Spire Motorsports has suspended Carson Hocevar for the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday.
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Craftsman Truck Series driver Justin Haley will replace Hocevar in the No. 77 Chevrolet for the season finale. Haley has extensive experience competing in the Cup Series with Spire Motorsports, most recently in 2025.
The Cup Series team announced the news on Tuesday, two days after a race at Martinsville Speedway in which Hocevar appeared to intentionally brake check Austin Cindric multiple times.
This series of on-track incidents caused terminal damage to Cindric's No. 2 Ford.
Hocevar denied any ill intent in the incident, but NASCAR's Inside the Race series showed that he had used 1,023 pounds of brake pressure on the straightaway.
Cindric's view of the incidents with Hocevar. pic.twitter.com/wByqF9DclY
— Bozi Tatarevic (@BoziTatarevic) November 1, 2026
"A decision like this has a lot of variables and a cascading effect across an organization like ours," said Jeff Dickerson, co-owner of Spire Motorsports.
"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.
"Everyone here loves working with Carson, and we've enjoyed watching him thrive alongside our team. Sometimes the right decision for someone you care about hurts in the short term.
"The way Carson conducted himself at Martinsville doesn't meet the standard we set for our drivers, team members or employees, and there are consequences for that. That doesn't mean we don't love him and support him.
"Racing at the Cup level is a privilege, and it comes with an expected level of professionalism from everyone who represents Spire Motorsports. We'll go to Homestead united and compete as an organization. After that, we can get ready for Daytona in February with the right mindset to contend for a championship."
The suspension does not mean that Hocevar will avoid further punishment. NASCAR could still opt to issue something in its weekly penalty report.
"This is an embarrassing day for me," Hocevar said in a statement. "I let the people down that gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to drive a Cup car.
"I also let down my team, sponsors, and fans. I crossed the line with my on-track actions and gave Jeff and Spire Motorsports no option but to put someone else in the 77 car this weekend at Homestead.
"I'll be rooting for the entire organization this weekend and look forward to coming back in 2027 as a better driver, competitor, and teammate."
