Austin Dillon openly criticized young driver Carson Hocevar after Hocevar crashed into the wall, triggering a large wreck that also eliminated Dillon and several others from the race. The incident occurred at Turn 10, where Hocevar lost control of his No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet and struck both the right and left walls, causing severe damage to his car’s suspension and spinning it sideways on the track.
Due to the position of Hocevar’s vehicle blocking the track, several drivers—including Brad Keselowski, Todd Gilliland, Daniel Suárez, Riley Herbst, and Will Brown—were unable to avoid the collision. This chain reaction forced a red flag to stop the race so officials could clear debris and remove the wrecked cars.
Dillon Expresses Frustration Over Hocevar’s Mistake
After the wreck, Dillon voiced his anger over the radio, as captured by reporter Jeff Gluck. He called Hocevar
“the biggest dumba** in the entire sport”
and accused him of taking out half the field with his crash at Turn 10.
“Austin Dillon on the radio right after wreck: ‘Carson Hocevar is THE biggest dumba** in the entire sport.’ ‘Everybody knows it, buddy.’ ‘He wiped out into 10 and just wiped out half the field.’” —Jeff Gluck, reporter
The damage sustained in the crash forced Dillon, Hocevar, Keselowski, Gilliland, and Brown to retire from the race. The wreck also ended Keselowski’s run of two consecutive top-10 finishes and dashed Hocevar’s hopes of advancing in the In-Season Challenge.
Reflection on Team Dynamics: Dillon’s Praise for Kyle Busch
In contrast to the tense incident with Hocevar, Austin Dillon spoke positively about his teammate Kyle Busch, highlighting his dedication and competitive spirit. Dillon commended Busch’s relentless work ethic and his commitment to helping the entire team reach victory lane.
“I feel like Kyle Busch gives you what you expect, which is that he’s a hard worker. He’s fiery. He wants the best for the cars. He wants to get to victory lane constantly and will push everyone to figure out how to make that happen, even himself on the track.” —Austin Dillon
“From that standpoint, you couldn’t ask for a more helpful teammate when it comes to his knowledge of the game and what he is providing from an informational standpoint.” —Austin Dillon
Dillon also praised Busch’s contributions during team meetings and debriefs, suggesting that his input helps improve the overall performance of the team both on and off the track.
Wreck’s Impact on the Race and Drivers’ Standings
The crash that involved Hocevar and Dillon was significant, disrupting the flow of the race and altering competitors’ opportunities. Hocevar’s error not only damaged his own chance to move forward in the In-Season Challenge but also affected several other drivers’ results through the pileup.
The red flag stoppage underscored the severity of the collision and the difficulties faced by drivers trying to navigate the blocked track. Such incidents add tension to the competition and emphasize the high stakes involved in NASCAR racing.
