Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, signs an autograph for Braxton Loustus, 7, during the pre-race ceremony during the NASCAR FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com
KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI – The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year will be sponsored by a hometown business again in 2025 for select races.
Carson Hocevar, of Portage, announced his deal with Zeigler Auto Group on Monday, Dec. 16, at Zeigler Motorsports just outside of Kalamazoo.
Zeigler will sponsor Hocevar for eight races in 2025, including the Daytona 500 (Feb. 16) and the NASCAR race at Michigan International Speedway (June 8). Zeigler has been a sponsor in NASCAR since 2019, although 2024 was its first season with Hocevar.
Scenes from Carson Hocevar and Zeigler Auto Group announcing a partnership ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series in 2024.(MLive.com | Matthew Ehler)
“They’ve been such a great support group since Day 1,” Hocevar said in a news release. “I’m looking forward to continuing to build our partnership on and off the track and can’t wait to take the Zeigler Chevrolet to victory lane.”
Hocevar, 21, won the Rookie of the Year title by finishing 21st in points this season. He had six top-10 finishes, including a career-best third-place finish at Watkins Glen International in September. Hocevar races the No. 77 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports.
“Carson’s commitment to excellence, both on and off the track, has made a tremendous impact, and we are honored to continue to support our hometown hero,” said Aaron Zeigler, president and CEO of Zeigler Auto Group. “His dedication to the community has been inspiring.”
Carson Hocevar (center) and his parents Amy (left) and Scott (right)Amy Hocevar
Hocevar sported the yellow and black Zeigler colors in August when he made his MIS Cup Series debut. He finished 10th.
Monday’s sponsorship announcement also included a fan meet-and-greet.
Hocevar did something similar in June, when he hosted a fundraiser at Zeigler Motorsports that raised more than $30,000 for victims of the May 7 tornado in Portage.
The Hocevar family business – Scott’s Sports Cars, Coins and Jewelry, 7428 S. Westnedge Ave. in Portage – was among the buildings hit by the tornado. Scott Hocevar, Carson’s dad, was inside as the twister blew out windows and tossed a neighbor’s roof atop his truck.
MORE: ‘This is still home’: NASCAR rookie returns to Michigan to help tornado victims
Carson Hocevar is the third Michigan driver to win the NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year, joining Johnny Benson (1996) and Erik Jones (2017).
Hocevar, Jones (from Byron) and Rochester Hills driver Brad Keselowski are vying to become the first Michigan-born driver to win the Daytona 500, next February.
Zeigler Auto Group is one of the largest privately owned dealer groups in the U.S., with 84 franchises across 41 locations in the Midwest. In Kalamazoo County alone, Zeigler owns dealerships selling Hondas, BMWs, Chryslers, Lincolns and more. It also owns Zeigler Motorsports and the connected Trak Houz Bar & Grill.
The family-owned and operated company was founded in 1975, employs more than 2,500 people and had $2.2 billion in estimated sales in 2023.
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