Carson Hocevar’s No. 77 car was left facing the wrong way on pit road following contact with Christopher Bell during the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. The collision occurred after Hocevar spun on Lap 152, which led NASCAR to trigger the race’s second caution. The Christopher Bell pit road incident has added to an already challenging weekend for Hocevar at Darlington.
Hocevar’s Continued Struggles at Darlington and On-Track Feuds
Darlington Raceway has proven difficult for the 22-year-old driver in recent races. Earlier in this event, Hocevar expressed his frustration after bumping into Chase Elliott, telling his crew on the radio:
I don’t care who he drives for.
—Matt Weaver, Motorsport
Hocevar’s aggressive approach has sparked tensions with other competitors throughout the 2025 season. Notably, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. confronted Hocevar on pit road following the Mexico City race, underscoring the increasing hostility that Hocevar’s driving style has attracted from fellow drivers.
Hocevar’s Resolve to Maintain His Racing Style Despite Challenges
Despite ongoing conflicts and setbacks, Hocevar has stated he has no intention of changing his aggressive approach anytime soon. In a July interview on Dale Jr. Download, he recounted learning from past rivalries, particularly with Ross Chastain:
I studied Ross when I was, because we were at Niece. My first time at Martinsville, I got on the front row, spun me out,
First corner. Just backed me right in the fence, got back up to fifth, spun me out again. And I left that race track saying, ‘I will never, I’m not going to be the f***ing guy that gets beat around. Especially when I have Ross in the shop, I’m like, ‘He just annihilates everybody. They never give it back to him. They don’t do anything.’
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
In the same interview, Hocevar acknowledged that much of his racing strategy happens instinctively:
Yeah, I mean, I mean, I’m 22 now, right? I’ve raced for a long time,
You’re instinctly – you know, when I race, I don’t, s**t, I don’t half the time, know what I’m doing. It’s just autopilot. You know, when I ran Chicago last week, we were qualifying and we qualified third, but we actually should have qualified a tenth off SVG. Actually, the only corner I remember and like thought of just like, I had a thought of how I’m going to approach this corner, I lost four and a half tenths. I completely f***ed it up.
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Hocevar’s Progress and Performance in the 2025 Season
This year marks Hocevar’s second full season competing in the NASCAR Cup Series, during which he has secured six top-10 finishes. He was also awarded the NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year title in 2024. Despite his ongoing aggressive style causing friction and incidents like the recent one with Christopher Bell, Hocevar continues to pursue his competitive edge on the track.
Broader Context of the Southern 500 and Racing Flickers
The Southern 500 at Darlington remains a focal event where rivalries and aggressive driving habits have played a significant role in shaping race outcomes, including Hocevar’s continued battles. The pit road incident involving Bell and Hocevar is likely to draw attention to driver conduct and safety protocols in the fast-paced Cup Series environment.
