
NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar suspended for season finale following on-track
actions at Martinsville
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) --- Spire Motorsports has suspended NASCAR driver Carson
Hocevar for Sunday's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, saying "racing
at the Cup level is a privilege, and it comes with an expected level of
professionalism."
Hocevar was accused of intentionally brake-checking competitor Austin Cindric
following a restart at Martinsville Speedway last Sunday. He denied doing it on
purpose.
Cindric finished 36th, with his No. 2 Ford's front end destroyed by multiple
collisions with Hocevar, who seemed to slam on the brakes multiple times to
initiate contact. Cindric declined interviews after leaving the care center,
but he radioed his team that Hocevar "had a mental breakdown" in the incidents.
Hocevar, who has been involved in several run-ins this season, said he "got
lost there for a second" and denied hitting Cindric intentionally.
Earlier in the race, Hocevar was accused of intentionally spinning his No. 77
Chevrolet to bring out a caution flag and potentially catch Christopher Bell
and others on pit road, disrupting their race strategies.
"A decision like this has a lot of variables and a cascading effect across an
organization like ours," Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson said in a
statement. "The easy thing would have been to leave this in NASCAR's hands and
let them decide what any penalty should be.
"To us, however, this isn't about money or points. We believe in respect. Our
integrity matters. This is the right decision for Spire Motorsports."
Justin Haley will replace Hocevar in the finale.
"This is an embarrassing day for me," Hocevar said in a statement posted on
social media. "I let the people down that gave me the opportunity of a lifetime
to drive a Cup car. I also let down my team, sponsors and fans. I crossed the
line with my on-track actions and gave Jeff and Spire Motorsports no option but
to put someone else in the 77 car this weekend at Homestead.
"I'll be rooting for the entire organization this weekend and look forward to
coming back in 2027 as a better driver, competitor and teammate."
Hocevar, driving in his third full season for Spire, made the 16-team playoff
field but has since been eliminated from the championship chase. He currently
ranks 12th.
"Everyone here loves working with Carson, and we've enjoyed watching him thrive
alongside our team," Dickerson said. "Sometimes the right decision for someone
you care about hurts in the short term.
"The way Carson conducted himself at Martinsville doesn't meet the standard we
set for our drives, team members or employees, and there are consequences for
that. That doesn't mean we don't love him and support him."
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