PHOENIX, Ariz. — Carson Hocevar, driver of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, has been named the 2024 Sunoco NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year.

The Portage, Mich., native took top honors with a top-five finish, six top-10 finishes and 13 top-15 finishes. In his first full season behind the wheel of the No. 77 Chevrolet, Hocevar earned a career-best third-place finish during September’s Cup Series visit to Watkins Glen (NY) International.

Hocevar impressed throughout his rookie campaign, accumulating 686 points and being the top rookie in 15 races on NASCAR’s senior circuit. He edged out his next closest competitor by a healthy 107 points when the checkered flag fell Sunday in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

“Being named Sunoco Rookie of the Year is special,” Hocevar said. “I was beaten out for Rookie of the Year in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, and I haven’t raced full-time in the Xfinity Series, so winning the award in the NASCAR Cup Series is a huge accomplishment for our entire team. It certainly hasn’t been easy. Josh (Berry) won a lot of Xfinity races, and the No. 4 team won tons of races and a championship with Rodney (Childers) and (Kevin) Harvick. We also had Zane (Smith) competing, who raced for Spire Motorsports and won several Truck Series races and a championship. It was a good group of accomplished drivers competing for this title, and it means a lot to come out on top. We ran very well at the end of the year and were able to get ahead in terms of points. These last few weeks have shown our abilities as a team.

“This award will be something that will stay with me throughout my career, and I’m proud to be known as the 2024 Sunoco NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year. There is an elite list of guys who won it, and many of them won races and championships. The prize is something you only get one chance at. You can never go back and try to win Rookie or the year later. It’s the only thing like it in the race. It’s cool to win something this big this year, and the mission now is to get the No. 77 car to Victory Lane and the playoffs in 2025.

The 21-year-old made his NCS debut for Spire Motorsports on June 4, 2020 at World Wide Technology Raceway. In addition to his NCS debut, Hocevar made four NASCAR Xfinity Series starts for Spire Motorsports in 2023, with two top 10 finishes in May at Darlington Raceway (sixth) and Charlotte Motor Speedway (eighth).

Hocevar has signed a multi-year contract with Spire Motorsports to drive the team’s No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro in the Cup Series in October 2023.

Hocevar was first partnered with veteran crew chief Luke Lambert last season when he competed behind the wheel of the No. 42 machine in eight of the division’s last 10 races. He earned a then-career-best 11th place finish in the 2023 Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Lambert followed Hocevar to Spire Motorsports where he was chosen to lead the team’s No. 77 effort for the 2024 season.

“I am incredibly proud of the efforts that Carson (Hocevar) and the No. 77 team have put into the 2024 season,” Lambert said. “Carson is a tremendous talent and that, combined with his effort and dedication, has led to strong on-track performances and continued improvement throughout the season. I am honored to be a part of Spire Motorsports as we continue to progress as a NASCAR Cup Series team. Carson and the No. 77 team are committed to constant improvement and look forward to building on this rookie season in 2025.

Hocevar made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) debut on August 1, 2019 at Eldora Speedway and has collected four wins, one pole, 21 top fives and 33 top 10s during his CRAFTSMAN Truck Series career. He finished 10th in points in 2021 and 2022 and earned a place in the 2023 Championship 4, where he ultimately finished third in the season-ending championship points standings.

“It’s been an exciting season watching Carson, Luke and the entire No. 77 team grow together,” said Doug Duchardt, president of Spire Motorsports. “Carson’s results improved throughout the year and the team was competitive during the playoffs, regularly going door-to-door with playoff contenders. We are proud of Carson and the No. 77 team for winning the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award in the NASCAR Cup Series and I look forward to seeing them continue to raise the bar next year.

Hocevar’s feat marks the first time a Chevrolet-backed driver has won the title since Daniel Hemric in 2019. He is the third Michigan-born driver to earn the honor, following in the footsteps of Erik Jones (2017) and by Johnny Benson (1996). )

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