Carson Hocevar Excitingly Secures All-Star Open Victory at North Wilkesboro

Leading up to Sunday’s All-Star, Carson Hocevar turned heads at North Wilkesboro Speedway for the qualifying All-Star Open. Hocevar is known across the NASCAR circuit as one of the more versatile drivers running in the Craftsman Truck, Xfinity, and, more recently, the Cup Series. The driver of the Chevrolet ZL1 for Spire Motorsports is currently ranked 25th in the Cup standings and has had some solid runs this season.

Hocevar started from the pole for the Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this month and has notched a single top-five finish and dual top-ten finishes. His highest starting average this season has been roughly 17.3, and his average finish has been around 22.17, with 37 total low finishes and only two high finishes. However, fans never could’ve guessed he’d be able to hold off LEGACY Motor Club’s John Hunter Nemechek, currently ranked 7th in Cup Series standings.

Hocevar charged to the finish in his No.77 Chevrolet adorned with a WNBA-inspired paint scheme as an ode to the great Caitlin Clark after leading 55 laps. He beat Nemechek by an impressive 0.697 seconds to advance to Sunday’s main event. Nemechek finished P2, followed by Front Row Motorsports’ Noah Gragson in P3. Hocevar was elated with the finish, but it was just as unexpected for him as it was for the spectators.

A Super Big Win For Carson Hocevar

Though John Hunter Nemechek undoubtedly gave Carson Hocevar a run for his money at the All-Star Open exhibition race, he was no match for his swiftness. Hocevar has proved over and over again that no matter how far down he is in the standings, he can always rise above the ashes. Therefore, Saturday’s run at North Wilkesboro Speedway was nothing short of impressive. Post-race, the Spire Motorsports driver was questioned about his successful run and how he overcame tire issues during the race’s latter half.

Carson Hocevar told various media outlets that Saturday’s win was big for his team. “Super big for this group, this team,” he said of his All-Star Open win. He added that winning was a great feeling, even though the tires on his No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1 threatened to slow him down. He also expressed his disdain for his car during the race, but capitalized on the fact that he was still quick on the track, “It’s great to win, especially being challenged by tires there. I had my hands full.

We definitely have to go to work here on our race car because I didn’t like it, but it’s a good sign that we didn’t like it, and we were still pretty quick there,” he added. Hocevar made a good point regarding the swiftness of his car because he opted for two tires during his final pitstop, whereas other teams were opting to change all four. Perhaps this was a lesson learned, and he’ll think twice next race, because cutting corners doesn’t always fare well.

Hats Off to the No. 42 Team

Carson Hocevar may have been celebrating his All-Star open win on victory lane, but John Hunter Nemechek was thrilled to have come in P2. For him, coming second to Hocevar meant that he and his No. 42 team were locked into Sunday’s All-Star Race. Post-race, during a pit lane interview, Nemechek spoke to the media about efforts in fighting Hocevar for the lead, but he knew he couldn’t win from where he was.

Even so, he is immensely proud of his team and glad to learn that he has a chance to win the million-dollar cash prize for LEGACY Motor Club. “We have a shot to go win a million dollars,” John Hunter Nemechek said of locking into the All-Star Race. He continued by thanking his team and their hard-fought efforts to lock him in. “Hats off to this No. 42 Team.

We unloaded and we had good two or three lap speed, but no longer on pace. Proud of them for the effort they put in yesterday and what they were able to find and pitting there at that last deal, I knew I couldn’t win from where I was at. We came and got two tires and that helped us out. Hats off to the whole 42 team. Proud of the effort,” his statement concluded.

Final Thoughts

On Saturday, Carson Hocevar launched a valiant fight at NASCAR’s 100-lap All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway. It was survival of the fittest, as there were only 23 entries up for grabs, but Hocevar didn’t let this sway him. He wasn’t showing it if his nerves were rattled behind his No. 77 Chevrolet ZL1 wheel, even with an eager John Hunter Nemechek challenging his lead during the last race’s last stage. Carson Hocevar did what he had to and no doubt dominated the field, proving once again that he is going nowhere fast.