During a recent NASCAR event at Watkins Glen, Carson Hocevar found himself in a tense exchange with Brad Keselowski after qualifying. The disagreement arose when Hocevar believed Keselowski had blocked his qualifying lap, leading to frustration between the two drivers. The incident escalated as Keselowski, driving the No. 6 car for RFK Racing, left his vehicle and approached Hocevar’s No. 77 car to confront him directly, sparking a verbal altercation on the track.
Reflecting on the confrontation more than a week later, Hocevar expressed confusion over Keselowski’s reaction, pointing to the heightened emotions during qualifying as a key factor.
“Yeah, for me a lot of it, I didn’t really understand why he was so upset because we were upset at him,”
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver
Hocevar described the situation by saying he felt Keselowski had positioned himself poorly on the track and hindered his fast lap, but during the cooldown lap he chose to stay in line rather than swerve, allowing Keselowski to pass him safely.
“I just think it was, emotions were high, everybody didn’t know the full story potentially right? Just get down to your lap when you feel like somebody gets in your way.”
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver
Responses and perspectives following the confrontation
Asked about the clash a week later during a media session at Richmond, Keselowski stated he had moved past the incident without providing further details. He maintained that he had attempted to clear the way for Hocevar during qualifying, conflicting with the latter’s assertion that he was the one impeded.
Hocevar, meanwhile, declined to accept responsibility for the situation. He also pointed to the miscommunication possibly involving Keselowski’s spotter, suggesting better coordination could avoid such conflicts in the future.
“I was frustrated. Our group was frustrated and obviously he was frustrated with us,”
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver
Hocevar added that upon reviewing the incident, both teams likely realized that both drivers’ laps were adversely affected by the on-track positioning.
“We can clean it up going forward or maybe his spotter can make sure that he gives us a little bit more room and we can do the same moving forward.”
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR driver
Potential impact on ongoing NASCAR dynamics
The disagreement between these two competitors highlights the nerves and pressure drivers face during critical qualifying sessions, especially at challenging venues like Watkins Glen. While Keselowski appeared ready to put the incident behind him, Hocevar’s comments suggest lingering frustration with how the situation unfolded and how communication might be improved.
As NASCAR continues its competitive season, moments like this could influence relationships between drivers and teams. The focus now turns to how both Hocevar and Keselowski will manage on-track battles and off-track tensions moving forward, amid a sport known for its intense rivalries and high stakes.
