Promoter’s Caution could add random layer of chaos in NASCAR All-Star Race
The fate of the NASCAR All-Star Race largely rests on the whims of Marcus Smith, who is giving few hints about how he’ll deploy a new “Promoter’s Caution.” It’s the latest goofy gimmick in an event defined by annual format changes designed to goose the competition in the name of fender-banging fireworks. At a randomly […]
The fate of the NASCAR All-Star Race largely rests on the whims of Marcus Smith, who is giving few hints about how he’ll deploy a new “Promoter’s Caution.”
It’s the latest goofy gimmick in an event defined by annual format changes designed to goose the competition in the name of fender-banging fireworks. At a randomly selected point Sunday night during the first 220 of 250 laps at North Wilkesboro Speedway, a yellow flag will fly and possibly wipe out a big lead while bunching the field for a race-altering restart.
The decision on when to throw the yellow rests solely with Smith, the president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, which owns the 0.625-mile track in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
“I’ll have a very special mystery guest with a little All-Star Race history of his own to help me out when it’s time to drop the yellow,” Smith said. “Hopefully, we’ll create a little chaos for the teams and some fun for the fans at the same time.”
It’s an attempt to restore some luster to the All-Star Race, which has lost touch with its no-holds-barred origins. The past two events at North Wilkesboro produced runaway victories for Kyle Larson and Joey Logano, who led 199 of 200 laps in 2024.
The most memorable event last year came after the race when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch engaged in fisticuffs after tangling for a mid-pack position. It was a far cry from the furious last-lap battles that once sent an All-Star Race winner to the emergency room (Davey Allison sustained a concussion in 1992 after crashing from contact with Kyle Petty at the checkered flag).
The Promoter’s Caution won’t guarantee a slam-bang ending, but it’s in the vein of an exhibition race with $1 million but no points at stake. While other pro sports have struggled to keep all-star events relevant, Cup Series drivers pride themselves on competing as hard as they would in a race with championship implications — and sometimes harder.
“The All Star Race is not just another race,” Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell said. “Everybody is more aggressive than a normal Sunday Cup race. Everyone has that win it or wear it attitude, and it races differently because of that.”
A sense of resignation from the All-Star Race’s annual format overhauls also makes it easier to accept the inanity of a random yellow.
“I have a hard enough time keeping up with all of the different format stuff,” Team Penske’s Austin Cindric said. “It doesn’t really bother me that much that we’re going to have a Promoter’s Caution because, unless I’m the caution, I can’t control it in any way. It’s just the racing gods, but maybe they’re on earth this time.”
Though its timing could cost him a win, Logano is fine with the Promoter’s Caution because “the All-Star Race presents the opportunity to try things outside of the box.
“I don’t think we should have a Promoter’s Caution in points-paying events,” he said. “But in this case, we do something different. It’s something everyone can talk about. And I just don’t know what they’re going to do. Are they going to put Marcus in the flag stand, and he’s just going to throw a yellow flag?”
The son of late NASCAR Hall of Famer Bruton Smith, who once lobbied for random yellows as the most bombastic promoter in Cup history, is coy about how the Promoter’s Caution will be unveiled.
“I’ve had no shortage of NASCAR experts from inside and outside of the garage giving me advice on what to do,” Marcus Smith said. “I’ve got a couple of scenarios in mind depending on what’s happening with the race. Or I could just go spur of the moment with my gut.”
Christopher Bell (+350) is the BetMGM Sportsbook favorite, followed by pole-sitter Brad Keselowski (+600), Logano (+650), two-time defending Daytona 500 winner William Byron (+700) and Denny Hamlin (+800). Kyle Larson, who will start last after missing practice and qualifying while attempting to make the Indy 500, is listed at +1000. … Keselowski and Bell were the winners Saturday of the two 75-lap heat races that set the starting lineup for the All-Star Race. Keselowski already was guaranteed the top starting spot for Sunday night’s main event after qualifying on the pole position Friday. Bell will start second Sunday, followed by Ross Chastain, Logano and Byron. … After sitting essentially dormant for more than 35 years, North Wilkesboro Speedway is playing host to its third consecutive All-Star Race since a $20 million makeover. Keselowski wants to move a points race from Charlotte Motor Speedway’s “Roval” layout to North Wilkesboro Speedway and shift the All-Star Race back to Charlotte’s 1.5-mile oval (the host from 1987-2019). “This needs to be a points racetrack,” Keselowski said of North Wilkesboro. “I’m very strong about the Roval has got to go.”
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AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer in Indianapolis contributed to this report.
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Spire Motorsports Drops The Hammer on Carson Hocevar for Mexico City Remarks
What’s Happening? Carson Hocevar has been penalized by Spire Motorsports, his own team, following controversial comments about Mexico made during a live stream on Twitch ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City. Hocevar has been fined $50,000 and will be required to complete mandatory cultural-sensitivity and bias-awareness training. The fine will be […]
Carson Hocevar has been penalized by Spire Motorsports, his own team, following controversial comments about Mexico made during a live stream on Twitch ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City.
Hocevar has been fined $50,000 and will be required to complete mandatory cultural-sensitivity and bias-awareness training.
