Austin Cindric and Carson Hocevar collided during the final road course race at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Roval, severely damaging Cindric’s car and pushing him to the rear of the field. The incident occurred on lap 33 and has significant implications for Cindric, who is fighting to stay alive in the NASCAR playoffs.
Details of the Collision Between Cindric and Hocevar at Charlotte
The contact took place when Carson Hocevar, driving the #77 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports, locked up his brakes approaching turn 16. This misstep caused his car to shoot directly into Austin Cindric’s #2 Ford Mustang, who was already negotiating the corner alongside Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The impact was severe enough to break a rear toe link on Cindric’s car, forcing him to drop to the back of the pack. This crash dealt one of the hardest blows to Cindric’s race, not only by damaging his vehicle but also by endangering his playoff standing.
Heading into the race, Cindric was 12th in the standings, 48 points shy of the playoff cutline, making him one of four drivers—including Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick, and Bubba Wallace—in a precarious position. For Cindric, participation at Charlotte was a must-win scenario to continue his championship pursuit.
“Another look at the contact between the #2 and 77,”
NASCAR wrote.
Cindric’s Playoff Journey and Hocevar’s Season Context
Austin Cindric secured his playoff spot by winning at Talladega Superspeedway, where he outpaced Ryan Preece in a tight finish aided by a push from Kyle Larson along the bottom lane. Meanwhile, Carson Hocevar did not qualify for the playoffs this season, although he came close earlier during a race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. At Atlanta, Hocevar was involved in a dramatic three-wide battle with Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell before the caution flag ended the race and handed Bell the win.
Carson Hocevar Responds to Controversial Fine at Kansas
Before the Charlotte incident, Carson Hocevar was fined $50,000 for spinning his tires while safety crews were attending his car at Kansas Speedway—a breach classified by NASCAR as a behavioral infraction. Despite accepting the penalty, Hocevar clarified that his intention was simply to shift the car into neutral to assist the tow truck rather than to gain any unfair advantage.
In a pre-race conversation at Charlotte, he explained:
“Obviously, like, there is a tow truck in front of me not going anywhere. I was trying to go places earlier. You know, the tires are off the ground, and they just spin. But they judge off of actions in visibility, and not intent, right? So, like, I had tires spun black and white. Yeah, next time I might have them rock the car to throw me in neutral. That’s on me.”
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver
“I was not sitting there in third gear doing a burnout… really thinking about it, but you know, the tire spinning or knowing I respond to educational for me. It’s expensive too, but it’s education for our guys too.”
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver
“The video makes perfect sense. They don’t know everything […] They can’t know the plan and story of everything and judge everything by that. Sometimes, they just have to call it how they see it. I think that’s fair for everybody.”
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver
Aftermath and Race Results Impacting Playoff Contenders
Following the crash and the tricky racing conditions, Hocevar finished 29th after starting sixth. Meanwhile, Chase Elliott won the Kansas race, clinching his spot in the Round of 8. Other drivers advancing alongside him included Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Bubba Wallace. For Cindric, however, the Charlotte incident presents a critical setback in his playoff campaign.
The Charlotte collision highlights the pressure on drivers in the final stretch of the season, especially those on the playoff bubble. With his car damaged and playoff chances in jeopardy, Cindric will now need a strong recovery in upcoming races to remain competitive.
Considering Carson Hocevar’s near miss at the playoffs and his recent penalty, his season continues to be marked by high stakes and dramatic moments. The Charlotte incident adds another chapter to the intense battles unfolding in NASCAR as the postseason approaches its crucial rounds.
Another look at the contact between the Nos. 2 and 77. pic.twitter.com/VE627GL8rA
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 5, 2025
