Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Escalates Nashville Clash to Hocevar's Team Owner

Newsweek

a day ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Ricky Stenhouse Jr. revealed on the Motor Stardom Show that he hasn't received a call from Carson Hocevar after the clash during the NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway.
Sunday's race saw Carson crash into Stenhouse Jr. from behind. The Hyak Motorsports driver then lost control and crashed into the wall, leading him to finish last in the race. Hocevar, meanwhile, finished the race in second place.
Stenhouse Jr. entered Nashville in 13th place in the standings. However, the incident has caused him to slip to 18th place, below the playoff line.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #47 NOS Energy Chevrolet, waits on the grid during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31, 2025 in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #47 NOS Energy Chevrolet, waits on the grid during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31, 2025 in Lebanon, Tennessee.Newsweek Sports reported Stenhouse Jr.'s comments after the race, who hinted at a payback in the future. He said:
"A lap or two before, he [Hocevar] tried to dive in there from about 10 car lengths back and then that time, I just opened my entry a little bit and he over-charged the corner and drilled us in the rear bumper.
"I'd say it's not out of the norm from him, but I definitely wasn't expecting that at that point of the race. It's just a bummer for us."
He added:
"Bummed our day ended like that. Definitely will have something to do about it at one point."
Two days after the incident, Stenhouse Jr. confirmed on the Motor Stardom Show that he hadn't been approached by Hocevar. He said:
"I've been in this sport a long time and if you make a mistake like that, you generally pick up the phone as quick as you can, especially if you feel bad about it. If you don't, you just roll on with it. No, I've not gotten a call from him.
"I've talked to his owner. Jeff Dickerson and I are super tight. I haven't gotten a call from him, so to my point, he doesn't really care about it which is fine."
No call yet from Carson Hocevar yet to Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Watch full episode now -> https://t.co/UooJDmackA#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/oW6bZlUhbN — RJ Starcevic (@RJStarcevic) June 4, 2025
Dickerson reacted to the incident on the Door Bumper Clear podcast. Expressing his disappointment, he said:
"Here's what I said. Man, you didn't need to do that. 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.
"I have a personal relationship with Ricky and so I don't want that to you know cloud it."
With no communication from Hocevar, it remains to be seen if Stenhouse Jr. confronts him on or off track this weekend at Michigan International Speedway.