Spire Motorsports suspended driver Carson Hocevar on Tuesday for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series season finale. The team cited Hocevar’s conduct during a race at Martinsville Speedway as the reason for the disciplinary action, which removes him from the seat for the final event of the year.
The suspension follows what the team described as "on-track actions" during the Martinsville event. In a statement addressing the decision, Spire Motorsports officials said that competing at the Cup level is a privilege that requires a specific level of professional conduct. The team did not provide a detailed description of the specific maneuver or incident that triggered the penalty.
The season finale is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Spire Motorsports has not yet announced a replacement driver for the No. 77 Chevrolet for the Homestead event. Hocevar has been competing in his rookie season in the Cup Series, NASCAR's highest level of competition.
The decision by Spire Motorsports sets a internal precedent regarding driver conduct. By removing a driver for the season finale, the team is signaling to its sponsors, fans, and the racing industry that it will enforce its own standards of professionalism regardless of whether the sanctioning body has taken similar action.
For the racing industry, this ensures that a different driver will be behind the wheel for the season's conclusion on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The next steps for the team include identifying and seating a replacement driver before practice and qualifying sessions begin at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It is not yet reported if the suspension will extend into the 2027 season or if Hocevar will return to the team for the following year.