Carson Hocevar, the 22-year-old rising talent from Spire Motorsports, became the focal point of a heated incident during the closing laps of the Toyota SaveMart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. After a late-race contact with Josh Berry’s No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet spun off Turn 1, ending his race prematurely. The incident quickly sparked debate as many viewed Berry’s move as deliberate, despite the veteran driver’s denial.
Following the crash, Berry reached out to Hocevar seeking a conversation, but the younger driver chose not to respond. With the next race approaching at Dover Motor Speedway, Hocevar has now explained his reasoning for ignoring Berry’s attempt at making amends, revealing ongoing frustrations that stem from the incident.
Hocevar Expresses Discomfort Over Post-Race Apology Rituals
The Sonoma contact forced Hocevar into a disappointing 32nd-place finish, while Berry managed to secure 13th place. Speaking ahead of the Dover event, Hocevar reflected calmly on the racing incident and the aftermath. He acknowledged the intensity inherent to the sport, saying,
“It’s just racing, I mean, sometimes you know stuff happens. We’re all on the limit of everything of all people, right? I’m on the limit of everything. So, yeah, it doesn’t bother me,”
referring to the crash and Berry’s offer to reach out afterward.
However, Hocevar was clear about his discomfort with the formal post-race calls and apologies that have become routine, stating,
Image of: Carson Hocevar
“I don’t really like the whole ‘have to call’ and do that and have to apologize on Monday, say whatever, right? Because, I mean, even if you do it intentionally or not, you’re never going to say that to the person.”
He further described this ritual as disingenuous, describing it as a “pony show” that felt unnatural to him, especially since he had never experienced being on the receiving end before. Hocevar concluded,
“So, it just kind of just becomes a pony show a little bit. So, you know, if I don’t like it … it’s a little weird for me. I’ve never been on this side of it, but yeah. I’m just kind of just going through the actions of it.”
Josh Berry Shares His Perspective on the Sonoma Incident
During the official pre-racepresser at Dover Motor Speedway, Josh Berry also addressed the collision, offering his explanation of how events unfolded. He pointed to the congestion in the late restart, noting,
“The No. 43 (Erik Jones) was a restart at turn seven. Obviously, we’re all jammed up into each other. The No. 4 (Noah Gragson) car was on my right and kind of clipped me, and we just all got bottlenecked up and he got turned around.”
Berry’s account suggests that the crash was a byproduct of tight racing and limited space rather than a deliberate act. Despite his attempt to mend fences with Hocevar, the exchanges have yet to fully calm the tensions that remain between the two drivers.
Uncertain Future as Tensions Remain Ahead of Dover
Though both drivers seem prepared to move past the Sonoma controversy as they head into the upcoming race at Dover Motor Speedway, the conflict has injected an anxious atmosphere across the paddock. Hocevar’s candid remarks reveal a discomfort not only with the incident but also with the customary ways drivers handle apologies in such heated moments. This discord shines a light on the competitive pressure and personal pride that shape NASCAR’s intense rivalries.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on how these two drivers navigate their evolving relationship on the track, and whether this clash will fuel future racing battles. The Carson Hocevar Sonoma clash remains a vivid example of the challenges faced by young drivers balancing respect and aggression under the spotlight of professional competition.
