Carson Hocevar isn’t just in the Cup Series to make friends. The 18-year-old driver has made it clear that he’s here to compete and win races. And he proved just that during the Atlanta race earlier this season, where he secured a career-best second-place finish.
But his impressive performance on the track wasn’t the only thing that caught people’s attention. Hocevar’s post-race comments and reactions towards his fellow drivers sparked a heated debate in the NASCAR community.
After the race, Hocevar was asked about his battle with veteran driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and his response was anything but friendly. “I’m over him. I’m going to wreck his a**,” he said, leaving no room for interpretation.
This statement didn’t sit well with Stenhouse Jr., who responded by saying that he had been giving Hocevar room to race and that he had no idea why the young driver had such animosity towards him. But this wasn’t the first time Hocevar had a run-in with a veteran driver.
Earlier in the season, Hocevar had another controversial incident during the race at Talladega. This time, he was racing against Kyle Busch, who issued a warning to him during the race. “I’m going to wreck his a**,” Busch said over the radio. And while Hocevar went on to finish the race in 14th place, Busch’s warning showed that he wasn’t afraid to stand his ground against the young driver.
But Hocevar’s feuds with the veteran drivers didn’t end there. During the same race at Talladega, Ryan Blaney had a similar reaction towards the young driver, calling him out for his aggressive driving style. “He’s going to get himself wrecked if he keeps driving like that,” Blaney said.
Despite all the backlash and warnings from his fellow drivers, Hocevar remained unapologetic about his actions on the track. In fact, he even pinned all the blame on Stenhouse Jr. for their incident at Atlanta. “I don’t know what he’s upset about, but he’s the one who ran me down the track,” Hocevar said.
It’s clear that Hocevar isn’t afraid to speak his mind and stand his ground, even against the more experienced drivers in the Cup Series. And while some may see his actions as reckless and immature, others see it as a sign of his determination and fearlessness on the track.
At just 18 years old, Hocevar has already made a name for himself in the NASCAR community. He’s proven that he has the talent and skill to compete with the best in the business, and he’s not afraid to push the boundaries to do so.
But it’s important to remember that Hocevar is still a young and developing driver. He’s still learning and adapting to the high-pressure environment of the Cup Series, and it’s only natural for him to make mistakes and have run-ins with his fellow competitors.
Instead of criticizing and condemning him for his actions, we should be applauding Hocevar for his determination and passion for the sport. It’s this drive that will continue to push him forward and make him a force to be reckoned with on the track.
So let’s not focus on the beef and drama between Hocevar and his fellow drivers. Let’s focus on his talent and potential as a rising star in the Cup Series. And who knows, maybe one day we’ll see Hocevar in Victory Lane, celebrating his first Cup Series win and proving all his doubters wrong.
