Carson Hocevar completed an incredible victory Saturday night in the Show Me State Showdown 125 in Lebanon, Missouri.
Hocevar, a Portage native, was in the lead when he got a flat tire with just 17 laps to go and somehow worked his way from the back of the field to end up in victory lane.
"Honestly I don't know," Hocevar said when asked how he did it. "It is the stuff you dream about. You got one second left and you drive through the field like it was nothing, you win the race on the last lap and the crowd goes wild, it is the stuff you dream about. So to be able to pull that off is insane and I still don't know how I was able to pull that off but I definitely didn't expect that was going to happen when I came down pit road by any means."
Hocvear, 17, is a young driver with a lot of potential and this CRA Super Series win has people talking. Former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace gave him a shout on twitter.
I did not know who you were @CarsonHocevar .. But we know you now😁.. Congratulations on a career win. And Thank you for racing Missouri 🏁 https://t.co/cdCYhLNy3N
— Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) May 31, 2020
"Just winning in general was huge for me," Hocevar said. "It was huge for my confidence and just to see the overall support from everyone has been crazy. This is such a cool experience just to get all the support."
While many parts of the country are not allowing large gatherings due to COVID-19. There was a big turnout for Saturday's race in Missouri and Hocevar said the crowd was into it.
"It was so cool to see everybody come out," Hocevar said. "Lebanon was such a cool experience they have a tailgate for everybody from turn two all the way to turn four and all the way along the back stretch and then the front stretch was packed too and the overall crowd reaction right when I got out of the car it was just an awesome experience for sure."
Hocevar is not sure when he will be able to race again. Most racing schedules are still up in the air.
"I am eager to get back to the race track for sure," Hocevar said. "I'm not sure when that is going to be, late model stuff and short track stuff are kind of open but for the NASCAR stuff I'm not 100 percent sure."
Hocevar was originally scheduled to run nine races in the NASCAR Truck Series and still hopes to do so.
