Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar spoke with NASCAR journalist Dalton Hopkins in a pre-race interview before the Grant 165, scheduled for Sunday, July 6, 2025, at the Chicago Street Road Course. Hocevar reflected on the growing presence of road courses in NASCAR and discussed the significance of the Chicago Street Race within that framework.
Hocevar, who debuted in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2023 driving for Spire Motorsports and Legacy Motor Club, expressed his personal connection to the event. Since then, he secured a full-time seat with Spire, improving his overall standing to a P21 finish in his sophomore year. His experience with road courses has shaped his views on NASCAR’s evolving schedule.
When asked about the future of the Chicago Street Course for NASCAR, Hocevar remarked:
“I mean, we have a lot of road courses. I mean, this works really well for me. In terms of Zeig Auto Group, they have crap, some dealerships down here and everything, and it works well for them. So for my racing, it works well that this race exists even though I’m not the fastest.”
“But I would love to have Chicago land back, because I think we could have a lot better shop showing up to a Chicago area race and winning versus this one. But yeah, I think this event is super cool. So biggest thing for me is I want to see a street race still on the schedule. But I think one is enough. Is there a specific place, you’d like to see,” he concluded.
Analysis of Carson Hocevar’s 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Campaign
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season has been a challenging journey for Carson Hocevar so far. He began with a modest qualifying position, placing P33 in the Daytona 500, famously known as the Great American Race, and slightly improved by finishing P30 in the event itself. His performance saw a significant boost at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he earned a runner-up finish, marking a notable high point in his season.
However, inconsistent results followed at the Circuit of the Americas with a P13 finish, then a strong showing at Nashville Superspeedway where he narrowly missed a victory, finishing just behind Ryan Blaney. Subsequent races presented hurdles, with placements at P29 in Michigan, P34 in Mexico City, and P18 at Pocono Raceway, reflecting the ups and downs of his campaign.
Recently, Hocevar demonstrated progress with a top-10 finish back at Atlanta Motor Speedway and secured a top-five qualifying spot for the upcoming Chicago Street Course Race, signaling renewed momentum as the season continues.
Significance of the Chicago Street Race in NASCAR’s Calendar
The Chicago Street Race represents a fresh challenge in NASCAR, mixing traditional stock car racing with an urban, street-course setting that demands precision and adaptability. Hocevar’s comments underscore the race’s unique appeal and its place in diversifying NASCAR’s schedule, blending conventional oval tracks with street circuit drama.
As Hocevar hinted, maintaining at least one street race on the calendar seems desirable to him, which could influence NASCAR’s planning for future seasons. The upcoming Grant 165 at Chicago will be broadcast live on TNT Sports, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90, and MAX, drawing attention to this innovative racing environment and its potential impact on drivers and fans alike.