Memorizing lines on a race track comes naturally to Carson Hocevar.
Movie lines, however, are another story for the 23-year-old NASCAR driver from Portage, Michigan.
Hocevar, along with fellow drivers Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, Ryan Blaney, Noah Gragson and Connor Zilisch, went “Hollywood” for three days in March in San Diego, where they filmed “NASCAR vs. Navy: The San Diego Mini Movie.”
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NASCAR Nashville race best photos from Cracker Barrel 400 including Denny Hamlin
Dark clouds are seen on the horizon before the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Sunday, May 31, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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NASCAR Nashville race best photos from Cracker Barrel 400 including Denny Hamlin
Dark clouds are seen on the horizon before the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Sunday, May 31, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
“At the very start we’re just doing what the script told us,” Hocevar said. “By the end of it we were making all the lines ourselves and doing everything off the beaten path. … The more we do it, the more I’m comfortable.”
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The film, which will release June 5, primarily is a promotional tool that features Cup drivers taking on members of the Navy in tactical challenges at Naval Base Coronado, where the drivers want to turn the runway into racetrack.
“We got to drive cars around the naval base and mess around with planes and pilots and actors pretending to be pilots,” Hocevar said June 4. “We got to go on aircraft carriers.
“You’re wondering how they’re going to make it look and the stuff they’re going to add in post (production).”
Carson Hocevar going home to Michigan International Speedway
Speaking of comfortable, Hocevar is looking forward to this weekend’s races at Michigan International Speedway for the NASCAR Cup race, the FireKeepers Casino 400 on June 7 (2 p.m. CT, Prime Video).
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He grew up about 90 miles the track and feels like he runs well there. Hocevar, who has one win, six top 10s in 14 races and is ninth in points this season, was leading the final segment there last year before he blew a tire.
This year he plans to run in the Craftsman Truck Series race as well as the Cup Series race.
Though the forecast calls for rain, Hocevar isn’t planning to let that affect his homecoming parade.
“(My team) knew I was going to want to run Michigan,” he said. “They didn’t even really question it.
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Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver does Talladega burnout celebration half way out of car
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – APRIL 26: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)
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Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver does Talladega burnout celebration half way out of car
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – APRIL 26: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)
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Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver does Talladega burnout celebration half way out of car
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – APRIL 26: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet, speaks to the media during a press conference after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
(David Jensen, Getty Images)
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Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver does Talladega burnout celebration half way out of car
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – APRIL 26: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)
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Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver does Talladega burnout celebration half way out of car
Apr 26, 2026; Talladega, Alabama, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar (77) celebrates winning the Jack Links 500 NASCAR Cup Series race in Victory Lane at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
(Vasha Hunt, Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images)
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Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver does Talladega burnout celebration half way out of car
Apr 26, 2026; Talladega, Alabama, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar (77) wears the ceremonial wreath presented by Miss Alabama Emma Terry after his victory at the Jack Links 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
(Vasha Hunt, Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images)
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Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver does Talladega burnout celebration half way out of car
Apr 26, 2026; Talladega, Alabama, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar (77) celebrates winning the Jack Links 500 NASCAR Cup Series race in Victory Lane at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
(Vasha Hunt, Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images)
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Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver does Talladega burnout celebration half way out of car
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – APRIL 26: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet, places the winner sticker on his car after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
(David Jensen, Getty Images)
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Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver does Talladega burnout celebration half way out of car
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – APRIL 26: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet, celebrates with fans after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)
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Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver does Talladega burnout celebration half way out of car
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – APRIL 26: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet, celebrates with Miss Alabama Emma Terry in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
(David Jensen, Getty Images)
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Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver does Talladega burnout celebration half way out of car
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – APRIL 26: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)
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Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver does Talladega burnout celebration half way out of car
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – APRIL 26: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)
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Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver does Talladega burnout celebration half way out of car
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – APRIL 26: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2026 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)
THE LATEST NASCAR points standings, Cup Series points update after Nashville race
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“I think there’s rain again, but I’m plenty fine. … If the trucks have to run Monday I wouldn’t be too sad about it.”
What does Carson Hocevar think of Cleetus McFarland?
Cleetus McFarland, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, is a NASCAR driver/YouTube content creator with approximately 4.75 million subscribers and 3.9 million followers on TikTok.
He and Hocevar have become close since McFarland began racing.
He said he admires McFarland’s ability to do both jobs and wishes he grew up doing the same thing.
“I really enjoy the YouTube side of it, and the content creation side of it,” Hocevar said. “Just doing really fun stuff with cars. It’s blossomed. Cleetus is one of those guys that is able to do it. I think we bond over that.”
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Paul Skrbina is a sports enterprise reporter covering the Predators, Titans, Nashville SC, local colleges and local sports for The Tennessean. Reach him at [email protected] and on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) @paulskrbina.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Carson Hocevar on acting, going NASCAR Michigan race, Cleetus McFarland
