Carson Hocevar remains to be trying to find his first win as a NASCAR Cup Sequence driver, and he practically obtained it within the sport’s largest race.
The 23-year-old was the one driver pulling triple obligation in all three nationwide divisions throughout Daytona Speedweek. Issues began off properly as he earned a runner-up end in his Duel qualifying race, guaranteeing he would begin the Daytona 500 from the sixth place on the grid.
However earlier than the massive present, he took half within the NASCAR Craftsman Truck and O’Reilly Auto Elements Sequence. Within the Truck Sequence, he battled gremlins in each follow and the race, along with his Spire Motorsports truck shutting off whereas main the race.
He led 20 laps on Friday night time, but in addition spun three separate instances, inflicting back-to-back cautions at one level. In the long run, he completed thirty fifth, recording a DNF.
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Picture by: James Gilbert / Getty Photos
Within the O’Reilly Sequence, he software the wheel of a Younger’s Motorsports Chevrolet, and performed it a bit safer. He by no means led, however sadly, a calmer method did not save him from the wrecks. He was collected within the remaining two incidents of the race, and completed twentieth.
After which on pit highway, he obtained screamed at by Carson Ware, who took subject with one thing that occurred out on the observe.
Hocevar hoped to place the tumultuous two days behind him, telling Motorsport.com’s Matt Weaver on Saturday night time: I am hoping I am destined to have actually dangerous luck, and the Duel went fully superb, so I am hoping it is simply the truth that I am working different races that the racing gods don’t love me.“
Properly, his luck was a lot better on Sunday, till it wasn’t. Hocevar took the lead from teammate Michael McDowell on the ultimate restart of the race, and was main on the white flag. Nevertheless, his 500 dream ended quickly after as a clumsy bump from Erik Jones despatched him spinning down the observe.
He limped the automobile to the end line, putting 18th — his finest end of the weekend, nevertheless it was so near being a lot extra.
After the race, Hocevar mirrored on the end in a post-race media scrum: „The highest had an enormous run. Jones was simply offset a bit of to the best. I do not know if I did not commit all the best way up, or if he simply obtained me off-center, and simply hooked me into the wall, and clearly I bounced off of it.
„Yeah, our objective is to be main on the extensive. I really feel like I am a very, actually good pusher. And I really feel like I do a very good job. The 45 [Tyler Reddick] had the lead, after which 71 [McDowell] had technique and I pushed him off into the lead. I really feel like typically we have been getting too far out, however I felt like that is what labored for the transfer. So, I used to be attempting to simply get us going … Clearly, I am lucky. Automobile in my mirror on the white flag, received the race. I feel that is simply good execution on our half and all the pieces.“
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
The constructive is that he obtained loads of stage factors, which helps him waiting for the remainder of the season. The NASCAR Cup Sequence now heads to Atlanta, the place Hocevar completed second one yr in the past.
„All people cares about this race greater than something,“ added Hocevar. „And for us to be up entrance … I am actually happy with that.“
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