On Saturday, February 21, NASCAR veteran Kyle Busch clinched his third consecutive NASCAR Truck Series victory at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, marking his ninth career win at this venue. Busch’s Atlanta win was heavily influenced by key assistance from his teammate, Carson Hocevar, who played a crucial role in helping Busch maintain his lead in the final laps.
Competing in the #7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports, Busch regained the lead during the last seven laps after receiving a timely push from Hocevar, and he held firm to claim the checkered flag. Throughout the closing stages, Hocevar took on a strategic teammate role, managing pace and lane control in the shortened race to support Busch’s push for victory.
Hocevar’s Role as a Teammate Was Essential to the Win
In a post-race interview with FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, Kyle Busch highlighted Hocevar’s efforts as a “wingman” who helped him navigate the critical moments of the race. Busch described how Hocevar’s driving tactics during Stage Two created an advantageous situation that they both capitalized on to move their way to the front.
“Great teammate I got today, and then in stage two, there was a chance there where Hocevar was in front of me, and he started kind of playing the air a little bit, and I was kind of like, okay, this is good. I’m impressed, you know. I got you, and I pushed him, and we made our way.”
“We started ratcheting ourselves back forward. So that was really good, being teammates, and then there at the end he was back to being my wingman and, you know, keeping us in, uh, pace to control the lane and pace to win the race.”
Spire Motorsports Achieves Dominant 1-2 Finish
Carson Hocevar, who races full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for Spire Motorsports, finished just behind Busch, securing second place to complete an impressive one-two sweep for the team at EchoPark. This victory marked Kyle Busch’s 68th career triumph in the Truck Series, underscoring his sustained competitiveness and experience in the series.
Celebration and Acknowledgment of Teammate’s Support
Following the victory, Busch and Hocevar shared a celebratory moment as Busch performed a burnout near the start-finish line with Hocevar joining in from his truck. Their camaraderie was evident as Hocevar gave Busch a high five through the window netting, highlighting the strong teamwork that contributed to the win.
“Had a great teammate [Hocevar] behind me and have to give credit where credit is due. Early on was a little worried he wasn’t helping but there at the end he was right there … definitely made it a whole lot easier.”
Looking Ahead to the Next NASCAR Cup Series Event
The momentum from this collaborative effort at EchoPark sets the tone for Spire Motorsports as they prepare for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race, also scheduled to take place at EchoPark Speedway on Sunday. Fans can anticipate a highly competitive event from Kyle Busch, Carson Hocevar, and the rest of the field as the season progresses.
Kyle Busch on the help from Carson Hocevar and working with him throughout the truck race on the way to victory. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/OhaaYoVsiV
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 22, 2026
