UPDATE:Carson Hocevar held court and answered questions about his recent on-track conduct Friday afternoon at Homestead-Miami Speedway, two days ahead of a NASCAR Cup Series season finale that he won’t run, saying “I lost the keys to my car for the weekend. I did not lose the ability to be here, and it’s a privilege to be here.”
Hocevar said Friday that he accepted the penalties, both from his team and NASCAR. “I forced their decision,” he said. “It’s not anybody else that’s doing this to me. I did this.”
Asked how he would balance his aggressive nature without pushing the boundaries of what’s acceptable, Hocevar was blunt.
“I think it’s very simple,” Hocevar said. “You know, they put it in the highlight and commercial reels with the front bumper. They’re not going to put it with the rear bumper, and badasses make moves going forward, not backwards.”
— NASCAR.com —
ORIGINAL POST 11-6-2026: Carson Hocevar posted a video on YouTube Thursday discussing his suspension from this weekend’s Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Hocevar acknowledged intentionally brake-checking Austin Cindric multiple times during Sunday’s race at Martinsville and said he supports Spire Motorsports’ decision to suspend him.
“I brake-checked the 2 car, Austin Cindric, and I think it was three or four times,” Hocevar said. He apologized to Cindric, Team Penske and Spire Motorsports, and acknowledged that his actions went beyond aggressive racing. “It’s embarrassing and it’s just disrespectful.”
Hocevar said Spire Motorsports was not pressured by NASCAR to suspend him and defended the team’s decision. “I’m the bad guy. I made the mistake. I forced their decision,” he said.
He was also fined $100,000 and docked 25 driver points by NASCAR for behavioral code of conduct violations.
While admitting that he needs to show more respect for his other drivers, Hocevar said he does not intend to stop his aggressive driving style. He hopes to reduce the number of on-track incidents next season but said that what happened at Martinsville was different from ordinary racing contact.
Hocevar said he hopes the suspension will help him become a better driver and teammate.