Carson Hocevar (Left): Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire (Imago) Corey Heim (Right): Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire (Imago)
Carson Hocevar (Left): Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire (Imago) Corey Heim (Right): Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire (Imago)
It’s not uncommon now that every race weekend has some conversation that surrounds Carson Hocevar. And it’s no different after the Brickyard 400, where the Spire Motorsports driver made the biggest headline apart from rival Corey Heim's win.
On lap 91 of 160, when Heim slowed down to come on pit road, Hocevar, who wasn't pitting, drove beside him close to the apron, flipped him off, and then sped up again to continue with his race.
Hocevar was asked by the media post-race why he did that, and they received a trademark troll response.
"I just knew he was gonna win. So I just told him he was number one to congratulate him early," Hocevar jokingly said (via Frontstretch on X).
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 20: Carson Hocevar 77 Spire Motorsports Deleware Life Chevrolet walks down pit road during qualifying for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA CRAFTSMAN Truck Series FR8 Racing 208 on February 20, 2026 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, GA. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 20 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series FR8 Racing 208 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602202788208
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 20: Carson Hocevar 77 Spire Motorsports Deleware Life Chevrolet walks down pit road during qualifying for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA CRAFTSMAN Truck Series FR8 Racing 208 on February 20, 2026 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, GA. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 20 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series FR8 Racing 208 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602202788208
During the second stage of the 160-lap race around Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Hocevar was left frustrated after coming out of the pits. He was looking to make a pass, but it proved difficult at the Brickyard.
Hocevar was trying to get past Heim, who was yet to pit, but Heim’s defence made it impossible for Hocevar to pass. Eventually, the Spire Motorsports driver finished ninth, while his 23XI rival won the race, his second Cup victory in only 15 starts as a part-timer.
Hocevar somehow ended up as the highest-finishing Chevy and is also currently the leading Chevrolet driver in points. With four races remaining in the regular season, he is fifth with 638 points, having picked up 40 points from the Brickyard 400, a race he was desperate to win.
He did, however, walk away with his head held high.
Carson Hocevar sums up a weirdly action-packed Brickyard 400
The Brickyard 400 had the wrong kind of highlights. Kyle Larson and Daniel Dye DNFed in different incidents, both getting too high and hitting the outside wall and losing a wheel. Even Ryan Blaney had a spin and ended up 26th.
Despite all of that and a lot of change in positions, there was little to no on-track overtaking action. Hocevar spoke about that in his post-race interview with TNT Sports.
"I think there were eight total completed passes last year, and I got three of them at the end of the race, so I was happy about that," Hocevar said. "I passed 54 (Ty Gibbs), 17 (Chris Buescher), and the 45 (Tyler Reddick). Like straight up just passed them. So I was just pumped. I was doing something and not just sitting around riding and just being like, 'I'm gonna finish here today.'"
While Hocevar was clear that his positive attitude and ability to make passes helped, ahead of the race he had said that the Brickyard 400 tops his list of the races he wants to win.
Hocevar may have to wait another year for another chance.
Read more at Daytona Racing Digest!
Written by
Debrup Chaudhuri
Edited by
Yash Kotak