Spire Motorsports benches Carson Hocevar for season finale

NASCAR fans across North Carolina prepare for the final weekend of the 2026 season, but one prominent driver will not be behind the wheel. Carson Hocevar, who pilots the No. 77 car, will sit out the Nov. 8 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Spire Motorsports announced the suspension on Tuesday. The decision follows a Nov. 1 race at Martinsville where observers accused Hocevar of intentionally spinning his car to trigger a caution flag. The incident added to a season marked by aggressive driving and on-track friction, including a notable confrontation with Austin Cindric.

Team officials said the move was driven by organizational values rather than financial concerns. "A decision like this has a lot of variables and a cascading effect across an organization like ours," Spire Motorsports stated. "The easy thing would have been to leave this in NASCAR’s hands. To us, however, this isn’t about money or points. We believe in respect. Our integrity matters. This is the right decision. Sometimes the right decision for someone you care about hurts in the short term."

Justin Haley, a NASCAR veteran and former Spire driver, will replace Hocevar in the No. 77 seat for the final race. The substitution leaves Hocevar without a ride for the event that concludes the racing calendar for all three top series.

Hocevar reacted to the news in a personal statement. He described the suspension as "an embarrassing day" and acknowledged that his actions on the track crossed a line. "I let the people down that gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to drive a Cup car," he wrote. "I crossed the line with my on-track actions and gave [owner] Jeff [Dickerson] and Spire Motorsports no option but to put someone else in the 77 car this weekend."

The 23-year-old driver has built a reputation for charisma and aggressive racing this season. He secured his first Cup Series victory at Talladega on April 26. He also advanced to the postseason for the first time in his career. Hocevar has been involved in multiple incidents, including a viral altercation at Bristol in September.

In 35 races this season, Hocevar recorded one win, six top-five finishes, and 12 top-10 results. He entered the final standings in 12th place in the points race.