Jeff Dickerson, co-owner of Spire Motorsports, spoke candidly about the collision involving his No. 77 driver, Carson Hocevar, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at Nashville Superspeedway on June 1. Describing the challenge of managing a young driver, Dickerson compared it to parenting, emphasizing guidance rather than control when mistakes happen.
During the Cracker Barrel 400, Stenhouse Jr. moved into Hocevar’s racing line early in the second stage, causing rear contact that spun Hocevar into the outside barrier. Despite pitting and briefly continuing on the lead lap, Stenhouse Jr. had to retire due to significant damage to his No. 47 Chevy. This marked his first Did Not Finish (DNF) of the season, while Hocevar capitalized by finishing second, tying his best career result.
In a podcast interview on Dirty Mo Media’s Door Bumper Clear, Dickerson shared how he addressed Hocevar post-race and his hopes for future driver conduct.
“Full transparency. Here’s what I said, man, you didn’t need to do that. You know you just didn’t need to do that. It wasn’t going to cost him anything to let Ricky back in line. I just wish he would have cut him a break…..it’s like they’re too young to know that it’s cool to be like ‘Man I f**ked that up’,” Dickerson said
“I want to teach Carson how it is, Quote Unquote. I’m not trying to change him….It’s just like being a parent. Sometimes your kid just wants to shut his hand in the car door to see if it hurts right. Sometimes you just got to let them,” he added.
Dickerson also expressed a desire to maintain a positive relationship with Stenhouse Jr. despite the incident, hoping it would not create lasting tension. Stenhouse Jr. himself spoke after the race, acknowledging the need to address what he described as Hocevar’s ‘overaggressive’ driving tactics.
Carson Hocevar Shares His Perspective on the Nashville Incident
Following the crash, Carson Hocevar reflected on the move that caused the collision with Stenhouse Jr., calling it a “common move” given his strong positioning on the track. After earning his second top-five finish of the season, Hocevar commented on the event in media statements.
“I feel like that was just a common move with how big of a run I had….. I’m sure he’ll want to talk about it. I’ll talk about it,” he said via Speedway Digest.
Hocevar acknowledged that his approach would often result in other drivers being pushed out but admitted he needed to review race footage for a clearer understanding. This Nashville event adds to a pattern of on-track incidents for Hocevar. Notably, at Atlanta Motor Speedway earlier this season, he spun Ryan Blaney with 27 laps left. Kyle Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, previously warned Hocevar about the risks of alienating competitors through aggressive behavior.
Despite such controversies, Hocevar’s performance has been steadily improving. He climbed five positions in the driver standings following Nashville and currently ranks 17th with 287 points, just above Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who sits 18th.
Implications of the Incident for Drivers and Upcoming Races
The collision between Carson Hocevar and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at Nashville highlights the ongoing tensions between young, ambitious drivers and experienced racers. Jeff Dickerson’s commentary underscores the delicate balance of mentoring rising talent while managing on-track expectations. Stenhouse Jr.’s first DNF this season could affect his momentum, while Hocevar’s strong result shows promise despite questions about his racecraft.
Moving forward, how these drivers address their on-track conflicts could shape relationships and performances in upcoming races. The candid exchanges between Dickerson, Hocevar, and Stenhouse Jr. suggest a willingness to confront issues directly, which may influence both team dynamics and competitive strategies as the season progresses.
