Dale Earnhardt Jr., the NASCAR legend, anticipated the controversy brewing at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Before the dust even settled, he had his eyes on Carson Hocevar, the No. 77 driver. Earnhardt’s prediction, posted on social media, was spot on: “Just leave a camera on, @CarsonHocevar, and we will all be entertained today.” Hocevar, a 22-year-old audacious driver, didn’t merely ruffle feathers. Instead, he plowed through them, spinning Ryan Blaney, angering Ross Chastain, and provoking an incendiary response from Kyle Busch. Yet, amidst the turmoil, he emerged as the second-place finisher behind Christopher Bell.
Commencing at the 26th position, Hocevar didn’t settle. He clawed his way into the top 10, demonstrating the hunger of a driver with nothing to lose, thereby grabbing the limelight, both positive and negative. Post-race, Hocevar was met with the ire of some of the biggest names in NASCAR. The garage echoed with gossip, and fans were divided. Amid the cacophony, Earnhardt Jr. emerged as a voice of reason, defending Hocevar’s right to express his personality on the track. The NASCAR Hall of Famer highlighted the need for young, dynamic drivers like Hocevar in the sport.
Hocevar’s aggressive race strategy in Atlanta was clear: win at all costs. This approach didn’t sit well with everyone, particularly Kyle Busch, who vented his frustration over the radio: “Go tell the 77 he’s done the same move 10 times. I don’t care if I wreck the whole field. I’m over him.” Other drivers, including Ross Chastain and Ryan Blaney, echoed Busch’s sentiment.
Despite the prevailing discontent, Earnhardt Jr. saw things differently. On his podcast, The Dale Jr. Download, he admitted Hocevar’s errors but insisted NASCAR needs drivers with his personality. He drew parallels between Hocevar and Ross Chastain, who was once infamous for reckless driving before refining his style. Earnhardt Jr. stated, “The sport needs personalities. It needs things that stand out. It needs drivers that go against the norms… I think he actually is a good person. Now, when he drives a race car, he may get a little punky, a little bratty, a little, you know—but so does Logano and some other people.”
Hocevar is no stranger to controversy. In 2024, NASCAR penalized him for spinning Harrison Burton under the yellow flag, resulting in a hefty $50,000 fine and a 25 points penalty. Despite the backlash, Hocevar remained unfazed, asserting after the Atlanta race that he was here to win, not to make friends: “We’re here to win races, not be a boy band and love each other and play in the playground together,” he told FOX Sports.
While Earnhardt Jr. defended Hocevar’s spirit in the sport, other drivers weren’t as merciful. Kyle Busch’s radio outburst reflected his frustration, shared by Ryan Blaney and Ross Chastain, who confronted Hocevar post-race. Despite the criticisms, Hocevar has shown great promise in his early career, securing six top-10 finishes in his inaugural 36 races, with an average finish of 18.3.
Earnhardt Jr. believes seasoned drivers should guide Hocevar, stating, “The veterans need to get him in a headlock in the garage and say, ‘Look man, you’re great. You’ve got talent. But you need to clean this s*** up.’” Earnhardt Jr. sees potential for Hocevar to become a long-term star if he can balance aggression with smart racing. Contrarily, NASCAR veteran Mark Martin encourages Hocevar to continue his current approach.
Mark Martin, another Hall of Famer, stood in solidarity with Hocevar amidst the criticism. Known for his clean racing style, he encouraged Hocevar to stay true to his racing mantra. On social media, he shared a video clip urging Hocevar to ignore the naysayers and keep pushing.
This support comes at a critical time for Hocevar, who has received mixed reactions from fans and drivers post the Ambetter Health 400 race. Despite apologizing to Rick Hendrick and his team for a move that helped Christopher Bell overtake Kyle Larson for the win, Hocevar has garnered considerable support from NASCAR fans who view him as the sport’s future superstar. As he gears up for the COTA, Hocevar will need to evaluate his strategy and manage his emotions to maintain his momentum in the sport.
