Experienced NASCAR racer, Kyle Busch, has expressed his frustration over the aggressive antics of Carson Hocevar, the driver of the Spire Motorsport No. 71 car. From causing a commotion during the 2023 Craftsman Truck Series championship to stirring up trouble at the recent Cup Series race in Atlanta, Hocevar’s actions have consistently sparked controversy.
Kyle Busch has been known for his own fierce driving style during his prime, but he identifies a significant difference between his and Hocevar’s approach. Over two decades, Busch has honed his racing tactics under the invaluable guidance of seasoned veterans such as Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch. He believes that Hocevar’s untempered aggressive style may be due to a lack of similar guidance.
Recalling a particular incident that soured their relationship, Busch referred to a race at Michigan’s Kalamazoo track where a young Hocevar sideswiped him and carried on without an apology. This incident, along with several others, has led Busch to believe that Hocevar “hasn’t learned…one thing,” because he hasn’t been under the guidance of a mentor.
While Ross Chastain has taken on the role of mentor for Hocevar, Busch feels that it’s not enough. He cites Dale Earnhardt Jr. and himself as examples of seasoned veterans who have successfully guided younger drivers like Josh Berry and Christopher Bell. However, without an apology from Hocevar, Busch is unwilling to step into the mentorship role.
Hocevar’s aggressive behavior on the track is not unfamiliar. After his impressive second-place finish at Atlanta, rather than being met by the media, Hocevar was confronted by a line of drivers upset by his driving tactics. Among them were Ryan Blaney, whom Hocevar had bumped causing him to spin out, and mentor Ross Chastain, who had some advice to offer.
Kyle Busch is not alone in his frustration; several Cup Series drivers are fuming over Hocevar’s antics. However, former Xfinity Series veteran Landon Cassill views this as a recurring cycle in NASCAR history. He sees the conflict between veteran drivers and aggressive rookies as “a tale as old as time,” likening it to Brad Keselowski’s own aggressive driving style 15 years ago.
Embracing this aggressive mindset, Hocevar has made it clear that he’s in the sport to win races, not to make friends. Following his Rookie of the Year honors in 2024, Hocevar is ready to step up his game, regardless of his growing reputation as a villain on the grid.
The ongoing feud between Kyle Busch and Carson Hocevar presents two perspectives. While Busch feels justified in his anger, others view this as a generational conflict. The question remains, is Busch’s anger warranted, or is he simply an ‘old head’ struggling with the audacity of the next generation?
