Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar recently addressed his Michael McDowell Watkins Glen clash during an interview with NBC Sports. The two teammates engaged in multiple on-track battles near the race’s end at Watkins Glen International, resulting in repeated contact as they competed fiercely.
Hocevar qualified eighth for the 90-lap Go Bowling race driving the #77 Chevy Camaro ZL1, posting a best lap time of 72.20 seconds and a top speed of 122.16 mph. Meanwhile, McDowell, in the #71 Chevy, qualified just ahead in sixth position with a slightly faster lap at 72.18 seconds and a top speed of 122.19 mph.
Although both began strongly, their positions slipped throughout the race’s first stage, with McDowell finishing stage one in 12th place and Hocevar in 17th. The close racing escalated into a tense battle during the final laps, where Hocevar and McDowell ran side-by-side, exchanging contact multiple times.
Hocevar Reflects Calmly on the Final Lap Battle
After the race, Hocevar suggested that tensions settled by the time they left the track and indicated that cooling off without immediate discussion was for the best. He described the incident as a racing moment rather than anything seriously contentious.
“Maybe it’s best-case scenario that we’re both gone (from the shop this week). It didn’t seem that big of a deal to me. Either he made a mistake or misjudged and, obviously, turned me. Then we were just fighting for the last lap, the last corner. Felt that was plenty OK to do considering the contact. I could play defense for one corner to try to get the spot,” Hocevar said. (via NBC Sports)
In the end, McDowell finished the race one spot behind Hocevar, placing 19th with 18 points, while Hocevar secured 18th place and earned 19 points.
Austin Hill Comments on His Incident Involving Michael McDowell
During the same weekend at Watkins Glen International, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill was involved in a multi-car wreck in the Xfinity Series race, which also included Michael McDowell. Hill took responsibility for the crash and offered his perspective on the events that unfolded.
“I was trying to get by the 88 (Connor Zilisch) as quick as I could because the 88 was driving away from us and thought that we could maybe have a shot at racing with him and racing for the win there,” Hill explained. “I had a massive run off the Carousel. I kind of thought I was trying to catch (McDowell) off guard and get to his left side.”
“Just two guys going for it. Nothing malicious, as much as everybody wants to sit there and try to make it more than it is. It was just two guys racing it out,” Austin Hill added.
Michael McDowell’s Current Season Performance Overview
Michael McDowell currently sits 22nd in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings, holding 458 points after 24 starts this season. His record includes three top-ten finishes, two top-five finishes, and one pole position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. McDowell continues to be a competitive presence on the circuit despite recent on-track incidents.
The Michael McDowell Watkins Glen clash highlights the challenges that teammates can face competing at close quarters, especially during tight racing conditions late in the event. Hocevar’s measured response suggests that while contact and battles are inevitable, these moments may not lead to lasting tension. As the season advances, the dynamics between these drivers and others involved in intense races like those at Watkins Glen will influence team strategies and race outcomes moving forward.
