Spire Motorsports Bends Rules to Bench Carson Hocevar for Season Finale
The 23-year-old driver will miss the Homestead race after a suspension triggered by a controversial maneuver at Martinsville in late October.
By Robert Herrera ·
Carson Hocevar will not race the final event of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season due to a suspension issued by his own team.
Spire Motorsports announced on Tuesday that the driver of the No. 77 car is suspended for the Nov. 8 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This action removes Hocevar from the field for the season finale, which concludes the racing calendar for all three top NASCAR series this weekend.
The decision follows an incident at Martinsville on Nov. 1 where Hocevar was accused of intentionally spinning his car to trigger a caution flag. The team cited this maneuver as a key factor in the suspension, noting that the driver also had a physical run-in with Austin Cindric during the event.
Spire Motorsports explained its reasoning in a statement, stating that the team chose to act rather than leave the matter to NASCAR officials. The organization emphasized that the decision was not about financial gains or championship points but about maintaining respect and integrity. The team acknowledged that the right decision can be difficult in the short term for a driver they support.
Justin Haley, a former Spire driver and NASCAR veteran, will replace Hocevar in the No. 77 car for the Homestead race. Hocevar addressed the suspension in his own statement, describing the announcement as an embarrassing day. He admitted to crossing a line with his on-track actions and said his behavior left owner Jeff Dickerson and the team with no alternative but to swap drivers.
Hocevar, 23, has built a reputation for aggressive driving and charisma this season. He secured his first Cup Series victory at Talladega on April 26 and qualified for the postseason for the first time in his career. His season record includes one win, six top-five finishes, and 12 top-10 finishes across 35 races.
The driver entered the final race of the season in 12th place in the points standings. His tenure has been marked by several on-track incidents, including a viral altercation at Bristol in September, which contributed to his high profile among fans and competitors.
Source: WVUE-DT
