40 stock car drivers will take the green flag Sunday in the Daytona 500, including one driver from West Michigan.
Portage native Carson Hocevar will be in the field for the first time, starting in the fifth row.
FOX 17 talked with Hocevar Friday about being on the fast track, literally, to NASCAR’s biggest stage.
Portage stock car driver starting 9th in Daytona 500
“I’ve dreamt about this race, you know, I played with diecast while watching at home, and I’ve been here as a fan, and thought what that must be like to be in this spot,” Hocevar said.
The 21-year-old says driving in the Daytona 500 is a dream come true. He got his start in stock car racing at just 12 years old winning at Berlin Raceway in Marne.
“I love Berlin, love going back there. It’s just crazy to think about the day I walked in to now — having so many fans cheer when I go back,” Hocevar said. “So many people that were still there, and either didn’t remember or wasn’t a fan, and didn’t like the fact that I was 12 or 13 years old — to now having just Berlin as a whole embrace myself in NASCAR and rooting me on.”