As the NASCAR Chase approaches, Carson Hocevar is feeling a sense of relief knowing that Corey Heim will not be competing against him in the postseason. This decision is not rooted in personal rivalry but rather in Hocevar's desire to face less competition in what is already a challenging playoff format.
Hocevar, who is in his third full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, secured the 12th seed among 16 drivers for the Chase, which kicks off on September 6 at Darlington. Heim, who has been racing part-time and will not achieve full-time status with 23XI Racing until 2027, failed to qualify for the Chase after participating in only nine Cup races this season. Hocevar expressed his thoughts candidly, stating, "(Heim) is pretty fast, so with him sitting at home that just makes life a little easier for me. Personally, I wish some of these other guys would stay home too because it makes life a little bit easier."
Adding to the narrative surrounding Hocevar is the recent commentary from seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson. Johnson, who once had Hocevar drive for his Legacy Motor Club, took to social media to share his perspective on the young driver. He acknowledged Hocevar's potential, saying he is one of the personalities that NASCAR needs. However, Johnson did not shy away from voicing his frustrations about Hocevar's past mistakes that have impacted their team.
Johnson outlined several points regarding Hocevar, including his limited communication with the team and the challenges posed by his on-track errors. He remarked, "1. He drove for us and has only spoken to (us) once in 2ish years since. 2. I’m frustrated with his mistakes wrecking our cars. 3. I by no means won over the core @nascar fan base. 4. Merch sales don’t lie." Despite the criticism, Hocevar has seen a surge in popularity, with his merchandise ranking first in online sales through the official NASCAR Shop, a significant jump from 32nd last year.
Upon seeing Johnson's comments, Hocevar felt compelled to reach out. He interpreted Johnson's words as a compliment and appreciated the acknowledgment from someone of Johnson's stature in the sport. "I thought it was a compliment. He owns a race team that we race against, and he was talking about me, so that’s cool," Hocevar said. He further noted that their exchange seemed to reveal Johnson's support for his efforts in the sport.
Hocevar, known for his unconventional approach to racing, prefers to rely on instinct rather than data analytics. As he prepares for his first NASCAR Chase, he remains steadfast in his belief that traditional methods work best for him. "For me, I don’t like looking at data; I don’t think it helps me at all. It allows me to really just kind of be free and enjoy it," he explained. His unique mindset does not detract from his dedication to the sport; rather, it reflects his passion and commitment to racing.
As the Chase looms, Hocevar's team focuses on maximizing their performance at each race. "All it is for us is every time we go to the racetrack we try to go as fast as we can, we see if we’re good enough and our car speed is fast enough to be up front. If not, we’ll work on it next time," he said, emphasizing a straightforward approach as they head into the high-stakes postseason.
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