Carson Hocevar Celebrates Birthday with a Flamethrower

“When I came back my whole driveway was ice, I literally couldn’t drive my truck up it,” Hocevar said. “That’s where the flamethrower (idea) started because I was trying to grab hammers and stuff to break [the ice] and that didn’t work. Then I started rolling the lawnmower over it to dig into it and that didn’t work. Then I thought about getting a hairdryer with an extension cord, but I needed more heat.

“So, I got a flamethrower but then it didn’t come through, it got delayed and all the ice melted. For my birthday I lit my birthday candles with the flamethrower. I didn’t have any tools, didn’t have any salt. It’s not very fun to go onto eBay and buy salt when there’s a flamethrower (for sale).”

Although the recent snow and ice storms prompted Hocevar to purchase the flamethrower, he’s had the idea to find one for several years. While browsing eBay for a "It’s Not a Flamethrower," the driver of the No. 77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet attempted to find No. 77 to match his car number. Unable to do so, he did the next best thing, found one that at least has a Spire Motorsports number, No. 7,000.

After using it to light the candles on his birthday cake and asking the team if he could bring it on stage for the team’s media day, Hocevar joked that a provision about flamethrowers would probably be added to future contracts.

“(I’ve had the idea since) a few years ago,” he said. “‘It’s Not a Flamethrower’ is what it’s called. Elon Musk made it. I was like, ‘I want something for my birthday,’ so I was going to get myself something. If it’s not DoorDashing food I’m not spending any money really so I’m going to spend something.

“I went on eBay, and I was trying to find No. 77 but the only one I could find was No. 7,000. So, I have No. 7,000 of It’s Not a Flamethrower and I’ve been having a lot of fun with it. I asked if I could bring it in on stage and (Spire) said no. It’s probably being added (to my contract) right now (that I can’t have a flamethrower).”

Hocevar and his crew chief, Luke Lambert, are the only unchanged features of Spire’s Cup Series lineup for the 2025 season. They’re joined this season by the driver-crew chief duos of Justin Haley and Rodney Childers, as well as Michael McDowell and Travis Peterson.

The 2025 season begins with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. The race will also be broadcast on both the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.