On Tuesday (June 17), Spire Motorsports fined Carson Hocevar $50,000 for his derogatory comments about Mexico City during a livestream.
Additionally, Hocevar will required to complete cultural-sensitivity and bias-awareness training.
The money from the fine will be donated to three organizations that serve Mexican communities, including Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross), Un Kilo de Ayuda (which helps to combat childhood malnutrition), and Fondo Unido México (United Way Mexico).
“These actions are consistent with Spire Motorsports’ core value of RESPECT, which is something we proudly display on every race car, team uniform, trackside hauler, and digital channel,” Spire said in a release. “Respect is not a slogan. It is a daily expectation that we “walk the walk” in how we speak, compete, and serve the communities that welcome our sport.”
The comments came during Hocevar’s stream on iRacing before the Mexico City race weekend and included him referring to the city as a “shit hole.”
for the people defending this dude, here's the video, so…
— ⋆montse⋆ #RUSSONELLI 🥇🥉🩵 (@checoflan) June 15, 2025
estos días habia visto fans de nascar racistas (como el que escribió este tweet, y en las respuestas) pero, los pilotos también? terriblehttps://t.co/YH1HKf9bVN https://t.co/dnxc2c0aYu pic.twitter.com/NnEMtf84c9
“Carson Hocevar’s recent comments made during the livestream fell short of that standard,” Spire said. “They did not represent the views of Spire Motorsports, our partners, or NASCAR. He has acknowledged his mistake publicly, and his prompt, sincere apology demonstrated personal accountability. We now take this additional step to underscore that words carry weight, and respect must be lived out loud.
“Spire Motorsports has informed NASCAR of these penalties, and NASCAR has confirmed that our team-imposed discipline satisfies the sanctioning body’s requirements. Together we remain committed to showcasing NASCAR’s global growth, celebrating the passionate Mexican fanbase we experienced firsthand last weekend, and ensuring every member of our organization treats hosts, competitors, and communities with dignity.
“We look forward to turning the page by racing hard, representing our partners, and living our values on and off the track.”
After this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City, Hocevar posted a statement on X, pointing out that his previous statements weren’t correct.
“Maybe a kid that had never been out of the country until Thursday should ever give an opinion about what any place is like other than Portage, Michigan.
“When I answered that question on a stream, I was skeptical about the trip so far and believed everything I read or heard about Mexico City from people who more than likely also had never been here. Now that I’ve actually left my hotel a couple times and raced here in front of some of the most passionate fans I’ve ever seen, my opinion has changed. I am embarrassed by my comments, by the race I ran, and I may have to move here to hide out from Ricky anyway.
“Count this as another lesson for me in a season I’ve learned so much. Don’t believe everything you hear without seeing it yourself. If anyone should give anyone or any place the benefit of the doubt it’s me. I’m sorry Mexico City. Consider me an ally going forward and an example of getting off Twitch and seeing things with my own two eyes.”
Despite the apology and mindset change, Hocevar was still fined by his team on Tuesday.
Hocevar has two top fives and three top 10s so far this season.
Joy joined Frontstretch in 2019 as a NASCAR DraftKings writer, expanding to news and iRacing coverage in 2020. She's currently an assistant editor and involved with photos, social media and news editing. A California native, Joy was raised watching motorsports and started watching NASCAR extensively in 2001. She earned her B.A. degree in Liberal Studies at California State University Bakersfield in 2010.
Does anybody know what he said on the live stream?
https://theracingexperts.com/carson-hocevar-fined-50k-over-livestream-remarks-about-mexico/
He said Mexico was a sh*thole.
I agree with Carson. The US State Dept doesn’t issue warnings about Mexico for no reason.
https://travelmaps.state.gov/TSGMap/
If he hadn’t said that, I think he’d have been OK. The rest was how he felt / what he observed. Unsafe. Locked Down. Difficult to get there and back. Track needs some work. All facts and observations about things that need work to make it better.
As a Gen-X guy who used to help Dad work on cars by holding a flashlight, I don’t get this sensitivity thing. What are feelings, and why do they always seem to be getting hurt? :-P lol
If Carson described how the conditions really were in Mexico City, I don’t think he should be fined. If he lied about the conditions, then he should be penalized. I guess that’s just how things are now. You need to parrot whatever the NASCAR Marketing Dept (or whoever the powers that be) say, otherwise you will face the consequences for having your own ideas or opinions.
I think the issue was specifically when he said, “if it wasn’t such a sh*thole”. Had he left that out I think he’d have been fine.
Too many ppl get butthurt these days
What I can’t figure out is that if it’s such a great country why do many come here illegally to get away from there and then if we try to send them back they get very upset about going back to such a great country. And this isn’t new, its been going on for years.
Fact
Jeff Dickerson (co-owner of Spire) believes in respect, according to their website. He dedicates an entire page called, “About Respect” on their website.
Interesting read. Thanks for bringing it to light!
As someone from Mexico City and who legally immigrated to the U.S., he is correct in every way.
My family goes back generations and it has always been polluted, crime ridden, and corrupt.
His words upset people that have never been there or if so only stayed on the bus in the tourist areas.
His team ownership is a joke as is nascar for their response to a young man telling the truth.
That’s why I legally along with some family came to the States, to get out of the S hole that is Mx city.
So continue on with what you think is right or wrong and for some of you adding politics into something that has nothing to do with them and listen to the thoughts of someone from there.
Juan Espinosa-Garcia
Former Mexico City resident and now former NASCAR lifelong fan
Totalplay, Sponsor of moron driving the 77 Spire cup car. Based in Mexico city. Spire needs to give Hocevar a IQ test immediately.