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Carson Hocevar taking on Gateway Dirt Nationals Modified race

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated Nov 27, 2025 9:39 AM ET

The start of December is going to be dirty for Carson Hocevar. He’s racing the Gateway Dirt Nationals Modified race. While many drivers are heading to Pensacola, Florida, for pavement racing at the Snowball Derby, Hocevar is slinging dirt.

Spire Motorsports announced the entry for Carson Hocevar earlier this week. It is going to be a No. 77 Chili’s Chevy. A little bit of NASCAR flavor for folks who like watching dirt racing.

These Dirt Late Model cars are wild. They are skewed, crooked, and look like a car that was already in an accident before the race. But these machines do nothing but make speed and power on the dirt. It’s one of the best shows in racing.

In the dome, anything can happen. It isn’t Carson Hocevar’s first time at Gateway Nationals, either. In 2022, he finished P12 on the night.

Now, this is THE Triple Dipper.@CarsonHocevar will compete in the @GatewayDirt Nationals in the No. 77 @Chilis Dirt Late Model! pic.twitter.com/S0HOZolaYg
— Spire Motorsports (@SpireMotorsport) November 25, 2025

Carson Hocevar is one to make noise. We know that he’s going to make himself known no matter what race it is. The trick for Hocevar is to race hard and only make headlines for the good things. Taking out a competitor, especially a potential winner, would make him Public Enemy Number One at Gateway. If he takes out Bobby Pierce or somebody, he may have more problems than just a wrecked racecar.

Seeing NASCAR drivers get involved with events like this is great. Let’s get these drivers in front of different fans, dirt fans, fans who might not tune in on Sundays during the season. If you can do that, then the result doesn’t matter much in the end. But if would be even better if Hocevar was able to make a show of it.

Carson Hocevar will be one to watch in 2026

For both NASCAR and Spire Motorsports, the 2026 season is going to be major when it comes to Carson Hocevar. Hocevar made himself known this season. He arguably was going to win the Atlanta race in the Spring before the caution came out on the final lap.

There were multiple times this season where Hocevar made himself known. Michigan comes to mind. He was potentially one flat tire away, and a lucky caution, from being able to win that race. The speed, skill, and talent were on display throughout the season.

As one of the stars of the latest docuseries Rising, Hocevar is being exposed to race fans in many different ways. Earlier this year, he won his third Money in the Bank 150 at Berlin Raceway. He’s been busy both in NASCAR and off the track in other events.

Carson Hocevar had two runner-up finishes this year, seven other top-10s, and a pole award at Texas. Spire Motorsports sees Hocevar as the future, and he just might be the future of their team and of NASCAR as a sport.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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