NASCAR phenom Carson Hocevar just DNF and finished P5, in the same race

News Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 9:30 AM ET •By Graham Shaw

Carson Hocevar could not have said it better after another insane race for the NASCAR phenom on Tuesday night - there is “never a dull moment”.

This weekend the 23-year-old phenom will begin his 2026 Cup Series season in earnest at the iconic Daytona 500 (Sunday, 2.30pm ET, FOX). He will do so with a new long-term Spire Motorsports contract ‘into the next decade’ in his back pocket.

But before that the controversial young star was at New Smyrna Raceway in Florida to compete in the Clyde Hart Memorial on the ASA Stars National Tour. As ever, he provided box office entertainment.

Somehow, some way, Hocevar managed to ‘DNF’ and finish P5 in the same race as he recovered from a broken axle after telling TV crews he was ‘done’.

While Richard Childress Racing development driver Carson Brown was racing to victory up front, Hocevar was in a world of pain as he dealt with major issues on his Super Late Model.

Carson Hocevar’s wild night at New Smyrna

Hocevar’s night appeared to be over in the most miserable of circumstances when he broke an axle, and after getting out of his car he then gave the TV interview which appeared to confirm that he would be a DNF. But not so fast…

Almost immediately, Hocevar then got the shock news that his crew had ‘somehow’ fixed the problem, and back out he went. He would then recover brilliantly to finish the 200-lap main event in fifth position.

He said afterwards: “p5 but found and interesting way to do it. did a tv interview after we broke an axel saying we were done, but somehow they got it fixed and jumped backed in as they went green. got the lucky dogs we needed and finished 5th. never a dull moment.”

Ryan Preece wins again

It was a big night for another NASCAR Cup Series star in the Tour-type Modified race over 60 laps, with Ryan Preece taking the victory.

Preece came home in front of Patrick Emerling and Jimmy Blewett to follow up his terrific victory in NASCAR’s season-opening Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium just six days earlier.