Quincy, MI (Friday, February 12, 2021) - Embarking on his first full season behind the wheel of a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series machine, Portage, Michigan’s, Carson Hocevar is set to roll off Friday night as the youngest driver to ever tackle Daytona International Speedway. Behind the wheel of his Niece Motorsports no. 42, Hocevar starts his 2021 season at the historic D-shaped oval.
After running a part-time truck series schedule in 2020 that included a full event on the road course at Daytona, Hocevar signed his contract with Niece Motorsports late in 2020 to drive for them full time this season. With Scott’s and GM Parts Now on the side of his truck, Hocevar is the latest Michigan talent to burst onto the NASCAR scene; and he’s barely legal in NASCAR’s book to do so.
At just 18 years 14 days old at the drop of the green flag on the NextEra Energy 250, Hocevar will reportedly become the youngest driver to compete on the oval at Daytona, which requires competitors to be at least 18 years old. Hocevar appears to have a decent shot at tonight’s win as well, finishing Practice in 13th and putting his Chevrolet Silverado on the grid in 12th following qualifying with a 50.308 lap time, averaging 178.898 MPH.
With manufacturer alliances being so important at Daytona, it may be comforting to know Hocevar has six Team Chevy drivers ahead of him, and a Niece Motorsports teammate (Brett Moffitt) just three spots behind him in 15th.
The NextEra Energy 250 is set to go green at 7:30 pm ET on FS1.
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Story - Zach Hiser, Horsepower Happenings
Photo - Kevtron Media/Daylon Barr