Carson Hocevar is not your average NASCAR driver. At just 23, the 77 Spire driver has garnered unbridled support from fans and has quickly become a favourite amongst NASCAR’s ever-evolving fan demography. 

If the attention he gets on track wasn’t enough, Hocevar has been bestowed with an honour that sees him create history as a NASCAR first. 

Time magazine released its list of the top 100 most influential people in sports, and the Michigan-born driver has just become the first NASCAR driver to be included in the leader category of Time’s list. 

Hocevar is the only driver to feature on the list, and a large part of his induction is based on the support and attention he has brought to the sport, which goes against the traditional grain of what people expect NASCAR fans to be. 

According to Time’s description, “Carson Hocevar could very well be the next face of NASCAR. The 23-year-old from Michigan, who claimed his first Cup Series victory in April, possesses a combination of talent and confidence that attracts a fervent following”

Hocevar took to Instagram and shared a screenshot of his inclusion in Time’s list and added the soundtrack ‘Laughin’ to the Bank’ by Chief Keef. 

Time also made a mention of his epic race-winning celebration after he got his first Cup victory at Talladega. 

While Hocevar made the cut, there was only one other NASCAR feature across the other categories. 

23XI Racing Team Owners Were Also Included In Top 100 List

Time Top 100 is a prestigious list to be a part of, and it’s not new for Michael Jordan to be featured by Time. But this time, the feature is for a whole new reason. 

Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, who jointly own 23XI, were featured in the top 100 most influential people in sports in the innovators category. 

With Tyler Reddick leading the Cup series ranking after picking up 5 victories from 15 races, 23XI’s growth in NASCAR has been one that has impressed one and all, but that isn’t the primary reason behind Hamlin and Jordan’s inclusion in the top 100. 

Time pointed to the anti-trust lawsuit in 2024, which was filed by 23XI and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR. Time elaborated on the lawsuit and Jordan’s crucial role in NASCAR, considering a revision of the charter.

Time wrote, “Jordan testified at the trial in December 2025, urging NASCAR, a family business run by CEO Jim France, to behave more like the NBA, where the league and team owners partner to grow the pie. The parties settled with no admission of liability by NASCAR, but with NASCAR agreeing to amend existing charters to make them “evergreen,” making it easier for teams to secure sponsorships and recruit drivers.”

Jordan has been a serial winner, and he has often said that he competes for everything, even if it is a race in who gets ready first, him or his wife. And Jordan has brought that same mentality to 23XI, who will hope their founders being recognised by Time is a foreshadowing of coming success.

Read more at Daytona Racing Digest!

Written by

Debrup Chaudhuri

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi