Carson Hocevar came into the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season winless in his career. After Saturday’s Baptist Health Cancer Care 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Hocevar is now a four-time race winner on the season, and he’ll be one of the four drivers competing for a championship in Phoenix.
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Hocevar got around Zane Smith, while the two were chasing down Ben Rhodes and then he got around Rhodes for the race lead with 11 laps remaining in the event. Hocevar wouldn’t look back on his path to the win.
Following the race win, where Hocevar led the final 11 laps, NASCAR confirmed the driver and his No. 42 Niece Motorsports team as the official winners of the race following post-race inspection.
Zane Smith’s runner-up finishing No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford F-150 failed post-race inspection. The No. 38 machine was found to be in violation of section 14.4.7.l of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rule book, which pertains to the windshield supports on the truck.
The No. 38 truck will head to the NASCAR R&D Center for further inspection this week.
The Front Row Motorsports team issued a statement of its disappointment in the disqualification but will refrain from commenting until after meeting with NASCAR officials at the R&D Center this week.
“We are disappointed in the disqualification from today’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event,” the statement read. “We will continue to work and discuss with NASCAR officials back at the NACAR R&D Center in Concord, N.C. before making any further comment.”
Smith was in a must-win situation if he wanted to advance to the Championship 4. Smith will be credited with a last-place finish instead of a runner-up finish, but this disqualification does not change the Championship 4 field.
No other issues were discovered in the inspection, which means all results and standings are officially official.
Hocevar will officially join the Championship 4 field along with Corey Heim, Ben Rhodes, and Grant Enfinger.
Ty Majeski, Nick Sanchez, Zane Smith, and Christian Eckes were the four drivers eliminated from Playoff contention on Saturday afternoon.
Official Race Results
Race Results: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Baptist Health Cancer Care 200 at Homestead
Updated Driver Standings
Updated Owner Standings
Race Recap
Carson Hocevar Surges Late for Homestead Victory; Punches Ticket to Phoenix
