Carson Hocevar, driver for Spire Motorsports, recently shared insights into the spotter code system that helps him stay composed during NASCAR Cup Series races. In a candid conversation on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast, Hocevar explained how these codes prevent him from reacting impulsively on the track.
The 22-year-old racer, now in his second full-time season with Spire Motorsports, has shown promise despite not yet reaching victory lane in the Cup Series. His unique communication strategy with his spotter plays a key role in managing the high-pressure environment of competitive racing.
How Hocevar’s Spotter Codes Help Maintain Composure on the Track
During the podcast, Hocevar revealed the purpose of the spotter codes his team uses to keep his cool. These coded phrases act as signals to prevent emotional reactions and keep his focus intact throughout the race. He shared a specific example involving a light-hearted but effective system to address unproductive behavior on the radio.
“We have code words, just like when they think I’m like going to get ready to see red. Yeah. You know they they tell me, like, we have code words for everything now of just like, just to just click me out. I had a I had a stint where I was just like being unproductive on the radio, and so they, you know, the code word was ‘bubble goggles’ because they were going to make me wear these bubble goggles and look like a on the way home if I was any more upper or just like was mouthing off to them.” —Carson Hocevar
He also described another code word that signals when he is about to make an aggressive move during the race. This alert triggers his spotter and team to assist in managing his driving tactics carefully.
“Yeah. And um, after a few weeks I kind of fixed it because they would just, like, I’m just like, okay, yeah, you got it, man, like, perfect. And, um, you know, anytime you hear Superman, that’s when I’m getting ready to tee somebody up or just go drive bonsai this thing four wide or six wide because I just got you know, I’m just, you know, just got used up or something happened. So Tyler Green will just be like Superman relax Superman I’ll get here, man. And um, yeah, so we have we have a bunch of code words there that just you just kind of trigger for that,” he concluded. —Carson Hocevar
Overview of Hocevar’s 2025 Season Performance So Far
Carson Hocevar started the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season with some struggles. His qualifying performances were often outside the top 30, including the Daytona 500, where he finished in 30th place. Despite this slow start, Hocevar showed his competitiveness at Atlanta Motor Speedway by finishing second, signaling potential for the season.
Following Atlanta, Hocevar experienced a mix of results, including a 13th-place finish at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). A series of difficulties during subsequent races kept him out of the top 20 for a time. However, resilience marked his approach as he nearly won at Nashville Superspeedway, ultimately finishing behind Ryan Blaney in second place.
Further races at Michigan, Mexico City, and Pocono Raceway presented challenges for Hocevar, but he rebounded again with a top-10 finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Unfortunately, he was involved in a crash at the Chicago Street Course, finishing 35th in that race.
Currently, Hocevar holds 21st place in the Cup Series points standings with 368 points, demonstrating steady progress as he gains experience in his sophomore season.
Upcoming Engagement at Sonoma Raceway
Looking ahead, Carson Hocevar is preparing to compete in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on July 13, 2025. The 110-lap event will be broadcast live at 3:30 pm ET on TNT Sports, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90, providing fans an opportunity to follow his performance in real time.