Spire Motorsports sits Carson Hocevar for NASCAR season finale

Spire Motorsports will not field Carson Hocevar for the NASCAR Cup Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday. The team announced the suspension on Monday, citing a need for expected professionalism at the top level of racing.

The decision follows a chaotic restart at Martinsville Speedway on October 25. Hocevar was accused of intentionally brake-checking Austin Cindric. Cindric finished 36th, his No. 2 Ford front end destroyed by multiple collisions. He radioed his crew that Hocevar had a mental breakdown during the sequence. Hocevar denied intent, stating he got lost for a second.

Tensions rose earlier in the same race. Competitors accused Hocevar of spinning his No. 77 Chevrolet to force a caution flag. They argued the move would have allowed him to catch Christopher Bell and other rivals on pit road, disrupting their strategies.

Co-owner Jeff Dickerson said the team chose to act rather than leave the penalty to NASCAR officials. He noted that the decision was not about money or points, but about respect and organizational integrity. Dickerson acknowledged that the right decision can hurt in the short term, even when the organization cares about the driver.

Hocevar has been involved in several run-ins this season. Dickerson said the conduct at Martinsville did not meet the standard set for Spire drivers, team members, or employees. Justin Haley will replace Hocevar in the finale.

The race is scheduled for Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Haley will drive the car previously assigned to Hocevar.