Carson Hocevar, the 22-year-old speed demon, has unapologetically landed in the crosshairs of criticism following his bold moves during the Ambetter’s Health 400 race. Making his mark in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series, the audacious young driver refuses to shy away from his aggressive approach, despite ruffling a few feathers along the way.
Hocevar, already known for his penchant for playing hardball with his peers, has carried his notorious reputation from his Craftsman Truck Series days into his Cup Series debut. His brazen attitude has been encapsulated in his own words: “I felt comfortable really being aggressive.”
The recent Ambetter’s Health 400 race turned out to be a headline grabber, not just for NASCAR’s controversial caution flags, but more so for Hocevar’s daring antics. The Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 driver caused quite a stir, yet he remains unrepentant.
Hocevar, the 2024 Rookie of the Year, has been on the receiving end of much criticism. He first locked horns with Richard Childress Racing driver Kyle Busch, inviting a tirade of expletives for his audacious moves. He then shocked spectators by nudging Ryan Blaney’s car with just 22 laps remaining, causing the No. 9 Ford to spin out. Hocevar didn’t even spare Ross Chastain, whom he considers a brother figure, overtaking him after a restart.
Despite being confronted by both Blaney and Chastain post-race, Hocevar remained defiant. He did, however, extend an apology, albeit not for his aggressive driving, but for blocking Kyle Larson on the finale lap. This apology was directed at Rick Hendrick and Chevrolet, as he explained in a recent interview. Hocevar stated, “I’m not going to apologize for having the shot to win a race… The apology that I did to Hendrick and Chevy was… I was apologizing more for the circumstances when the yellow came out. It just happened to work out that way, and it didn’t time out right.”
Rather than expressing remorse for his aggressive actions in Atlanta, Hocevar chose to revel in his runner-up finish, his best result to date. He shared: “I’ve enjoyed the moment of just being in second place…I think my guys have really enjoyed it…My world has been a positive.”
Hocevar’s antics have not gone entirely unsupported. Christopher Bell, who secured a win thanks to Hocevar joining the fight, has openly expressed his support: “He’s (Hocevar) been around enough now that you know he’s going to be the aggressor. If there’s a hole, he’s going to take it. If there’s not a hole, he’s going to make one.”
The young driver has also earned the approval of Spire Motorsports co-owner and CEO Jeff Dickerson, who was reportedly pleased with Hocevar’s performance.
As Hocevar prepares for the upcoming race in COTA, he has made it abundantly clear that he won’t be backing down from his aggressive style anytime soon. This could be a cause for concern for other drivers, as Hocevar has previously been fined a hefty $50,000 for intentionally wrecking Harrison Burton in Nashville.
As he shifts gears from Atlanta’s hybrid track to the road course at Circuit of the Americas, Hocevar remains focused, aiming to keep his No. 77 Chevy in the lead. He admits that while he’ll still be aggressive at times, patience can also play a key role at COTA.
While Hocevar nonchalantly brushes off criticism, his competitors may need to brace themselves for more of his hard-hitting moves on the racetrack. One thing is clear – Carson Hocevar isn’t about to back down from his aggressive tendencies.
