NASCAR insider raises questions as Carson Hocevar ‘hints’ at a brewing Hendrick Motorsports situation

NASCAR insider Taylor Kitchen has sparked intrigue following Carson Hocevar's recent social media activities. The 2024 Rookie of the Year award winner posted several images depicting his #77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet with Hendrick Motorsports cars while still under contract with Spire.

Hocevar marked his debut Cup Series season. Following Spire Motorsports' expansion in the Xfinity Series last year, the team tapped Hocevar to field a part-time entry. At the time, the Michigan native ran a successful Truck Series campaign with Niece Motorsports, wrapping the 2023 season in third place.

He bypassed full-time Xfinity Series racing and entered NASCAR's Premier Level, driving the #77 Chevrolet Camaro. While Hocevar was called out on many occasions for his aggressive and contact driving, the rookie's performance paved the way for his Rookie of the Year glory. The Spire driver collected a solitary top-5 by virtue of his third-place finish at Watkins Glen and six top-10s.

However, Carson Hocevar's offseason portrayal of sharing images of his Camaro only with Hendrick Motorsports' Chevys prompted Kitchen to raise some questions.

"The most recent posts on Hocevar’s account feature his No. 77 racing alongside the Hendrick Motorsports cars. Not sure whether this is meant to stir the pot, hint at something deeper, or simply a nostalgic look back on this season," she wrote.

It's worth mentioning that Hocevar signed a multi-year deal with Spire last year and just wrapped his maiden Cup season with the team. So, a possible OEM deal by Chevrolet might be brewing behind closed doors.

"Anybody in my position wants to be a Cup Series driver": Carson Hocevar on signing a multiyear deal with Spire Motorsports

Before securing a multiyear deal at Spire, Carson Hocevar lent his expertise in a handful of Cup Series races. The rookie ran one race for Spire at the Gateway Motorsports Park and followed a five-race slate for Jimmie Johnson's Legacy Motor Club in 2023.

He bested an 11th-place finish from his Bristol Motor Speedway stint for LMC and notched an average finish of 22.5. Moreover, Hocevar already proved his mettle in NASCAR by dominating the Truck Series and concluding his 2023 season in P3 with four wins and 11 top-5s, which further cemented his stock car racing future.

“I mean, anybody in my position wants to be a Cup Series driver. That’s what you dream about when you’re young. You want to race on Sundays. So, my opportunity to run a few times this year, to run on Sunday and get ready, I feel more than prepared to get in the No. 77 car with Spire," Hocevar said of his Spire contract via NASCAR.

There has been no update thus far about Carson Hocevar moving to another team, let alone to HMS. The #77 driver will be joined by Front Row Racing's former driver Michael McDowell next year.