Spire suspends Hocevar for Homestead finale

Carson Hocevar will not race in the final event of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. The 23-year-old driver of the No. 77 car is suspended by Spire Motorsports for the Nov. 8 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The team announced the decision on Tuesday. It follows a controversial incident during the Nov. 1 race at Martinsville. Some observers accused Hocevar of intentionally spinning his car to trigger a caution flag. He also had a physical run-in with Austin Cindric during that event.

Spire Motorsports issued a statement explaining the reasoning behind the move. The team said it believed in respect and integrity over money or points. It noted that leaving the matter to NASCAR officials would have been the easier path. The statement added that the right decision for a valued driver can sometimes hurt in the short term.

Hocevar responded to the news in a written statement of his own. He described the suspension as an embarrassing day. He said he let down the people who gave him the opportunity to drive a Cup car. He acknowledged that his on-track actions crossed a line and gave owner Jeff Dickerson and the team no choice but to replace him for the weekend.

Justin Haley, a NASCAR veteran and former Spire driver, will take the wheel in Hocevar’s place for the season finale. All three of NASCAR’s top series conclude their schedules this weekend at the Homestead-Miami Speedway track.

Hocevar has become a popular figure among fans this season due to his aggressive driving style and charisma. His career has included several incidents with other drivers, including a viral brawl at Bristol in September. Despite these events, he earned his first Cup race victory at Talladega on April 26. He also advanced to the postseason for the first time in his career.

In 35 races this season, Hocevar secured one win. He finished in the top 10 in 12 races and in the top 5 in six races. He entered the final race of the season ranked 12th in the points standings.