Hocevar gets 3-year backing from Zeigler Auto Group

COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — With hats, photos and even car bumpers, NASCAR fans came from around the area to Zeigler Motorsports in Kalamazoo Monday night to meet one guy — Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar.

The 22-year-old NASCAR driver and Portage native was back to greet fans and sign a sponsorship deal with Zeigler Auto Group. The line formed in the showroom more than an hour before the event.

“It’s almost 4 o’clock on a workday on Monday, right after the New Year that everybody’s busy or just took all their days off of work. So, it means a lot for me,” said Hocevar.

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year is stepping into year three on the track. With those accolades behind him, the excited crowd was still a surprise to him. 

“It just sort of shocks me a little bit at times. I’m like, I just drive in circles, and I play with my dogs. I don’t do anything special at home,” he said.

In the background was a black and metallic gold racecar similar to the one Hocevar drove in June 2025 at Michigan International Speedway. He has sported the Zeigler name before. But Monday’s stop marked a primary sponsorship with Zeigler Auto Group for the next three years. It’s a full circle moment for him.

“We’re doing all the press conference and everything after … not many years (since) I was coming here picking up some of my buddies or meeting them and going to work out. And I barely had any NASCAR starts in any of the three series,” he said.

The deal means the Zeigler name will be sported for 11 races this season, including the June 7 run at Michigan International Speedway.

Despite some other drivers sharing issues with his aggressive nature on the course, he said he’s not letting up. It’s just instinct. 

“I’m just racing and making moves and I feel like I make more mistakes when I’m thinking about it than not,” he told News 8.

It’s part of the playbook, he explains. 

“Ultimately, we race for the best of us, best of the team, best of our sponsors, and people we represent. And just being aggressive is part of the game nowadays,” said Hocevar. 

He said that he doesn’t want to tear anybody up, but make competing drivers uncomfortable enough to create an opening to gain a spot. 

For Zeigler Auto Group President and CEO Aaron Zeigler, watching Hocevar’s rise is something he considers to be once-in-a-generation talent.

“For 22 years old, he’s wise beyond his years, and it’s great to see the heart that he has and to see him give back. A lot of people don’t see that on the track, but he really does, and he does a great job with it,” he said.

Looking back, Hocevar said the previous years have created challenges and successes that he has built upon to prepare for this next season.

“What shows up on the racetrack speed-wise is everything you can’t see. It’s the shocks, it’s the people, it’s everything underneath the car, you know, all those little details that take time. It’s not easy to, even in a top team, plug a driver in anymore and have that set-up work for that driver, especially with how this new next-gen car is,” he said.

It goes back to that constant growth despite the outcome. 

“We were really, really fast because that two years of development has been good. And then some tracks we were out to lunch because that two years of development we thought we were going to hit on it and went the wrong direction. But going the wrong direction, I feel better for year three that we can replicate the good stuff and fix the iffy miss of setups,” said Hocevar.

During year three, he hopes to improve on road courses and see improvements on short tracks. With the new season starting next month, Hocevar has enjoyed the time at home. One of his favorite parts has been spending time with his grandfather.

“My grandma passed away unfortunately last year. So, it’s been great to go to his favorite spot and you know, just kind of fill in, and nobody will ever replace grandma and it’s taught me a lot of just how loving they were,” Hocevar said. “It just truly teaches you stuff about life that racecars can’t.”

At the end of the announcement event, Hocevar got the crowd to sing “Happy Birthday” to his grandfather ahead of his 90th this week.