Spire penalizes Hocevar for Mexico City comments

Spire Motorsports has fined Carson Hocevar after reviewing the comments he made about Mexico City early in the race weekend.

Hocevar, who drives the No. 77 Chevrolet for the organization, has been fined $50,000 and the money will be donated in equal parts to three charities that serve Mexican communities. Those charities are the Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross), Un Kilo de Ayuda, a nonprofit combating childhood malnutrition and supporting early-childhood development in rural communities, and Fondo Unido México (United Way Mexico).

Additionally, Hocevar will have to undergo cultural sensitivity and bias awareness training.

Spire Motorsports made its decision to penalize Hocevar in close consultation with NASCAR.

“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,” a statement from the team said. “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 Motorsports has informed NASCAR of these penalties, and NASCAR has confirmed that our team-imposed discipline 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. We look forward to turning the page by racing hard, representing our partners, and living our values on and off the track.”

Hocevar was on a live Twitch stream when he was asked by a fan about NASCAR competing in Mexico and the experience. The video clip slowly made its rounds on social media before gaining additional attention.

“This is how I’d put it,” Hocevar said, “This whole experience, if the travel was better, if getting here was easier, if you felt safer getting to and from everywhere, if it wasn’t such a [expletive] hole, if the track limits were a little better enforced, if it was going to be a little better race and it (didn’t) feel so locked down, like you can’t leave anywhere, it would be a great experience. It would be an absolute great experience. If you take all those out, it’s unbelievable. it’s great.”

Hocevar posted the following on his official X account Sunday night.

“Maybe a kid that had never been out of the country until Thursday should never give an opinion about what any place is like other than Portage, Michigan. 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.

“Count this as another lesson for me in a season I’ve learned so much. 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.”