NASCAR Driver Hocevar Fined $50K, Mandated Sensitivity Training After Mexico City Comment

NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar was fined $50,000 by his team Spire Motorsports after calling Mexico City a "shit hole" during a Twitch livestream prior to the Viva Mexico 250 race. The fine will be donated equally to three Mexican charities: Cruz Roja Mexicana, Un Kilo de Ayuda, and Fondo Unido México, and Hocevar must also complete cultural-sensitivity and bias-awareness training. Hocevar apologized for his remarks, explaining that he had formed a negative opinion based on hearsay before visiting the city and has since changed his view after experiencing the passionate local fans firsthand. Spire Motorsports emphasized that Hocevar's comments did not reflect the team's or NASCAR's values, which prioritize respect both on and off the track. The incident coincided with a difficult race weekend for Hocevar, who finished 34th and had an on-track incident with fellow driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hocevar's apology highlighted his embarrassment and commitment to learning from the situation, signaling a desire to move forward positively.