The Mexico City NASCAR Cup race, held three weeks ago, remains a hot topic due to the collision that caused Ricky Stenhouse Jr‘s spin, involving Carson Hocevar. This event was the second collision between the two drivers in a short span, intensifying their ongoing rivalry. Hocevar has since apologized for the Mexico incident, acknowledging his mistake while explaining the circumstances that led to the spin during a recent Dale Jr. Download podcast.
Hocevar described the moment when the spin occurred. He said he was trying to assist Stenhouse by pushing him down the straightaway since the cars were losing power due to the high elevation and long straights.
“So I saw him in front of me and he was kind of like pushing up and I was trying to help him,”
Hocevar said. However, approaching the corner, he made a critical error, braking too hard and locking up the tires, which led to the spin.
Hocevar’s Momentary Loss of Focus During the Crash
Explaining his mistake further, Hocevar admitted to “zoning out” in the heat of the moment. He was banging through gears and lost control without even attempting to steer the car.
“I just kind of zoned out. I was just banging gears. For a minute, my guys thought I passed out because my car just goes straight,”
he recalled. Despite this, Hocevar was fully conscious, watching Stenhouse as he spun, hoping he could recover without a worse crash.
He recounted his anxious feelings while observing the spin:
“I’m just literally watching him spin and I’m just like, ‘Please, for the love of God, save this thing. Even if you lose a spot, just save it,’”
he said. Hocevar’s car remained motionless on the track for a time, causing his team to suspect some medical emergency, but he was simply stunned by the mistake. In the end, Stenhouse was fortunate to keep racing, though he finished in 27th place, while Hocevar ended up 34th.
Previous Clash Two Weeks Earlier in Nashville
The tension between Hocevar and Stenhouse was not new. Just two weeks before Mexico City, they collided at Nashville’s Turn 3, ending Stenhouse’s race prematurely. Hocevar, only 22 years old and known for his aggressive driving style, explained his mindset during that incident. He intended to block Stenhouse from moving down low, aiming to take the inside line or at least challenge Stenhouse’s position.
Describing his actions, Hocevar said,
“I thought like there’s a car directly in front of him. I’d show my nose really early. He’s probably going to want clean air. He’s going to run the middle and I’m going to take that hole or I’m gonna at least make him go higher. And he didn’t. And I was just like, ‘No, you’re not coming down here. I got you.’”
He described it as an instinctive reaction, unwilling to give ground:
“That’s just kind of the instinct of just who I am, like when you start doing something, I’m just going to just take that last second of just like, ‘No, hold on. Like I’m coming in. I’m on my way.’”
In response, Stenhouse may have expected some leniency, but Hocevar was determined to race aggressively. He explained his thinking,
“I think he thought I was going to cut him a break and I was just like, ‘Well, why couldn’t I get one, too, like why can’t (we) race side by side in that corner?”
The collision ended Stenhouse’s day, placing him 39th in that race.
Future Races and Ongoing Rivalry
Since the Mexico City incident, the animosity between Hocevar and Stenhouse has somewhat subsided, as both drivers have discussed their conflicts in an effort to move past them. However, given their competitive nature and history, another confrontation seems plausible. Fans and analysts expect the rivalry to continue, potentially reigniting at the upcoming Sonoma Raceway event in California, where both will again battle on the NASCAR Cup circuit.
The aggressive driving styles of both competitors, combined with their past incidents, set the stage for a tense showdown that could further escalate the conflict or lead to another dramatic moment on the track. How either driver manages their rivalry in future races will be a significant storyline to watch this NASCAR season.
