Carson Hocevar is making headlines ahead of the NASCAR Sonoma weekend by engaging his fans with an unexpected offer tied to the popular restaurant chain Chili’s. While sponsorships are common in NASCAR, Hocevar’s recent gesture stands out because it seems driven by genuine excitement rather than formal promotion, drawing attention to the synergy between the driver and the well-known brand.
The 2024 season saw Chili’s debuting in NASCAR through their collaboration with Spire Motorsports, initially sponsoring Corey LaJoie. As the team underwent changes with LaJoie’s departure, Chili’s remained a committed partner in 2025, extending their support to young talents Justin Haley and Carson Hocevar. This continued collaboration fueled a fresh marketing effort dubbed Ride the ‘Dente, which combined a country music theme and a creative twist on Chili’s signature Presidente Margarita cocktail.
Hocevar prominently displayed this partnership by sporting the Chili’s paint scheme on his No. 77 car during the Texas Motor Speedway race, marking a visible sign of the brand’s increasing presence in NASCAR. His enthusiasm for Chili’s is clear, and he recently amplified it by offering to cover some fans’ Chili’s bills during the Sonoma race weekend, something he shared via his social media channel X.
Interestingly, Hocevar emphasized that this initiative was not a sanctioned promotional event from Chili’s but rather a spontaneous act intended to create a fun experience for those attending Chili’s locations during the race weekend. He invited fans to retweet his post and submit photos of their Chili’s receipts along with a declaration that they were “riding the ‘dente,” promising to select winners for the offer during his Twitch broadcast.
hi. anyone going to @Chilis this weekend? i’ll buy.
retweet this post, reply a picture of your receipt total at Chili’s, and that you’re riding the ‘dente.
(not an ad. they don’t know i am doing this, figured it’d be fun)
i will pick a few winners on https://t.co/tUVbAgNH9R
— Carson Hocevar (@CarsonHocevar) July 12, 2025
This announcement quickly garnered attention on social media, with fans flooding the post’s replies with images of Chili’s receipts, eagerly hoping to be among those selected for Hocevar’s surprise generosity.
Hocevar’s Growing Confidence on Road Courses Heading into Sonoma
Beyond his fan engagement, Carson Hocevar enters the Sonoma race weekend with growing confidence, especially on road courses. So far in the 2025 NASCAR season, he has shown promising performances on tracks that demand technical skill and adaptability. At the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), Hocevar secured a respectable 13th-place finish, while at the Chicago Street Race, he achieved an impressive third-place start, marking his best qualifying position on a road course to date.
Although the Chicago race ended in disappointment with a Did Not Finish (DNF), his overall progress on road courses suggests increasing comfort and skill in these challenging environments. The Sonoma Raceway, a 1.99-mile, 12-turn circuit, presents a unique set of obstacles that Hocevar acknowledges, contributing to a balanced mix of excitement and caution heading into the event.
In his reflections on Sonoma, Hocevar commented on the evolution of the track’s conditions compared to previous years. He noted,
“It is different than what it used to be, but I thought it was fun last year with how much grip there was. I do miss how worn out it was before.”
I think it has its own challenges,
he added.
You are going faster and have to be more aggressive to be on the limit with that speed, but have to avoid overdriving the corner.
These remarks underscore his awareness of the demands Sonoma places on drivers, requiring a careful balance of aggression and precision to navigate the fast yet technical corners effectively.
Potential Milestone: Could Sonoma Mark Hocevar’s First Cup Victory?
Hocevar has long sought his first NASCAR Cup Series win, and this weekend’s race may hold particular significance in that pursuit. His recent improvements, enhanced confidence on road courses, and the added motivation of fan support all contribute to making Sonoma a potentially defining moment in his career. Should he manage to harness his road course skills and execute the race without missteps, a maiden victory could be within reach.
Moreover, his affiliation with Chili’s and the spontaneous fan engagement surrounding the brand adds a fresh layer of excitement to his Sonoma appearance. This unique interaction not only spotlights him as a driver but also offers a peek into innovative ways athletes can connect with their followers beyond typical sponsorships.
As fans tune in for the Sonoma race, the intertwining of Hocevar’s personal ambition, his relationship with Chili’s, and his growing road course prowess will be key narratives to watch, potentially shaping both his career trajectory and the marketing strategies in NASCAR moving forward.