Latest news with #Hocevar
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Carson Hocevar leaks Rockingham Speedway return before it's official, gets a call from NASCAR
Carson Hocevar (Image Source: Getty) In a puzzling case of accidental comedy, NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar revealed he unknowingly let slip information about the return of Rockingham Speedway that had been, until then, under wraps at NASCAR headquarters, which then phoned him to talk about it. It started as a throwaway statement on a Twitch live stream and within 24 hours, blew up into news headlines and put Hocevar front and center. Carson Hocevar admits the leak and NASCAR isn't pleased Hocevar has had a reputation for being delightfully candid both on and off the track, and this time, it might have come back to bite him. He casually mentioned that Rockingham would be back on the NASCAR schedule during a live streaming session. Soon after, he posted on Instagram, 'I leaked Rockingham. ... I just picked something that I thought would be cool... I had no idea,' confirming the comment was unplanned. Truck Series Driver RELEASED Right Before Playoffs | Carson Hocevar Confronted by Rival Crew Chief NASCAR promptly reached out to his team, reportedly asking, 'How do you know Rockingham's coming back?' The phone call proved that the governing body had not intended for the news to be out at that point in time. NASCAR has a dedicated place in history down at a track neutrally termed The Rock in the form of Rockingham Speedway. Cup races were held at the North Carolina 0.94-mile oval for nearly 40 years before it was removed from the schedule after 2004. The track became dormant aside from some sporadic use in the Truck Series in 2012 and 2013. It was quiet for years, but recent renovations and smart planning have led to it being placed back on center stage, with NASCAR planning to return to the facility with Xfinity and Truck Series events in 2025. Behind the scenes: How the Rock made its comeback Rockingham returned with a partnership between local Track Enterprises, the promoter of the venue, and Spire Motorsports- Hocevar's own Cup team. Mid-2024 agreements enable a return over Easter weekend in 2025. NASCAR had put an extensive marketing push behind the revival, including paint schemes used for promotional purposes, such as a special 'Race the Rock' car driven by Michael McDowell in No. 71 at Martinsville. Also Read: 'I am embarrassed by my comments': Carson Hocevar jokes about fleeing to Mexico after clash with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The schedule change would not be made official by NASCAR for another two and a half weeks, but Hocevar had piqued fans' interest and excitement early with his Twitter slip. It might have made NASCAR's communications staff cranky, but the leak seemed to validate what many fans had hoped anyway: The Rock returns. Hocevar is nothing if not unpredictable, and we saw once again in this true episode. Considered either a shot of refreshing truth or speaking too soon, his candor continues to reverberate in NASCAR. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Carson Hocevar Addresses Josh Berry Spinning Him Out at Sonoma Raceway
Carson Hocevar has caused a few wrecks and spins in his second full season in the NASCAR Cup Series, angering fellow drivers and putting a target on his back. While he expected to eventually be on the receiving end, he didn't see the incident with Josh Berry coming. A day after being taken out by Berry at Sonoma Raceway, Hocevar reacted during his Twitch stream on Monday night, responding to the incident that cost him a strong finish in the Toyota/Save Mart 350. 'Why did I get dumped yesterday? I don't know, I didn't do anything. I was just like, 'Man, of all people to wreck me. Thought it would be somebody like, I had it coming. I don't know what I did. It's just like, 'Well, s***.' And through strategy, we get to fifth and then I wreck. It's just like, 'Ah, whatever.' But it's just racing, man. Just racing. It is what it is. I like full-contact sport. So, it's just like. Well f*** yeah, man. Let's get it on. That's what I've been dying for. I've been giving some and I get some, so it's like, 'C'mon, let's go.' I don't why it was that corner or what I did.' Carson Hocevar on his incident with Josh Berry (H/T Steven Taranto) Related: Carson Hocevar Reveals Odd Approach to Friendship with Drivers Carson Hocevar stats ( 373 points, 4 top 10s, 2 top 5s, 1 pole, 5 DNFs, 72 laps led, 23.0 average finishing position in 20 races Advertisement On the verge of a top-10 finish with fewer than three laps to go, Berry made contact with Hocevar and spun him around. It allowed most of the field to get by the No. 77, dropping him outside the top 30. He finished the day in 32nd place. Related: NASCAR standings, see where Carson Hocevar sits in playoff picture As a result, Hocevar finished the day with just five points instead of racking up 25 or more points, with only six races left in the regular season. The lost points mean that, rather than being less than 70 points behind Bubba Wallace, Hocevar is now 96 points back of the final playoff spot and even further behind Alex Bowman and Chris Buescher. Advertisement To his credit, Hocevar fully accepts that his aggressive driving style invites situations like this—something other drivers have said he must acknowledge if he's not going to change how he races. Ironically, his reaction to Berry spinning him is likely similar to how some of his peers felt when they were taken out by Hocevar. Related Headlines
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Carson Hocevar reveals odd approach to friendships with NASCAR drivers
NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar has created plenty of issues on the track this season with fellow drivers, including Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Ryan Blaney and Austin Dillon. That approach might be a reflection of how he views being friends with his fellow drivers. On the latest episode of the Dale Jr Download, Hocevar told Dale Earnhardt Jr. that he doesn't have a single friend in any of the three NASCAR series, and he has only hung out with other drivers once off the track. 'Not anyone in the industry….Nope, none…I've only hung out one time with any other driver, it was SVG and Bubba at his property, one time. Carson Hocevar on if he has any friends at the NASCAR level Related: NASCAR standings, see where Carson Hocevar sits Carson Hocevar stats ( 368 points, 4 top 10s, 2 top 5s, 1 pole, 5 DNFs, 72 laps led, 22.526 average finishing position in 19 races Advertisement Hocevar was honest about 'not really talking to anybody' and rarely interacting with others, even when he's at the track. He doesn't go out, he doesn't drink, and he rarely interacts with fellow drivers on the entry stage. While it could be argued that the 22-year-old has plenty of time to create friendships at the Truck Series level, Hocevar stated that he really didn't have any friendships in the Truck Series, nor when he was racing short track. Instead, his friend group is comprised of his iRacing buddies. Related: NASCAR predictions for final races, including a Carson Hocevar win He does, however, have a very close relationship with his friends from iRacing and is building a property where they can all hang out more regularly. Outside of that, though, making friendships in the Cup Series doesn't seem likely to happen anytime soon. Advertisement It's certainly the kind of approach that some fans will love, with Hocevar's passion for racing and his hard-line approach to having no friends on the track reflecting his style of driving. However, other drivers will likely see it as another reason why he drives overaggressively, at times not treating other drivers with the respect that might come from good relationships. Related: NASCAR schedule 2025 While it might be a controversial approach among his peers and will likely lead to further confrontations, Hocevar seems perfectly suited to play the role of the heel that makes NASCAR more interesting. It will also make him the driver that fans either love or love to hate. Related Headlines
Newsweek
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Carson Hocevar Expects Retaliation From Stenhouse Jr. After NASCAR Clashes
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar won't be surprised if Ricky Stenhouse Jr. takes revenge for the incidents he caused at Nashville and Mexico City. The contact in Mexico prompted a strong reaction from Stenhouse Jr., who walked up to Hocevar and threatened that he would see him in the USA. Hocevar's move into Stenhouse Jr. in Nashville triggered tensions between the two drivers, as the latter lost several positions in the Cup Series race, while Hocevar finished second. What escalated the rivalry further was Hocevar making contact with Stenhouse Jr. for the second time in Mexico. This made Stenhouse Jr. furious. Newsweek Sports reported the comments made by the Hyak Motorsports driver to Hocevar after the race. He said: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #7 Delaware Life Chevrolet, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series MillerTech Battery 200 at Pocono Raceway on June 20, 2025 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Carson Hocevar, driver of the #7 Delaware Life Chevrolet, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series MillerTech Battery 200 at Pocono Raceway on June 20, 2025 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania."I'm going to beat your a**. You're a lap down. You got nothing to do. Why did you run right into me? Second time." He added before walking away: "I'm going to beat your a** when we get back to the States." Jeff Gluck of The Athletic reported on X that Hocevar is aware of an incoming payback. He wrote: "Carson Hocevar says he knows payback is coming from Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and he knows it's fair. He says the scorecard is 2-0, he's been a fan for a long time and he knows how this all works -- whether that's tomorrow or six months from now." Quoting Hocevar, he added: "You live in the world you make for yourself, and this is the world I've made." Carson Hocevar says he knows payback is coming from Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and he knows it's fair. He says the scorecard is 2-0, he's been a fan for a long time and he knows how this all works -- whether that's tomorrow or six months from now. "You live in the world you make for… — Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) June 21, 2025 Stenhouse Jr. acknowledged that he had calmed down after the Mexico incident but admitted to being frustrated. Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, he said: "I've calmed down a little bit. My wife talks me off the ledge sometimes. She does a good job of that. But it doesn't change the fact that you get spun out for no reason. Felt like it cost us at least seven spots. We didn't wreck like at Nashville, but we put ourselves in a spot. We got spun a couple times in that race. And just kept trying to fight back and get our track position. Felt like on that long run there at the end - there was still three or four spots right there in front of us that we could get and we ended up giving up another four or five spots. "Just frustrating, obviously, when you got someone a lap down that had ran into you a couple weeks before that. Our talk after Nashville - he said, 'Hey, I'm going to run you a lot different,' which hey, at Mexico City, he waved me by. I was like, 'Alright, things are looking up.' And then, he missed his marks and came from pretty far back and ran into us. Again, I know he wasn't racing us. But it's really frustrating for my team and our partners and myself to get spun at a stage like that where there was nothing to be raced for."
