In 2001, one week after Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s tragic death at Daytona, his son stood at Rockingham with the weight of the racing world on his shoulders. Dale Earnhardt Jr. climbed into the No. 8 Chevrolet, surrounded by raw emotion and uncertainty. Could he even race, let alone perform? But when the green flag dropped, Dale Jr. turned heartbreak into horsepower. With tears still fresh and memories painfully sharp, he charged through the field in the No. 8 Chevrolet and finished 14th.
Though he didn’t win that day, his resilience became a moment that defined his legacy. Later that summer, at Daytona, back where it all started, Dale Jr. sealed one of the most emotional victories in NASCAR history. With teammate Michael Waltrip in tow, he led the final 31 laps and crossed the line first. The crowd erupted. His team celebrated not just a win but a tribute. “This one’s for Daddy. I dedicated this to him. I’m so happy,” he had said after the race.
That day, a son’s grief became a sport’s healing moment. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s strength in those weeks made him a hero. It also inspired a generation, including a young boy named Carson Hocevar. Now, more than two decades later, that young fan is living his own emotional chapter. Ahead of Bristol’s high-stakes weekend, Hocevar opened up about the loss of his beloved grandmother, Margret Hocevar. With it came a heartfelt photo and story that tugged at NASCAR’s collective heartstrings.
Ahead of the Bristol race weekend, Carson Hocevar took to social media with more than just a racing update. He shared the heartbreaking news that his grandmother, Margret Hocevar, had passed away. Alongside the announcement, he posted two photos. One showed her name written above the passenger-side window of his No. 77 car. The other? A moment captured in silence—Carson holding her hand during her final days.
Later, the 2024 Rookie of the Year doubled down his tribute by sharing some of his unseen pictures with his grandparents. Hours before his Bristol qualifying session, his family sent him a picture he had never seen before—taken during a childhood trip to Disney World. His grandma, in Mickey Mouse ears. Carson, wearing his favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. shirt. A shirt that made him feel like a driver before he even stepped into a go-kart.
Speaking about those pictures, Hocevar revealed that his grandmother kept them safe for years. “I mean, those are photos that I’d never seen before. My grandma was, um—you know, they’re going through my grandparents’ house and found a bunch of photos that they sent to me last night and this morning. I thought that it was important for me to look at them or post them today. I do on my own social just cause, you know, it’s easy to lose things or lose photos,” he told the media.
— Carson Hocevar (@CarsonHocevar) April 12, 2025
Notably, Carson Hocevar has been vocal about his family connections. Earlier, while announcing her grandmother’s demise, he had mentioned that she was his biggest supporter. However, while speaking about her death, things got pretty emotional in the media room. “You know, she fell when I was getting ready to qualify for Phoenix, and my grandpa called me, and my grandma fell getting the mail on the way to watch us qualify. So, I just know she won’t miss another qualifying session watching, or another race. She was one of my biggest supporters,” he said.
Notably, this year hasn’t been easy for Hocevar. The #77 Spire Motorsports Chevy driver has battled inconsistency and DNFs. Through the first eight races, he’s shown glimpses of promise—most notably with a gutsy second-place finish in Atlanta behind Christopher Bell. But consistency has been elusive. With three DNFs already, his average finish has dropped to 24.88. The talent is there, but putting together a clean race has been the biggest hurdle.
In 2023, he finished 11th here and also earned his best Cup qualifying effort at the time. The high-banked half-mile fits his aggressive style, and with his late grandmother’s name on the car, the emotional motivation is as strong as ever. He has qualified ninth and will have a real shot at winning if he manages to keep his No.77 Spire Motorsports machine in limits. But apart from a tribute to his grandmother, Hocevar is also looking for ‘fun’ at Bristol.
Carson Hocevar eyes ‘fun’ at Bristol!
Carson Hocevar’s grief isn’t the only weight he’s carrying into Bristol. His Cup Series struggles have been public, and the frustration is mounting. Recently, he made headlines not for a pass or podium but for a brutal dose of honesty on social media. After finishing 32nd at Darlington—despite starting 13th—Hocevar joined journalist Jeff Gluck’s post-race fan poll on X and didn’t hold back.
“Hi Jeff, I clicked no because I am beginning to become really tired of this current trend I am having in the no fun department,” he wrote. “Can you please move me from the no-fun department back to the fun department on my next arrival? Thanks.” The sarcasm masked deeper frustration. Hocevar knows he’s capable of more. His car has shown flashes of pace—his average starting position is 18.5—but race day execution hasn’t followed.
His comments show a driver who’s trying to stay light-hearted but is feeling the pressure. With Bristol on the horizon and a chance for redemption, all eyes are on the No. 77. If Carson Hocevar finds his groove this weekend, don’t be surprised if he dedicates the finish to the woman who never missed a qualifying session—and who now watches every lap from the best seat in the house.
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