Carson Hocevar Joins Drivers Edge Development Program for 2019

Drivers Edge Development announced today the addition of 16-year-old Michigan native Carson Hocevar to the driver lineup for the 2019 season. The news comes following GMS Racing’s announcement of a technical alliance with Hocevar’s KBR Development team.

Hocevar will continue to hone his skills in numerous Super Late Model and Pro Late Model events in 2019, driving his familiar No. 14 in between ARCA Menards Series starts in the No. 28 — all of which are prepared by Zeeland, Michigan’s KBR Development, which has spearheaded his entry into the NASCAR national landscape.

“We’re happy to have Carson as part of the Drivers Edge Development program,” said Lorin Ranier, DED talent scout and owner of Ranier Racing. “We feel he’s got great potential and we’re excited to see how he develops.”

Hocevar started winning early and has continued the theme well into full-sized stock car competition. He began racing quarter-midgets at the age of 7 and went on to earn 79 USAC feature victories and 15 national championships.

Under the tutelage of 2008 NASCAR Truck Series champion Johnny Benson, Jr., he graduated to full-sized stock cars in 2015 and immediately made an impact by winning an Outlaw Late Model feature at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan as a mere 12-year-old.

Later that summer, he earned his first template Super Late Model victory at Berlin as 13-year-old, becoming the youngest winner in both Late Model divisions with his victories that season.

Most impressive is that his wins came against several veterans at a track where experience is especially paramount. The victory even made national headlines when NASCAR issued an order to park the rookie until his 14th birthday due a minimum age restriction.

Hocevar responded with a breakout season in which he won the Berlin track championship as a 14-year-old — the youngest in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series history — and added three other victories on the regional JEGS/CRA All-Stars Pro Late Model Tour. He has found success quickly on each rung of his racing ladder, a theme he hopes extends into the next phase of his career in the ARCA Menards Series.

Hocevar, who turned 16 in January, is not yet eligible to compete on the superspeedways in the ARCA Menards Series. He will be competing for the Sioux Chief Short Track Challenge title, which will continue April 14 with the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 at Salem Speedway. Practice is set for 11 am ET on Saturday, April 13 with General Tire Pole Qualifying scheduled for 3 pm ET that afternoon. The green flag on round three of the 2019 ARCA Menards Series season will drop shortly after 2 pm ET on Sunday, April 14. The race will be televised live on MAVTV and ARCA for Me members can access live timing & scoring, live chat, and live track updates at ARCARacing.com. New members can register for free at ARCARacing.com/login.