Carson Hocevar trades his fiery costume for haute couture at the 2026 Met Gala

Watkins Glen International (Watkins Glen, NY) — Carson Hocevar didn’t spend much time in a dapper gray suit Monday night, but it was certainly a little new look for someone who performs best in a fire suit. How the hell did Hocevar, 23, get invited to the 2026 Met Gala? “They called NASCAR and asked me,” Hocevar told me Friday after Truck Series qualifying at Watkins Glen. “They looked [me win] Talladega and I had to see the Chile costume and thought I was fashionable seeing how crazy our costumes were and invited me. “It was a great time.” It’s one thing to ask someone to go, but once you’ve asked, how can they put together a smart suit in such a short time? Enter Cassidy Towriss, the Cadillac F1 team’s chief brand advisor who is married to Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports, the parent company of Spire (the team Hocevar drives for in the NASCAR Cup Series). He wore a Christian Dior suit. “She knew exactly who to put me in touch with,” Hocevar said. “I went to Texas for the race [last weekend] and I went to get installed and got everything back. She was a lifesaver in this whole transaction.” Hocevar said they had many options for the suit. “Luckily my favorite was gray and that was the first one. [I tried on]. And I didn’t want to say, “I like the first one” because they’ll think I just don’t want to try anymore. …They all liked the first one. “They handled everything. I was like, ‘I don’t have any preconceptions, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. Just take care of me.’ Has Hocevar, who is certainly a free spirit and could be considered a bit clumsy, ever wondered if he could show up in turnout gear? “That would be funny,” Hocevar said. “I would have been a lot more comfortable if I had just had a sponsor cap.” Hocevar noted on E! telecast that he would love to meet Sabrina Carpenter. This is not the case, but he said he has met many celebrities. He wouldn’t mention a favorite. “It was shocking how many people knew about NASCAR and knew me,” he said. “I met a lot of people. It was just an opportunity and an experience that I never thought I would get. It’s a totally different universe and world than what I’m used to.” Having seen her followers jumping on social media certainly doesn’t hurt either. But perhaps impressing one of her biggest fans marked her biggest achievement of going to the gala. Hocevar said. “The only improvement might be a Hallmark Christmas special. “If I was on that, it might top the Met Gala. But she was super excited.”