Carson Hocevar produced one of the most thrilling moments of the NASCAR season during the Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 22. Despite falling to 19th place early in the race, Hocevar impressed fans with a remarkable recovery, climbing 14 positions in just two laps during a restart.
The 22-year-old Spire Motorsports driver had originally qualified third behind Denny Hamlin and Chris Buescher and started the second stage in second place. However, a caution caused by Bubba Wallace‘s brake failure triggered a shuffle that pushed Hocevar back to 19th on Lap 61. The restart that followed showcased Hocevar’s skill and speed, quickly moving him up to fifth place and leaving viewers amazed.
Fan reactions highlight the extraordinary restart
Social media quickly flooded with praise for Hocevar’s performance during the restart, with many calling it one of the best of the season. One fan described it as,
“One of the best restarts I’ve ever seen,”
while another added, “That’s next level dude.” The quality of Hocevar’s racing maneuver even led a fan to compare it to a video game lap, reflecting the level of precision and speed displayed.
Though Hocevar’s pace slowed by the end of the second stage, his rapid advancement during those critical laps left a lasting impression.
“I had to pause the race after this restart and pull this up on MAX bc I had no idea how you went from 19th to 6th in a lap and a half…. bravo sir,”
said one observer. Another fan encouraged Hocevar by stating,
“Damn, what a restart and what a lap! You guys keep bringing speed and the wins will follow. Great job bud.”
Despite the impressive effort, Hocevar was penalized for a restart violation and finished the race in 18th place.
Early spin and spectacular recovery highlight Hocevar’s race
Earlier in the Great American Getaway 400, Hocevar experienced a challenging moment when his No. 77 Chevy slid out on Lap 19, causing him to hit the wall in Turn 3 and deploy the roof flaps. The save he pulled off after this incident drew admiration from announcer Dale Earnhardt Jr., who remarked,
“That is the best save of the year. I think it’s got to be a contender.”
Hocevar’s recent performance had been mixed, as he struggled to follow up on his Nashville podium finish with lower placements in races at Michigan and Mexico, including a 29th and 34th respectively. Additionally, Spire Motorsports fined him $50,000 for disrespectful comments made about Mexico City.
Looking ahead to Atlanta and future challenges
The NASCAR Cup Series will continue at Atlanta Motor Speedway with the upcoming Quaker State 400, the 17th race of the 2025 season. This 260-lap event marks the start of the in-season challenge, which offers a $1 million prize and will be broadcast on TNT. Hocevar has shown strong potential at Atlanta, securing second place during the spring race, which stands as his only top-10 finish in three starts on the 1.54-mile oval track.
This race offers Hocevar another chance to build momentum as he seeks to strengthen his standing in the series following his impressive Pocono restart and resilient performances throughout the season.