Hocevar has a tendency to find new ways to irk the NASCAR officials, sometimes with his reckless driving style, sometimes with his statements. But this time, he went to a whole other level.

Carson Hocevar finds himself fined again by NASCAR, this time to the tune of $50,000 for a behavioral infraction at Kansas Speedway. The 22-year-old from Portage, Michigan, who pilots the No. 77 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports, crossed a line during the event. As FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass reported, “NASCAR has fined Carson Hocevar $50,000 for what NASCAR termed as a behavioral infraction. After he spun and came to a stop at Kansas and safety workers had gotten to his car, he revved and spun his tires as he tried to rejoin the field.”

NASCAR has fined Carson Hocevar $50,000 for what NASCAR termed as a behavioral infraction. After he spun and came to a stop at Kansas and safety workers had gotten to his car, he revved and spun his tires as he tried to rejoin the field.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 1, 2025

This move sparked major safety worries, since revving engines and spinning tires near on-site workers heightens injury risks in an already hazardous environment. Hocevar, named the 2024 Cup Series Rookie of the Year after finishing 21st in points, has dealt with similar scrutiny before.

Just last year at Nashville, officials docked him 25 points and issued another $50,000 penalty for intentionally spinning Harrison Burton under caution, a pattern that underscores the fine line between bold racing and reckless choices.

Add another $50,000 fine for his remarks made in Mexico City this year. These recurring blunders by him are enough to keep him under the radar of NASCAR officiating.

Over on X, fans didn’t hold back in dissecting the penalty, sharing raw takes that captured the divide in opinions. These discussions often reveal how deeply the community feels about safety versus on-track freedom, setting the stage for broader reactions.

Fan voiced their opinions

One fan vented frustration right away, saying, “A fine for revving the engine and spinning the tires of a race car… while on a race track? Yeah, NASCAR isn’t a serious organization anymore. What’s next, a state trooper car on the track pulling drivers over for speeding?” This sentiment shows how some view these penalties as overreach, especially when drivers like Hocevar push to stay competitive in a series where every position counts toward playoffs.

“This is becoming a troubling trend… In just two seasons as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver, Carson Hocevar has already amassed an incredible $150,000 in fines—$50k paid to Spire, $100k to NASCAR.” This total reflects mounting costs that could strain a young driver’s career. It parallels cases like Kyle Busch’s multiple fines over the years, forcing teams to weigh talent against behavioral risks.

“At least it’s a donation to their charity if they’re gonna make decisions like that. His window net was still up trying to rejoin the race lol,” quipped one observer, pointing to a silver lining since NASCAR directs many fines to the NASCAR Foundation, which supports children’s hospitals and STEM education initiatives.

Safety crews draw praise for their quick work, but not everyone agrees on their approach. “The safety crews are much appreciated, but sometimes they’re out there doing too much. How many times have we seen drivers screaming at the safety crews to let them try driving to the pits, and the safety crews ignore the drivers’ plea?” shared another.

This recalls the 2015 incident at Daytona, where Austin Dillon‘s dramatic crash prompted reviews of response times, ensuring crews prioritize extraction but sometimes clashing with drivers eager to continue, as seen in Hocevar’s attempt to drive off with his window net intact.

Wrapping up the varied views, a final take questioned the penalty’s scale: “I’m not sure I agree with fining a driver $50K for this. If the driver doesn’t drop his window net and wants to drive off they need to be prepared to get the hell out of the way. They run around half the time like Keystone Cops.”

Drawing from the 2021 Talladega wreck involving Joey Logano, where safety teams faced criticism for coordination lapses, this highlights tensions in protocols that mandate immediate aid, even if it frustrates drivers mid-race.