Carson Hocevar won his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway.
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Following his milestone victory, Hocevar innovated a unique, never-before-seen celebration.
After winning the Jack's Link 500, the 6-foot-4 driver got out of his seat and sat on the side of the No. 77 car. From there, he was able to remove the steering wheel, drop the clutch, quickly reattach the wheel and reach the throttle, ultimately making a slow, grand victory lap with his No. 77 Chevrolet along the main straight.
With his helmet off and in full view, Hocevar soaked in the applause (and beer spray) of the NASCAR faithfuls in attendance.
"That's the coolest celebration I've ever seen," said NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell.
When discussing what inspired his novel celebration, Hocevar said that he wanted to acknowledge the fans and celebrate the moment with them.
"I just wanted them to get as loud as possible. I felt like they would if they could see me seeing them," Hocevar said. "Yeah, I mean, ultimately, I just wanted to make sure I soaked every bit of it in. I think I could tell you what everybody was wearing, where every seat was, where every 77 shirt was. I think I could have pointed it all out to you because I remember it so clearly right now. That means more than anything else to me, just that I know this has been a blur."
Hocevar Delivers All-Time NASCAR Celebration at Talladega
Over the years, there have been several iconic NASCAR celebrations.
Kyle Busch's bow and Carl Edwards' backflip are among the most memorable in stock-car history.
After his epic burnout at Talladega Superspeedway, Hocevar has seemingly delivered another unforgettable celebration that will live forever in NASCAR lore.
Hocevar, a 23-year-old Michigan native, led 19 of the final 37 laps in the 188-lap Jack's Link 500.
After three years as a full-time Cup Series competitor, Hocevar finally cashed in his first career win.
"I'm just so thankful," he said, the grandstand crowd roaring in approval. "This is the biggest dream I've ever thought of. Thank you, everybody. I couldn't have done it any better way. Hopefully, my grandfather is watching. My grandmother died last year, and I'm just so thankful I can give my grandfather a trophy now. Just unbelievable, I'm just so thankful. I knew we were going to win. I really did."
