Carson Hocevar Eyes Major Win at All-Star Open, Stakes High for First All-Star Race Start

Carson Hocevar celebrated a career milestone at North Wilkesboro Speedway by winning the All-Star Open on May 18, 2025. This win secured his place in the NASCAR All-Star Race main event for the first time.

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Hocevar, driving for Spire Motorsports, managed to hold off tough competition and described the victory as “pretty big” during his post-race comments. The achievement stands out for Hocevar, whose path to the All-Star race had been marked by determination and consistent improvement across the NASCAR Cup Series season.

The race featured several pivotal moments. Shane van Gisbergen showed early speed, leading multiple laps from the drop of the green flag. His crew’s call for a two-tire pit stop later in the event cost him critical track position, opening the way for rivals to challenge.

Noah Gragson, starting in third, saw his chances slip after early contact and a loss of power steering.

Despite these issues, Gragson remained in contention, ultimately securing his own All-Star start via the Fan Vote.

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Tension built as drivers fought for limited spots transferring to the main event.

A late-race caution triggered by Riley Herbst hitting the wall after contact with Michael McDowell helped shuffle the order. Ryan Preece’s penalty for running over the choose box during caution dashed his transfer hopes and dropped him to the rear of the field.

John Hunter Nemechek capitalized on the opportunity, finishing second behind Hocevar and earning his All-Star race debut as well. The conclusion of the 100-lap race was marked by a 1-2 finish for Hocevar and Nemechek.

Post-race emotions ran high, with van Gisbergen and Todd Gilliland involved in on-track contact during the cool-down lap. Several notable names, including Erik Jones, Zane Smith, and Ty Dillon, were eliminated before the final dash.

Strategic decisions, like Hocevar’s two-tire call and the timing of late-race restarts, played key roles in determining the outcome. Hocevar’s win came amid a busy stretch for NASCAR, with the All-Star events capping a weekend that included Brad Keselowski and Christopher Bell claiming victories in the qualifying heats.

The atmosphere at North Wilkesboro reflected both the pressure of high-stakes racing and the excitement of drivers chasing a spot in one of the season’s showcase events. The main All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway followed just hours after the Open, giving new qualifiers little time to celebrate before hitting the track again.

For Hocevar, advancing to the feature event was the fulfillment of a long-term goal, adding a highlight to his young NASCAR Cup Series career. The crowd, energized by the day’s drama, looked ahead to a main event packed with top talent and fresh faces.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.