After a wreck-filled race in the NASCAR Truck Series at Watkins Glen on Friday, Carson Hocevar posted an apologetic message on social media, expressing guilt by association for the numerous crashes. The event, held on the 2.45-mile road course, featured several wrecks that disrupted the competition and drew intense attention to driver conduct within the race.
Mission 176 Race Marked by Multiple Crashes and Restarts
Corey Heim secured his sixth Truck Series victory of the season after dominating the Mission 176 at Watkins Glen. However, the race was plagued by chaos during triple overtime restarts, producing nine caution flags and wrecks involving notable drivers such as Kyle Busch, Kaden Honeycutt, Tanner Gray, and Parker Kligerman. Observing the turmoil from afar, Hocevar shared on X (formerly Twitter):
“I am currently watching all these wrecks. so I apologize. I feel guilty by association. will do better moving forward,” wrote Carson Hocevar.
Hocevar’s Aggressive Driving Draws Criticism Throughout the Season
Known for his assertive driving style, Hocevar’s season has been marked by frequent on-track incidents that have sparked controversy. Earlier, at Atlanta, he bumped Kyle Busch and spun Ryan Blaney during a race where Hocevar finished second. His physical driving also caused Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to hit the wall in Nashville, highlighting a pattern of aggressive tactics that generate mixed reactions within the NASCAR community.
Recent Confrontations and Comments Amplify Tensions
At Iowa, Hocevar clashed with Zane Smith by ending Smith’s strong run with a collision, which Smith later described as a deliberate attempt to wreck him during post–race comments. Hocevar responded nonchalantly, stating:
“He took a swing at me nobody saw. Turned dead right and tried to wreck me at one point. Must be Billy Badass,” Carson Hocevar said in a post-race interview (via Frontstretch).
Hocevar finished eighth in that race, while Denny Hamlin, although clearing Hocevar of any ill intent, warned about Hocevar’s unapologetic attitude on his podcast, Actions Detrimental.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Addresses Hocevar’s Recklessness
Dale Earnhardt Jr. weighed in on Hocevar’s conduct during the Dale Jr. Download podcast, pointing to the driver’s numerous incidents and rough finishes in recent races. He stated:
“Overall, I think he needs to clean it up a little bit in terms of look at his results since Nashville: just a lot of incidents, a lot of contact, a lot of problems, a lot of rough finishes, bad finishes.”
This criticism came following the Nashville race where Hocevar collided with Stenhouse again, prompting further disapproval from the NASCAR community.
Attempts at Reconciliation and Controversial Comments in Mexico City
Hocevar made amends with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. after a productive conversation but tangled with him once more during an event in Mexico City. Additionally, Hocevar faced backlash for remarks made during a livestream, where he disparaged Mexico City’s conditions. Following this, Spire Motorsports fined Hocevar $50,000 and required him to complete cultural sensitivity and bias-awareness training. Hocevar later issued a public apology, explaining his doubts had been based on hearsay and saying his opinion improved after experiencing the city and meeting its fans firsthand.
Implications for Hocevar’s Career and NASCAR’s Future
Carson Hocevar’s combination of aggressive racing and contentious statements has placed him under closer scrutiny this season, making his recent apology after the Watkins Glen chaos a critical moment. How he adapts his driving style and public conduct moving forward could influence his standing with peers, sponsors, and fans in the Truck Series and beyond. With heightened attention from figures like Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr., the pressure is on Hocevar to balance competitiveness with sportsmanship in the upcoming races.
