Hocevar suspended by Spire for Cup finale after Martinsville

Carson Hocevar will miss the NASCAR Cup season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway after Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson suspended him. Dickerson said Hocevar had gone too far by brake-checking Austin Cindric four times at Martinsville Speedway.

Hocevar accepted the decision, saying he had lost the keys to his car for the weekend but not the ability to be at the track. He said he believes his only apology is owed to his Spire Motorsports team and that no conversation with Cindric is planned. The suspension comes with a $100,000 fine and the loss of 25 points from NASCAR, the largest penalty of his brief Cup career.

Hocevar had previously been fined twice by NASCAR, in June 2024 and October 2025, and once by his team in June 2025. NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell acknowledged there are challenges with Hocevar but said he likes the way he engages with fans.