Carson Hocevar, a rising second-year driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, delivered his best career performance at Atlanta Motor Speedway, securing a runner-up finish. Driving for the smaller Spire Motorsports team, he came incredibly close to overtaking Christopher Bell for the win on the final lap.
However, Hocevar’s aggressive racing style frustrated several competitors, including some of the sport’s biggest names. Early in the race, he cut off two-time champion Kyle Busch, prompting an expletive-filled rant over Busch’s team radio. Later, an on-track incident with Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney resulted in Hocevar unintentionally spinning him out. An irritated Blaney immediately voiced his frustration over the radio, labeling Hocevar a “moron” along with other colorful language.
Hocevar Stands His Ground on Racing Approach
Following the race, Hocevar spoke with Blaney and Ross Chastain, the latter being a mentor figure for him. Although he admitted to making errors, he remained unapologetic about his aggressive driving tactics.
“I finished second. We’re here to win races, not hold hands like a boy band and play nice on the playground,” Hocevar remarked.
When asked about his post-race conversations with Blaney and Chastain, he humorously responded, “Oh, they just wanted to know what’s new on Chili’s triple-dipper menu, so we’re meeting up later to talk about it.”
Given that Chili’s is a major sponsor for Hocevar and Spire Motorsports, he continued the joke by sharing a picture of himself carrying a Chili’s takeout bag before boarding a jet home after the race, taking a lighthearted jab at Blaney and Busch.
A Talented Driver with Work to Do
Hocevar has demonstrated remarkable talent across multiple NASCAR divisions. However, in a sport where peer respect plays a crucial role in long-term success, he still has a lot to prove when it comes to earning the trust of fellow drivers.
