Carson Hocevar and Christopher Bell seem to have resolved tensions following their collision last Sunday at the Darlington race, which damaged Bell’s Joe Gibbs Toyota and caused him to finish 29th. As they prepare for the next event at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis, both drivers and their crews appear to have moved past the incident.
Communication Between Crew Chiefs Helps Ease Tensions
During Saturday’s media session, Hocevar explained that the crew chiefs held discussions to clear the air. He said,
“Yeah, my crew chief (Luke Lambert) and (Bell’s crew chief) Adam Stevens talked and they were all good,”
emphasizing that emotions ran high during the Darlington event but the leadership from both sides helped them reconcile. Hocevar added that drivers often have limited visibility on pit road, saying,
“
It’s more on the crew chiefs from that aspect to guide us in and out. So they had that conversation and I think they’re plenty good moving forward.
”
Review of Incident and Race Outcomes at Darlington
While Bell was forced to the rear with damaged equipment, finishing near the back, Hocevar managed to continue racing and secured ninth place. Following the race, Bell expressed frustration, stating,
“The No. 77 just didn’t yield. He didn’t give way. I would say that it’s our responsibility not to run into him if he’s racing for position. But the fact that he was the one who brought the yellow out… The only reason that we had contact was because he was so far behind the field, catching up. That’s very frustrating.”
Hocevar defended his position, admitting the challenges of monitoring multiple cars, saying,
“I think it’s just hard to watch everything. Sometimes you’ve got to pick a car to watch.”
Starting Positions Reflect Recent Performances
For the upcoming race at Gateway, Bell will start in the eighth position, reflecting a stronger qualifying effort. In contrast, Hocevar struggled during qualifying on Saturday, earning the 27th spot on the grid. The change in starting positions highlights the variance in their recent race performances and could influence how the two drivers approach Sunday’s competition.
