The signing of Carson Hocevar by Spire Motorsports has been drawing significant attention. The racing outfit announced on Tuesday that the 20-year-old would be replacing Ty Dillon as the driver for the No. 77 Chevrolet. As team owner, Jeff Dickerson and Hocevar bathed in the messages of congratulations that poured in from every corner. Trackhouse Racing’s No. 1 driver Ross Chastain has pitched in with words of glee for the youngster.

Chastain and Hocevar are teammates in the Truck Series, driving for Niece Motorsports. With the former making his full-time jump to the Cup Series back in 2018, he now welcomes Hocevar for his time at the top.

Ross Chastain throws praise on young Hocevar following contract with Spire Motorsports

Starting from when he took over the No. 42 car of Noah Gragson a few weeks back, Hocevar has been turning quite a number of heads. Drawing praises for his skill from legends like Dale Jr. and Jimmie Johnson, the youngster created a heavy anticipation about his future. As rumors circulated that he would stay back at Legacy Motor Club or move to the No. 8 car of JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series, his signing with Spire comes as a shock.

Taking it to his X handle to express his happiness at having him in the Cup Series, Chastain wrote, “So happy for Carson! I’ve watched him become a NASCAR winner @NieceMotorsport this season. He has put in a lot of hard work and has proven he is deserving of an opportunity like this one. Happy to have him as a @TeamChevy teammate once again in 2024!”

When he isn’t behind the wheel of his Camaro, Ross Chastain drives the No. 41 Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports occasionally. Having driven side-by-side with the youngster, Chastain has had a first-hand view of his abilities. While his words of praise are sure to resonate well with the youngster, Chastain must be aware of the strong competition that he will face in 2024 from Hocevar and his team.

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Back in the Truck Series, where he races full-time, Hocevar has created a huge impact for his team this season. He currently stands second in the table with 3 victory lane visits. Looking poised to take his first championship, the youngster has proven himself ready for the challenge of the Cup Series. In the 5 times that he has raced in the Cup Series this year, he has put up a great spectacle. His best finish came at Bristol when he cruised to a P11.

Showcasing none of the nerviness of a newcomer, Hocevar appears set to blend in perfectly with the strong line-up that Jeff Dickerson has created for next year. With Corey LaJoie, Zane Smith and Hocevar, he could be looking at, at the very least, one playoff entrant. Echoing that thought to the media, Dickerson said, “Carson has driven the wheels off everything he’s ever raced and done more with less on multiple occasions. He has a knack for getting the most out of his equipment and that speaks directly to his desire behind the wheel. (…) We think he’ll complement Corey and Zane very well.”

Regardless of Ross Chastain’s happiness for his young teammate, this new combination just spells trouble for him. Currently, in his second full-time season with Trackhouse Racing, he saw elimination in the round of 12 finale at the Roval. Going into 2024, he will be hoping to get a hold of the championship trophy that has eluded him so far. Though he has only words of praise for Hocevar now, he will be hoping that the youngster doesn’t turn out to be the hurdle in his path.

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