That is a massive call right before a championship finale. Spire Motorsports has officially suspended Carson Hocevar for Sunday's 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Justin Haley will step in to pilot the No. 77 Chevrolet for the weekend.
Here is the thing: this stunning decision comes directly in the wake of an ugly on-track incident with Austin Cindric last Sunday at Martinsville Speedway. SMT data proved that the No. 77 driver brake-checked in front of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford multiple times during the Chase race presented by Mobil 1.
Racing at the Cup level is a privilege, and it comes with an expected level of professionalism from everyone who represents Spire Motorsports,
That reckless move had brutal consequences. The front end of Austin Cindric's car was utterly crushed in, forcing a DNF and leaving the No. 2 driver with a dismal 36th-place result.
Jeff Dickerson, co-owner of Spire Motorsports, did not mince words about why the team took matters into their own hands rather than waiting for series officials. “The easy thing would have been to leave this in NASCAR’s hands and let them decide what any penalty should be. To us, however, this isn’t about money or points. We believe in respect. Our integrity matters. This is the right decision for Spire Motorsports,” Dickerson stated.
Dickerson admitted that benching a driver they care about hurts in the short term, but maintained that the behavior at Martinsville failed to meet their operational standard. “Racing at the Cup level is a privilege, and it comes with an expected level of professionalism from everyone who represents Spire Motorsports,” Dickerson added, noting the team will head to Homestead united before preparing for Daytona in February.
Carson Hocevar addressed the suspension via his Instagram story, though the fallout for the No. 77 machine is immediate and severe as the season hits its climax.
