Spire Motorsports Sanctions Carson Hocevar for Derogatory Comments about Mexico City
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Spire Motorsports has fined Carson Hocevar $50,000 due to disparaging comments he made about Mexico City during a live stream last weekend, coinciding with the NASCAR race in the city.
Hocevar retracted his comments on Sunday night, offering apologies. The 22-year-old driver admitted that it was the first time he had visited outside the United States and that his comments reflected the negative perceptions he had heard about Mexico City.
“I am ashamed of my comments,” Hocevar expressed in his apology.
Carson Hocevar
In addition to the fine, Spire has also ordered Hocevar to attend a cultural sensitivity and bias awareness course.
The sum of $50,000 will be donated in equal parts to three organizations that provide support to Mexican communities:
- Mexican Red Cross.
- Un Kilo de Ayuda, a non-profit organization that fights against child malnutrition and supports early childhood development in rural communities.
- Fondo Unido México (United Way Mexico), which funds local NGOs that improve education, health, and housing in 22 Mexican states.
“These actions are consistent with Spire Motorsports’ core value of RESPECT, something we proudly display on every race car, team uniform, trackside hauler, and digital channel,” the team stated in a statement. “Respect is not a slogan. It is a daily expectation that we ‘lead by example’ in the way we speak, compete, and serve the communities that embrace our sport.”
“Carson Hocevar’s recent comments during the live broadcast did not meet that standard. They did not represent the views of Spire Motorsports, our partners, or NASCAR. He has publicly acknowledged his mistake, and his prompt and sincere apology demonstrated personal responsibility. We are now taking this additional step to underscore that words have weight and respect must be lived out loud.”
Spire informed NASCAR about the sanctions against Hocevar, and that this satisfied the requirements of the sanctioning body.
“Together, we remain committed to showcasing NASCAR’s global growth, celebrating the passionate Mexican fanbase we experienced firsthand last weekend, and ensuring that every member of our organization treats hosts, competitors, and communities with dignity,” said Spire.
“We hope to turn the page by running hard, representing our partners and living our values on and off the track.”
