Dale Earnhardt Jr. and TJ Majors analyzed the confrontation between Brad Keselowski and Carson Hocevar that took place during qualifying at Watkins Glen. On the Dale Jr. Download podcast, they discussed the tension after Keselowski confronted Hocevar, focusing on how the incident unfolded and why emotions ran high during qualifying.
TJ Majors, Keselowski’s spotter, revealed that Hocevar appeared to deliberately interfere with Keselowski’s qualifying attempt. Majors criticized Hocevar’s behavior, stating,
“I’ve never seen anybody get as much stuff as he’s tore up and people he’s pissed off over the last two years, or even more than that.”
Majors added that intentionally disrupting a competitor’s lap is unacceptable in his view.
Majors elaborated on the frustration Keselowski felt, noting,
“Him waiting for Brad and Brad getting so mad, I didn’t know Brad was mad. He never said anything on the radio or nothing. …That just shows you what type of person Carson is to me. You want to like him so bad, but then he goes and does stuff like this. He has made so many mistakes, and we made a conscious effort to get out of his way and make sure we didn’t mess him up.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. questioned Majors about why Keselowski was so angry and whether Hocevar felt similarly upset. Earnhardt confirmed Majors’ perspective by saying, You didn’t bother his lap.
Hocevar Responds to Keselowski’s Anger
Shortly before the race on Sunday, video footage of the incident between Keselowski and Hocevar was made public. Hocevar addressed the media on Wednesday, expressing confusion over Keselowski’s frustration towards him.
“I didn’t really understand why he was so upset because we were upset at him,”
Hocevar said, according to NASCAR.com. He explained,
“I think just emotions get high in qualifying. I felt like we started our lap, and he was kind of in the way, or just let us go in a really bad spot that I felt like it impeded our lap. As we’re doing our cool-down lap, I didn’t want to swerve out of his way or anything going down the backstretch, and I just stayed in line and had him go around me. I think everybody didn’t know the full story, potentially, right? You just get done with your lap, and you feel like somebody gets in your way. I was frustrated. Our group was frustrated, and then, obviously, he was frustrated with us.”
The exchange highlights the heightened tensions between drivers on the edge of qualifying for the NASCAR playoffs, with both Hocevar and Keselowski needing a win in the upcoming races to secure a playoff berth.
Playoff Stakes and Upcoming Race Details
Both Carson Hocevar and Brad Keselowski remain outside the current playoff lineup and face pressure to claim victory in one of the next two events to advance. The next NASCAR Cup Series race is scheduled for Saturday, August 16, at Richmond Raceway, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. This race will be crucial for both drivers as they seek to keep their championship hopes alive.
Implications of the Conflict and Next Steps
The clash between Keselowski and Hocevar reflects the intense rivalries and heightened emotions inherent in NASCAR qualifying sessions, especially as drivers battle for playoff positions late in the season. The incident has sparked debate about sportsmanship and the consequences of aggressive on-track behavior during critical moments.
With Keselowski’s and Hocevar’s playoff chances hanging in the balance, their actions at Richmond Raceway and beyond will be closely watched by fans and competitors. The coming races will likely test not only their driving skills but also how they manage rivalries they’ve developed over the course of the season.