Newsweek
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Carson Hocevar Opens Up On $50K NASCAR Fine Over Mexico Remarks
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar has revealed what prompted him to make a controversial comment about Mexico City on a live stream that led his team, Spire Motorsports, to hand him a $50,000 fine. This comes after Newsweek Sports reported his statement on X, where he shared his regret for his comment. Hocevar came under fire after the race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez after he called Mexico City a "s**t hole" on a Twitch live stream. Following the action taken by his team, Hocevar has revealed that the comment did not reflect his own opinion but was reflective of what he had heard. Acknowledging his mistake of not having done his homework, the 22-year-old driver spoke to Cup Scene during the pre-race presser at Pocono Raceway. He said: "The issue wasn't for the team having their kind of frustrations, not that I'm giving my opinion and putting it out there. It's just the fact that, you know, my opinion wasn't my opinion. It was just based off everybody else, you know, that I've heard or seen, right? I didn't go do my own homework and voice my own opinion. Carson Hocevar, driver of the #7 Delaware Life Chevrolet, walks the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series MillerTech Battery 200 at Pocono Raceway on June 20, 2025 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Carson Hocevar, driver of the #7 Delaware Life Chevrolet, walks the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series MillerTech Battery 200 at Pocono Raceway on June 20, 2025 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania."I didn't give it a shot, you know? I didn't give it a chance - I didn't go walk around, I didn't go see. And when I did, you know, hindsight's 20/20. Then I had my own opinion, but I had already put it out there. "I think that was the biggest thing. I wasn't doing what I pride myself on—having my own opinion, putting it out there, and being me. I just didn't give it a fair shot. That's where it all stems from." Newsweek Sports reported a statement posted by Spire Motorsports on X, announcing the action against Hocevar for his comment. It stated: "After a thorough internal review of Carson Hocevar's recent livestream remarks about Mexico City, and in close consultation with NASCAR, Spire Motorsports is issuing the following disciplinary measures: "A $50,000 fine, which will be donated in equal portions to three organizations that serve Mexican communities: - Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross) - providing humanitarian and medical relief across Mexico. - Un Kilo de Ayuda - a nonprofit combating childhood malnutrition and supporting early-childhood development in rural communities. - Fondo Unido México (United Way Mexico) - funding local NGOs that improve education, health, and housing in 22 Mexican states. "Mandatory cultural-sensitivity and bias-awareness training to be completed by Carson Hocevar. "These actions are consistent with Spire Motorsports' core value of RESPECT, which is something we proudly display on every race car, team uniform, trackside hauler, and digital channel. Respect is not a slogan. It is a daily expectation that we 'walk the walk' in how we speak, compete, and serve the communities that welcome our sport. "Carson Hocevar's recent comments made during the livestream fell short of that standard. They did not represent the views of Spire Motorsports, our partners, or NASCAR. He has acknowledged his mistake publicly, and his prompt, sincere apology demonstrated personal accountability. We now take this additional step to underscore that words carry weight, and respect must be lived out loud. "Spire Motorsports has informed NASCAR of these penalties, and NASCAR has confirmed that our team-imposed discipline satisfies the sanctioning body's requirements. Together we remain committed to showcasing NASCAR's global growth, celebrating the passionate Mexican fanbase we experienced firsthand last weekend, and ensuring every member of our organization treats hosts, competitors, and communities with dignity. "We look forward to turning the page by racing hard, representing our partners, and living our values on and off the track."
