TALLADEGA, Ala. — The crowd at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday evening roared in approval as Carson Hocevar celebrated in a manner that fit his unique personality. He rode his No. 77 Chevrolet down the frontstretch after scoring his first career win.
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Some call it Ghost Riding; others simply said that Hocevar just sat on the window sill while celebrating. A group effort led to the creation of the nickname, "Ghostevar."
Regardless of the correct description, no one expected to see him pumping his fist to the crowd and trying to catch thrown objects as his car made its way down the racing surface.
What a wild celebration for @CarsonHocevar 🏁
We’re going to remember this one for a long time. pic.twitter.com/EDMDoRRNu5
— PRN (@PRNlive) April 26, 2026
Once the car turned and slammed into the outside wall, he continued the celebration. He started doing a burnout while still riding on the side of his car.
It served as a fitting celebration for one of the biggest personalities in the entire sport and a driver who has fallen short of his first win many times before due to parts failures and wrecks. The crowd could see that this was a truly special moment for the Michigan native.
"I've dreamt about that in the off-season," Hocevar said. "I just wanted to have something that was meaningful for me. I mean, obviously being a Jr. fan, I remember that iconic clip, he was inside the car, helmet off, enjoying the fans going backwards.
"But the fans, they don't really get to know if they hear 'em or see 'em and everything. So I had thought of just like, Man, I have really long legs, I wonder if I can hit the throttle and sit on the door and ride, just kind of see everybody. I just wanted them to get as loud as possible. I felt like they would if they could see me seeing them.
"Yeah, I mean, ultimately I just wanted to make sure I soaked every bit of it in. I think I could tell you what everybody was wearing, where every seat was, where every 77 shirt was. I think I could have pointed it all out to you because I remember it so clearly right now. That means more than anything else to me, just that I know this has been a blur."
Obviously, this celebration pushed the boundaries of safety. Team owner Jeff Dickerson said that it may lead to a potential fine. Many thought it would lead to a rule change, but NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell actually said he's not banning this.
Regardless of what happens, Dickerson is just happy to see his young driver being himself. He sees the long-term benefits of Hocevar "Hanging out the window like Shamu" while celebrating his first win at NASCAR's top level.
As he sees it, this kid is an entertainer. Hocevar just also happens to be a very talented driver.
"There's kind of, like this big juxtaposition of how sometimes the garage looks at Carson, and then you see the crowd up there going apes—-, hanging out the window," Dickerson said. "You know what I mean?...Like, that personality connects (with the fans)."