The fine will be distributed among three charities that directly support Mexican communities: Cruz Roja Mexicana, Un Kilo de Ayuda, and Fondo Unido México (United Way Mexico).
Since making the comments, Hocevar has issued a public apology, acknowledging that his remarks were disrespectful and saying he’s embarrassed by his actions. He admitted that his comments were made without fully experiencing the city or understanding its culture.
NASCAR reviewed Spire’s disciplinary action and confirmed that the measures taken by the team meet the sanctioning body’s standards, meaning no further penalties from NASCAR are expected.
Hocevar’s Response
Whoa everybody, the truth is the truth. I said something that not only was wrong, I said it without even laying my own two eyes on CDMX or turning one lap in an actual race at an amazing facility that welcomed me with open arms and I go and say that? Thank you for the support… https://t.co/yYUITkEoOV
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Spire hits Carson Hocevar with internal penalty, massive fine for Twitch stream Mexico City comments
Carson Hocevar has been internally disciplined by Spire Motorsports for offensive comments he made about Mexico on a Twitch stream ahead of last week’s race in Mexico City. Spire released a statement on Tuesday outlining the disciplinary measures and Hocevar has now responded to the penalty. Hocevar was fined $50,000. The proceeds will be donated […]
Carson Hocevar has been internally disciplined by Spire Motorsports for offensive comments he made about Mexico on a Twitch stream ahead of last week’s race in Mexico City. Spire released a statement on Tuesday outlining the disciplinary measures and Hocevar has now responded to the penalty.
Hocevar was fined $50,000. The proceeds will be donated to three organizations that serve Mexican communities. The driver of the No. 77 car will also be subject to mandatory cultural sensitivity and bias awareness training.
“These actions are consistent with Spire Motorsports’ core value of RESPECT, which is something we proudly display on every race car, team uniform, trackside hauler, and digital channel,” Spire’s statement read. “Respect is not a slogan. It is a daily expectation that we ‘walk the walk’ in how we speak, compete, and serve the communities that welcome our sport.
“Carson Hocevar’s recent comments made during the livestream fell short of that standard. They did not represent the views of Spire Motorsports, our partners, or NASCAR. He has acknowledged his mistake publicly, and his prompt, sincere apology demonstrated personal accountability. We now take this additional step to underscore that words carry weight, and respect must be lived out loud.”
Shortly after Spire announced the penalty, Hocevar responded via his Twitter account:
Whoa everybody, the truth is the truth. I said something that not only was wrong, I said it without even laying my own two eyes on CDMX or turning one lap in an actual race at an amazing facility that welcomed me with open arms and I go and say that? Thank you for the support… https://t.co/yYUITkEoOV
Hocevar had previously noted that he thought Mexico was “such a s**hole,” going on to question the country’s infrastructure, its safety and more in a live stream on Twitch ahead of this weekend’s race. He walked back those comments in a tweet on Sunday evening.
“Maybe a kid that had never been out of the country until Thursday should ever give an opinion about what any place is like other than Portage, Michigan,” Hocevar wrote. “When I answered that question on a stream, I was skeptical about the trip so far and believed everything I read or heard about Mexico City from people who more than likely also had never been here.
“Now that I’ve actually left my hotel a couple times and raced here in front of some of the most passionate fans I’ve ever seen, my opinion has changed. I am embarrassed by my comments, by the race I ran, and I may have to move here to hide out from Ricky (Stenhouse Jr.) anyway.”
His last line will certainly earn him some laughs from the fans. Hocevar was berated and threatened after the race by Stenhouse after a prior dust-up on the track.
Joking about it will certainly help ease the tension, especially because Stenhouse vowed too “beat his ass once we got back in the States.” In any case, it’s clear Carson Hocevar feels differently about Mexico now.
“Count this as another lesson for me in a season I’ve learned so much,” Hocevar wrote in conclusion. “Don’t believe everything you hear without seeing it yourself. If anyone should give anyone or any place the benefit of the doubt it’s me. I’m sorry Mexico City. Consider me an ally going forward and an example of getting off Twitch and seeing things with my own two eyes.”
Spire Motorsports punishes Carson Hocevar for derogatory comments about Mexico City
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Spire Motorsports fined Carson Hocevar $50,000 on Tuesday for derogatory comments he made about Mexico City on a live stream as NASCAR raced there last weekend. Hocevar walked back the comments Sunday night with an apology and the 22-year-old admitted it was the first time he’d ever been outside the United States […]
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Spire Motorsports fined Carson Hocevar $50,000 on Tuesday for derogatory comments he made about Mexico City on a live stream as NASCAR raced there last weekend.
Hocevar walked back the comments Sunday night with an apology and the 22-year-old admitted it was the first time he’d ever been outside the United States and believed all the negative things he’d read and heard about Mexico City.
“I am embarrassed by my comments,” he posted in a lengthy apology.
Spire also ordered Hocevar to attend cultural-sensitivity and bias-awareness training.
Spire said the $50,000 fine will be donated in equal portions to three organizations that serve Mexican communities:
Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross).
