On Tuesday, Spire Motorsports announced a $50,000 fine for their driver, Carson Hocevar, following derogatory remarks he made about Mexico City during a Twitch livestream, prior to the NASCAR Cup Series’ Viva Mexico 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
The comments, which included calling the city a “s**thole” and criticizing travel, safety, and track conditions. In addition to the fine, Spire Motorsports mandated that Hocevar undergo cultural-sensitivity and bias-awareness training to address the insensitivity of his statements, similar to what Kyle Larson and Noah Gragson have had to endure recently.
The fine will be distributed equally among three Mexican organizations: Cruz Roja Mexicana, which provides humanitarian and medical relief; Un Kilo de Ayuda, a nonprofit focused on combating childhood malnutrition; and Fondo Unido México, which supports education, health, and housing initiatives across 22 Mexican states. Spire Motorsports emphasized that these actions align with their core value of respect, a principle displayed on their race cars, uniforms, and digital platforms. The team stated, “Respect is not a slogan. It is a daily expectation that we ‘walk the walk’ in how we speak, compete, and serve the communities that welcome our sport.” They further noted that Hocevar’s comments did not reflect the views of Spire Motorsports, their partners, or NASCAR.
Hocevar, a 22-year-old driver in his sophomore Cup Series season, issued a public apology on social media, acknowledging his lack of experience and the error in forming opinions based on hearsay. He stated, “Maybe a kid that had never been out of the country until Thursday should ever give an opinion about what any place is like other than Portage, Michigan.” After racing in front of passionate Mexican fans, Hocevar expressed regret, saying, “I’m sorry Mexico City. Consider me an ally going forward and an example of getting off Twitch and seeing things with my own two eyes.” His apology highlighted a shift in perspective, driven by his firsthand experience at the event.
Spire Motorsports informed NASCAR of the penalties, and the sanctioning body confirmed that the team’s disciplinary measures satisfied their requirements. The incident also drew attention due to an on-track altercation between Hocevar and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. during the race, adding to the young driver’s controversial weekend. As Hocevar continues to develop, this episode underscores the importance of maturity and cultural awareness in NASCAR’s increasingly global landscape.
However, fans were NOT found of the news, which upset many for Spire Motorsports’ “overreach” on the decision.
It is important to note that Hocevar did not make derogatory remarks at any individual and simply called out NASCAR for the chaos of the weekend.
Fans voiced their frustrations with the decision on X.
What do you think? Has NASCAR gotten soft?
Take a look at all of the reactions on the next page.
Spire Motorsports Put On Blast for “Woke” Decision With NASCAR Driver