Pit Stop Radio News

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No.77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Carson Hocevar will make his first NCS start at Watkins Glen International in Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen, piloting the No. 77 Mattress Warehouse Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports.
• Last week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hocevar started 32nd and brought home a 16th-place finish in the Quaker State 400.
• Serving customers for 35 years, the Mattress Warehouse mission is clear: Improving lives through quality sleep. This is achieved by combining cutting edge technology with the expertise of highly trained sleep professionals, ensuring that every guest finds the perfect fit for their needs. With a commitment to offering the widest assortment of quality brands at unbeatable prices, Mattress Warehouse guests can rest assured that they’ve made a wise investment in their health and well-being.
• MOLECULE engineers cutting-edge sleep solutions that support active lifestyles with deep sleep recovery. Team MOLECULE includes renowned sleep doctors and neurologists, who possess decades of research and experience to help guide development of mattresses, toppers and pillows. Elite athletes like Michael Phelps trust MOLECULE to help them achieve peak performance.
• The 21-year-old has raced at The Glen once before in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series when he started ninth and brought home a 10th-place finish in the 2021 United Rentals 176.
• Over the first three road races of 2024, Hocevar has an average starting position of 14.6. 
• The youngest NCS driver in the field ranks 22nd in points and leads the Cup Series Rookie of the Year standings. Over the course of the season’s first 27 races, Hocevar has notched four top-10 and nine top-15 finishes.
• CJ Winslow, rear-end mechanic for Hocevar’s No. 77 machine, will be headed home this weekend. The Elmira, N.Y., native has been a mechanic in all three of NASCAR’s national touring series over the past 10 years.  

Carson Hocevar Quotes
This will be your first time running at Watkins Glen in the Cup Series. This year has been full of new tracks with a lot of unknowns. Do you find the unknown to be detrimental or beneficial?
“I’m excited to get back to the Glen. I ran there in 2021 with the trucks and had a lot of fun. I’ve wanted to go back since and I’m finally getting the opportunity. The unknown this year has helped me and everyone else has some unknowns this week too, with the tire changes from Goodyear. It seems so hard to pass there and if what they’re saying about the new tire is true, it rewards guys who don’t qualify well and could add a little more fun to the race. Spire qualified top 10 last year there with Corey (LaJoie) so I think we could be legit.”

Zane Smith – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• On Sunday, rookie driver Zane Smith will make his first NASCAR Cup Series career start at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International driving the No. 71 Focused Health Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports.
• Smith owns one NASCAR CRAFTFSMAN Truck Series start at the 2.45-mile road course in upstate New York where he qualified eighth and finished sixth.
• The 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Champion finished 17th in the most recent Cup Series road race on the Chicago Street Course in downtown Chicago on July 7. 
• Smith has posted three top 20s on the three road courses raced so far this season. His best finish being 16th at Sonoma Raceway in California.
• Smith will carry the No. 71 primary sponsor, Focused Health, on Sunday. Focused Health is a National Health Insurance agency founded by industry veterans with over 60 years combined industry experience. Primarily focused on the government programs space, Focused Health partners with payors and employers to deliver health insurance solutions for individuals and families. For more information visit AtFocusedHealth.com.
• Race fans can order Focused Health No. 71 Zane Smith merchandise at Zanesmithracing.com.

Zane Smith Quotes
You’ve posted some of your best finishes this year on road courses, how is your confidence heading into this weekend at Watkins Glen?
“I really enjoy racing road courses, so I’m looking forward to Watkins Glen this weekend. I’m definitely ready to get some momentum on our side after the last couple of weekends and I think we have a good shot there. We’ve had some good results in the road races this season and I am hoping for our best one yet this weekend. Excited to have Focused Health back on board my Spire Motorsports Chevrolet for another fun weekend in upstate New York.”

Corey LaJoie – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Corey Lajoie will pilot the No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports in Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen. 
• In five previous NCS starts at Watkins Glen, LaJoie has one top-20 and two top-25 finishes.
• In the NCS most recent stop at Atlanta Motor Speedway, LaJoie rolled off 25th and survived late-race mayhem to earn a respectable 15th-place finish.
• Gainbridge Insurance Agency, LLC (“Gainbridge”), a Group 1001 company, is an insurtech which strives to offer products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Gainbridge’s digital-first distribution model underpins its mission to reach all communities, including those that have been historically underserved by the national financial system.
• In last year’s trip to Watkins Glen, the father of three notched his first top-10 qualifying effort on a road-course and made the second round of qualifying for the first time in his Cup Series career. After rolling off 10th, the driver of the No. 7 Gainbridge Camaro secured a 20th-place finish, the team’s 13th top 20 of 2023.
• The 32-year-old qualified on the pole and led five laps in last season’s ARCA Menards Series event at WGI, but a brake issue took him out of contention.
• Over 263 NCS starts, the Concord, N.C., native has earned four top-five and 10 top-10 finishes and led 161 laps in NASCAR’s premier division.

Corey LaJoie Quotes
You’ve had the pace to qualify up front at the road courses over the past year. What’s the key to keeping it in the mix this weekend?
“Our road course package has been making a lot of strides. We have had the speed to qualify up front at the road courses this year, but really only have Sonoma to show for it. The tire wear will throw a wrench in the strategy, but I’m looking forward to the opportunity for a good finish on Sunday with Gainbridge on the hood.”

Spire Motorsports PR