Un Kilo de Ayuda, a nonprofit combating childhood malnutrition and supporting early-childhood development in rural communities.
Fondo Unido México (United Way Mexico), which funds local NGOs that improve education, health, and housing in 22 Mexican states.
“These actions are consistent with Spire Motorsports’ core value of RESPECT, which is something we proudly display on every race car, team uniform, trackside hauler, and digital channel,” the team said in a statement. “Respect is not a slogan. It is a daily expectation that we ‘walk the walk’ in how we speak, compete, and serve the communities that welcome our sport.
“Carson Hocevar’s recent comments made during the livestream fell short of that standard. They did not represent the views of Spire Motorsports, our partners, or NASCAR. He has acknowledged his mistake publicly, and his prompt, sincere apology demonstrated personal accountability. We now take this additional step to underscore that words carry weight, and respect must be lived out loud.”
Spire said it informed NASCAR of Hocevar’s penalties and that it satisfied the sanctioning body’s requirements.
“Together we remain committed to showcasing NASCAR’s global growth, celebrating the passionate Mexican fanbase we experienced firsthand last weekend, and ensuring every member of our organization treats hosts, competitors, and communities with dignity,” Spire said.
“We look forward to turning the page by racing hard, representing our partners, and living our values on and off the track.”
Carson Hocevar drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Hermanos Rodríguez race track in Mexico City, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Carson Hocevar fined $50K by his race team for derogatory comments about Mexico City
NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar has been fined $50,000 by his race team, Spire Motorsports, and will be required to undergo sensitivity training after calling Mexico City a “s—hole” on a livestream over the weekend. Hocevar streamed on Twitch from Mexico City on Friday night, prior to NASCAR’s first Cup Series points race outside […]
NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar has been fined $50,000 by his race team, Spire Motorsports, and will be required to undergo sensitivity training after calling Mexico City a “s—hole” on a livestream over the weekend.
Hocevar streamed on Twitch from Mexico City on Friday night, prior to NASCAR’s first Cup Series points race outside the United States since 1958, and listed various complaints about the trip. They included concerns about safety in the city and feeling unable to leave his upscale hotel.
The comments did not come to light until after the completion of Sunday night’s race (Hocevar finished 34th), after which Hocevar issued an apology on social media. Hocevar’s No. 77 car was sponsored in the race by Totalplay, a Mexican telecommunications company.
Hocevar wrote he had never been out of the United States until Thursday and had been skeptical about the trip, believing “everything I read or heard about Mexico City from people who more than likely also had never been here.”
“Now that I’ve actually left my hotel a couple times and raced here in front of some of the most passionate fans I’ve ever seen, my opinion has changed,” he wrote. “I am embarrassed by my comments. … I’m sorry Mexico City. Consider me an ally going forward and an example of getting off Twitch and seeing things with my own two eyes.”
Spire said Hocevar violated its company policy and was penalizing him “in close consultation with NASCAR,” which planned to discipline the driver if the team had not taken action.
Hocevar’s $50,000 fine will be split among three organizations that serve Mexican communities — the Mexican Red Cross, United Way Mexico and a nonprofit that combats childhood malnutrition. His mandatory training will include sessions on cultural sensitivity and bias awareness.
Spire, which has the word “Respect” displayed prominently on its cars, uniforms, haulers, website and inside the race shop, said Hocevar’s comments “fell short of that standard.”
“They did not represent the views of Spire Motorsports, our partners, or NASCAR,” Spire said in a statement. “He has acknowledged his mistake publicly, and his prompt, sincere apology demonstrated personal accountability. We now take this additional step to underscore that words carry weight, and respect must be lived out loud.”
Spire said it informed NASCAR of the penalties, which “satisfies the sanctioning body’s requirements.”
“Together we remain committed to showcasing NASCAR’s global growth, celebrating the passionate Mexican fan base we experienced firsthand last weekend, and ensuring every member of our organization treats hosts, competitors, and communities with dignity,” Spire said.
Hocevar wasn’t the only member of the NASCAR community who publicly aired displeasure with the Mexico City trip. Tab Boyd, the spotter for Hyak Motorsports driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., posted on X that “people can talk it up all they want” but “can’t even walk out the front door of the hotel without getting hustled and money snatched in less than five minutes.”
“Good area my ass,” he added.
Boyd’s X account was deleted as of Monday morning, and it was unclear whether he remained employed by Hyak as of Tuesday evening.
Spire Motorsports punishes Carson Hocevar for derogatory comments about Mexico City | National Sports
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Spire Motorsports fined Carson Hocevar $50,000 on Tuesday for derogatory comments he made about Mexico City on a live stream as NASCAR raced there last weekend. Hocevar walked back the comments Sunday night with an apology and the 22-year-old admitted it was the first time he’d ever been outside the United […]
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Spire Motorsports fined Carson Hocevar $50,000 on Tuesday for derogatory comments he made about Mexico City on a live stream as NASCAR raced there last weekend.
Hocevar walked back the comments Sunday night with an apology and the 22-year-old admitted it was the first time he’d ever been outside the United States and believed all the negative things he’d read and heard about Mexico City.
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