Spire Motorsports has suspended Cup driver Carson Hocevar for this Sunday's NASCAR Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Justin Haley will replace Hocevar in the No. 77 Chevrolet.
Hocevar's suspension comes following an on-track incident with Austin Cindric during Sunday's Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. Data showed Hocevar brake-checking in front of Cindric's No. 2 Team Penske Ford multiple times during the race.
"A decision like this has a lot of variables and a cascading effect across an organization like ours," said Jeff Dickerson, co-owner of Spire Motorsports. "The easy thing would have been to leave this in NASCAR's hands and let them decide what any penalty should be. To us, however, this isn't about money or points. We believe in respect. Our integrity matters. This is the right decision for Spire Motorsports.
"Everyone here loves working with Carson, and we've enjoyed watching him thrive alongside our team. Sometimes the right decision for someone you care about hurts in the short term. The way Carson conducted himself at Martinsville doesn't meet the standard we set for our drivers, team members or employees, and there are consequences for that. That doesn't mean we don't love him and support him.
"Racing at the Cup level is a privilege, and it comes with an expected level of professionalism from everyone who represents Spire Motorsports. We'll go to Homestead united and compete as an organization. After that, we can get ready for Daytona in February with the right mindset to contend for a championship."
As a result of Hocevar brake-checking Cindric, the nose of Cindric's car was pushed in, resulting in a DNF and 36th-place result for Cindric.
"This is an embarrassing day for me," Hocevar posted on social media. "I let the people down that gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to drive a Cup car. I also let down my team, sponsors and fans. I crossed the line with my on-track actions and gave Jeff and Spire Motorsports no option but to put someone else in the [No.] 77 car this weekend at Homestead. I'll be rooting for the entire organization this weekend and look forward to coming back in 2027 as a better driver, competitor and teammate."