Carson Hocevar Gets the Last Laugh After Major Recognition From TIME

TIME named Carson Hocevar to its inaugural TIME100 Sports list for 2026, highlighting the Spire Motorsports driver as a rising influence in sports. The 23-year-old Michigan native was placed in the Leaders category, with TIME suggesting he could soon become the sport’s next face of NASCAR. Hocevar has one NASCAR Cup Series victory and has spent years at the center of debates about his aggressive, outspoken style. His growing visibility—on track and off—has helped him become one of the sport’s most discussed figures in a young Cup Series garage. TIME credited his willingness to speak his mind and the attention he generates whenever he races.