Brad Keselowski confronted Carson Hocevar on pit road after the NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at Watkins Glen International on Saturday, following a contentious encounter between the two drivers. The dispute arose during qualifying when Keselowski believed Hocevar’s actions interfered with his lap, prompting the heated exchange.
During the session, Keselowski tried to avoid Hocevar on the track, but Hocevar apparently thought Keselowski had blocked him.
“On the track, I was just trying to get out of Carson’s way, but then Carson thought I had blocked him,”
Keselowski told TNT Sports.
As Keselowski was completing his qualifying lap, Hocevar slowed down in front of him, aggravating Keselowski. The frustrated veteran sprinted toward Hocevar once back on pit road to confront him directly. When asked if Hocevar understood the message Keselowski delivered, Keselowski replied,
“Well, probably not,”
then added,
“I’m over it. We race today.”
Ongoing Tensions Between Keselowski and Hocevar
The tension at Watkins Glen is just the latest episode in a string of incidents involving Carson Hocevar this season. Hocevar has accumulated several run-ins with fellow drivers across various tracks, making him a central figure in ongoing rivalries on the circuit.
Only days before Watkins Glen at Iowa Speedway, Hocevar caused a crash involving Zane Smith on Lap 229, which led to Smith’s crew chief, Ryan Bergenty, confronting Hocevar on pit road after the event. Despite the backlash, Hocevar appeared unfazed. He posted on Instagram featuring the Drake song IDGAF, expressing a defiant attitude with a message asking others to “please take a number.”
With Keselowski now joining the long list of drivers entangled with Hocevar, it remains uncertain if these clashes will affect their performance or sportsmanship in Sunday’s race on the road course.
Upcoming Race Could Intensify Rivalries
The race taking place at Watkins Glen on Sunday naturally adds pressure on both Keselowski and Hocevar to resolve or further escalate their dispute on track. Given Hocevar’s history of confrontations this season and Keselowski’s willingness to address conflicts head-on, spectators may witness more on-track battles or off-track exchanges.
For Hocevar, who seemingly embraces the battles, this could be a critical moment to either cool tensions or face mounting consequences. Meanwhile, Keselowski’s direct approach signals how seriously he views interference during qualifying and overall race conduct.
