Carson Hocevar embraces his growing role as a NASCAR face
Carson Hocevar is embracing a growing role as a mainstream face of NASCAR, even as he says he does not fully understand why the invitations keep coming. Fresh off the Time100 Sports Gala, the Spire Motorsports driver met LeBron James and Prince Harry while arguing that celebrity exposure still helps the sport.
Key Takeaways
- Carson Hocevar says he is taking advantage of high-profile invites even when he does not fully know why he is there.
- At the Time100 Sports Gala, he talked with LeBron James and snapped a photo with Prince Harry for his mom.
- He credits Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the blueprint for drivers representing NASCAR beyond the track.
- With one Cup win so far, the 23-year-old wants more victories while still boosting the sport and Spire Motorsports.
Why is Carson Hocevar suddenly everywhere?
A decade after being too young for Late Model races he was already winning, Hocevar is now showing up at events like the Met Gala and Time100 Sports Gala. He has only one NASCAR Cup Series win so far, yet he is mingling with stars outside the racing bubble.
Speaking Friday at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Hocevar said the attention has been great for him. He is dating content creator Tabitha Swatosh and says he is enjoying and embracing the opportunities.
“There’s a lot of times where I’m like, I don’t understand why I’m invited to these, but I’m definitely taking advantage of it,” Hocevar said, adding that the experiences are once-in-a-lifetime and “obviously great for the sport.”
What happened when he met LeBron James and Prince Harry?
At the Time100 Sports Gala in New York, Hocevar was among those honored by Time as influential in sports. He later recounted the night while preparing for races at North Wilkesboro.
He almost talked himself out of approaching LeBron James. A mutual acquaintance then invited him over. Security closed in until the contact signaled, and James stood, removed his glasses, and talked for a while. James recognized him because his trainer’s son is racing in North Carolina.
Prince Harry was a shorter exchange. Hocevar introduced himself and asked for a photo to make his mom proud. Harry laughed and hoped the shot made her day. Photos from the night circulated on Hocevar’s social channels, as also noted in Motorsport.com’s report.
How does Dale Earnhardt Jr. shape his view of the spotlight?
In a NASCAR.com Press Pass clip, Hocevar explains how Earnhardt Jr. inspired him to embrace major events and represent the series beyond the track.
“My favorite driver was Dale Jr. I saw him everywhere,” he said, recalling MTV appearances and award shows. “I just always thought that’s really what NASCAR drivers do.”
He noted Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan were also tied to the TIME Sports 100 list, but being the solo NASCAR driver in that moment felt “super fun.” The wider cultural crossover also echoes themes tracked across Future Tech & AI Wonders, where attention, platforms, and who fans care about increasingly shape what breaks through.
Can fame alone justify the spotlight?
Hocevar knows he needs more wins to match the buzz. Still, he argues that race quality alone does not expand the audience. “Ultimately, it’s just getting people to care who’s in the cars,” he said. Without that, even a great finish can feel like watching iRacing, AI racing, or an animation.
“It’s been super humbling for me to have a lot of people ultimately care about who’s in my car,” Hocevar added. For a driver still early in his Cup career, embracing the face-of-the-sport role is part strategy, part gratitude, and part following the Dale Jr. playbook.