NASCAR has spent the last several years searching for ways to connect fans with its next generation of stars.
On Tuesday, the sanctioning body revealed exactly which young drivers it believes can help lead that future.
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NASCAR announced that its docuseries “RISING” will return for a second season in August, featuring Cup Series drivers Carson Hocevar and Connor Zilisch alongside Craftsman Truck Series standout Brenden “Butterbean” Queen. The series will debut exclusively on Xumo Play before eventually becoming available on NASCAR’s YouTube channel.
The announcement itself was notable.
The bigger story might be who NASCAR chose to build it around.
Hocevar is the only driver returning from Season 1.
In a sport overflowing with young talent, NASCAR could have gone in dozens of different directions. Instead, it doubled down on one of the most talked-about drivers in the garage.
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That decision says as much about Hocevar’s growing profile as anything he has accomplished on the racetrack this season.
NASCAR keeps investing in Carson Hocevar
The first season of “RISING” followed Hocevar, Rajah Caruth, and Jesse Love as NASCAR attempted to introduce fans to a new wave of talent.
According to NASCAR, the five-episode series generated more than 11 million views across NASCAR’s YouTube channel and FOX Sports platforms.
When NASCAR decided to bring the project back, Hocevar remained part of the plan.
That is significant.
At just 23 years old, the Spire Motorsports driver has become one of the sport’s most recognizable young personalities. Whether fans are cheering for him or criticizing his aggressive style, they are paying attention.
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Few drivers have generated more discussion throughout the first half of the 2026 season.
Hocevar has become a fixture in headlines, post-race interviews, and social media debates. Some weeks it is because of his speed. Other weeks it is because of controversy. Either way, he rarely fades into the background.
For a documentary series built around personalities, that’s valuable.
NASCAR is no longer simply showcasing a prospect.
It is showcasing a driver who has already become one of the sport’s biggest conversation starters.
What ‘RISING’ says about NASCAR’s future
The second season will feature three drivers at very different stages of their careers.
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Zilisch remains one of the most highly regarded young prospects in motorsports and is widely viewed as a future Cup Series star. Queen has become one of the most popular personalities in the Truck Series garage after climbing through the grassroots racing ranks.
Hocevar sits somewhere in the middle.
He is no longer an unknown prospect, but he is still building his Cup Series résumé.
That combination may be exactly why NASCAR continues to invest in him.
The sport has increasingly leaned into behind-the-scenes storytelling through projects such as “NASCAR: Full Speed,” “NASCAR vs. Navy,” and now a second season of “RISING.” Those projects are designed to introduce fans to the personalities behind the helmets.
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Hocevar gives producers plenty to work with.
He is talented, outspoken, polarizing, ambitious, and unafraid to speak his mind. Those qualities tend to translate well on camera.
More importantly, they keep people watching.
The new season of “RISING” is scheduled to debut in August.
But before a single episode airs, NASCAR’s message already seems clear.
When it comes to the next generation of stars, Carson Hocevar remains one of the faces the sport wants fans to know.
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