Carson Hocevar has never been one to hide behind a polished public relations facade, and NASCAR’s latest documentary series proves exactly that.
RISING, a five-part series dropping on YouTube nightly at 7 p.m. ET this week, offers an unprecedented look into the lives of three young drivers changing the face of stock car racing. Jesse Love and Rajah Caruth will also feature alongside Hocevar.
Is the New NASCAR Documentary About to Reveal the Real Carson Hocevar?
As the Cup Series driver among the trio, Hocevar takes center stage in what might be the most revealing look at his career yet.
For someone who already lives much of his life publicly through Twitch streams and constant interaction with fans at dirt tracks across the country, allowing cameras to follow his every move during the season felt like a natural extension of who he is.
“I think it’s healthy for a show to have the good, bad, and the ugly,” Hocevar explained during a recent teleconference. “Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, and when everything is PR or portrayed that way, the world can see through that pretty easily and feel like something is faked or whatever.”
That commitment to authenticity runs deep for the young driver who grew up idolizing racers who were accessible and genuine.
Hocevar remembers showing up to Berlin Raceway as a teenager in shorts, just wanting to race, while other young drivers arrived looking like “salesman” in buttoned-up shirts plastered with sponsors. He never wanted to play that part, and he still doesn’t.
The documentary doesn’t shy away from the difficult moments either. Hocevar admits there were times during filming when he wished the cameras weren’t rolling, particularly during the rougher stretches of the season.
But looking back, he’s grateful those moments were captured because they tell the complete story of what it takes to compete at NASCAR’s highest level.
This approach to storytelling aligns perfectly with NASCAR’s content evolution under John Dahl, who joined as Senior Vice President of Content in 2024.
Dahl, one of the original executive producers of ESPN’s acclaimed ’30 for 30′ series, has brought that same commitment to authentic storytelling to NASCAR through projects like Full Speed and the Earnhardt documentary.
“What we’re looking (to spotlight) is characters and people, drivers in this case, who are willing to open up and not just present a polished PR look at their lives,” Dahl said, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability and relatability in expanding NASCAR’s audience.
For Hocevar, participating in RISING represents more than just personal exposure. It’s about being the kind of driver that five-year-old Carson Hocevar would have cheered for, the kind who signs autographs in the stands at Xfinity races and shares his off-track adventures with fans.
He views it as his responsibility to help grow the sport that gave him everything.
“It would be a disservice to that kid and every kid like me if I shied away,” Hocevar reflected, speaking about the importance of staying connected to fans and remaining authentic both on camera and off.
As RISING hits YouTube this week, viewers will see exactly what makes Hocevar one of NASCAR’s most compelling young talents — not just his driving ability, but his willingness to be completely, unapologetically himself.