Halfway home in the Days to Daytona countdown. As there are 20 days left until the NASCAR Cup Series hits the track to kick off 2025, the reigning Rookie of the Year takes center stage. Carson Hocevar impressed last year, as well as ruffled every feather possible. After turning heads in 2024, what can the Spire Motorsports #77 team do in 2025 with 20 Days to Daytona left to go?
The #77 Team
Driver: Carson Hocevar
Crew Chief: Luke Lambert
Sponsors: Zeigler Auto Group, Delaware Life, Gainbridge, Premier Security, MINER
2024 Statistics: 1 Top-5, 6 Top-10s, 16 Laps Led, 18.3 Average Finish
2025 Season Preview
Building Off Rookie of the Year
Heading into last season, Carson Hocevar was not a popular choice to win Rookie of the Year. In Pit Pass Network’s Preseason Predictions, only 3 people picked him to win the award. However, Hocevar quickly established himself as the top rookie in the field. While he only collected a handful of Top-10s, Hocevar finished inside the Top-20 in 23 races. In the final 21 races to close out the season, the Spire Motorsports driver finished worse than 25th once. After winning Rookie of the Year, will Hocevar be able to avoid the sophomore slump?
A Thorn in the Side
Whether Carson Hocevar can build off his 2024 season might come down to how he matures as a driver. Known for his questionable antics, Hocevar made a lengthy list of enemies in a single season. If he continues to race the same way, retaliation will be coming to the 77 team. The Clash will be a good litmus test to see how problematic Hocevar will be this season. Unless he wins, Hocevar’s name should not be a topic leaving Bowman Gray Stadium. If it is, then Hocevar could be in for a long season.
Future Plans
On November 16, Carson Hocevar posted photos on his X account that suggest future silly season moves. In each of the 3 pictures, it is an image of Hocevar racing against a Hendrick Motorsports car. Maybe it is nothing. However, it is no secret that Hocever is a top racing prospect. He turns 22 in 6 days and will be starting his second fulltime season in Cup. As long as he does not tank the season, Hocevar could be a name to watch in silly season, especially if there is an opening at the team guest starring in all those November 16 posts.
— Carson Hocevar (@CarsonHocevar) November 16, 2024
Daytona 500 Outlook
Carson Hocevar will hope his second Daytona 500 ends up better than his debut. Last year, Hocevar got caught in the early wreck and watched the remaining 195 laps from behind the wall. Making it to at least Lap 6 will be a vast improvement compared to last year’s 500. In his return to Daytona, Hocevar managed to lead a single lap and bring the 77 car home in 11th. Not too shabby of a bounce back for the Michigan native.
After being the only Spire Motorsports driver to survive silly season, Carson Hocevar should look forward to superspeedways with the new lineup. Out goes Zane Smith and Corey LaJoie. Walking in are two superspeedways aces in Justin Haley and Michael McDowell. On paper, this lineup is more formidable in the pack than last year’s offering. Will they be able to work together to grab Spire’s second Cup Series win? Probably not, but Hocevar’s main goal will be the finish his first Daytona 500.
Days to Daytona Countdown
40 Days: Team Penske #22; 39 Days: Team Penske #12; 38 Days: Hendrick #24;
37 Days: 23XI Racing #45; 36 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #20;
35 Days: Hendrick Motorsports #5; 34 Days: Hendrick Motorsports #9
33 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #11, 32 Days: Henrick Motorsports #48;
31 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #19; 30 Days: Team Penske #2;
29 Days: Trackhouse Racing #99; 28 Days: RFK Racing #6;
27 Days: Trackhouse Racing #88; 26 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #54;
25 Days: Wood Brothers Racing #21; 24 Days: RFK Racing #17;
23 Days: 23XI Racing #23; 22 Days: Trackhouse Racing #1;
21 Days: Richard Childress Racing #8
