Carson Hocevar strutted into Darlington Raceway knowing he’d stir up trouble. The 22-year-old has made a career out of being NASCAR’s lightning rod, and Sunday’s playoff opener proved he’s not changing anytime soon.
While most drivers would try to lay low after multiple feuds with Cup Series stars, Hocevar doubled down on his aggressive approach and walked away grinning with a ninth-place finishthat left half the garage furious.
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Top 10 Wrapped in Controversy — Inside Carson Hocevar’s Polarizing Darlington Run
Since stepping into the Cup Series full-time, Hocevar has habitually ruffled feathers with his aggressive, polarizing driving style. The criticism has been relentless from fellow competitors. 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney labeled him a “moron” at Atlanta, Ryan Preece warned him of impending consequences, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. vowed to “beat his a**,”and Austin Dillon flat-out branded him the “biggest dumba**” in the sport.
Despite all that backlash, the Spire Motorsports ace continues to attack every race like it’s his last. Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500was no exception, as he showed zero signs of backing down from his confrontational approach.
The fireworks started early when Hocevar locked horns with Chase Elliott, calling out the 2020 Cup Series championover the radio for his moves during their battle. That was just the opening act for what became a masterclass in controlled chaos.
However, it was the 22-year-old’s defiant stance afterward that astounded many. Following the 367-lapextravaganza, Hocevar wrote, “haha p9 after all that. rode the dente,” celebrating his ninth-place finishwith the kind of swagger that either wins fans or creates enemies.
haha p9 after all that. rode the dente.
— Carson Hocevar (@CarsonHocevar) September 1, 2025
The race was fever-pitched with playoff heavyweights contending for a decisive win and others trying to rack up one more career victory. On Lap 125, Hocevar went after Elliott for 15th place, sparking a heated back-and-forth battle that embodied the night’s chaos. The No. 77 drivershowed no hesitation, leaning on Elliott with a bold bump-and-run that left tire smoke trailing behind them.
The aggression didn’t stop there. On his next attempt to muscle past through Turns 1-2, Hocevar misjudged his move, clipping Chris Buescher and sending the RFK Racingdriver hard into the wall. That collision brought out another caution and showed just how thin the line is between aggressive racing and reckless driving.
Then came the moment that really set the garage buzzing. On Lap 152, Hocevar spun off the track, forcing NASCAR to issue the third caution of the evening.His team instructed him to get to pit road for repairs, but that’s when everything went sideways.
As Hocevar attempted to get into his pit box, he spun again and made contact with Bell’s No. 20 Toyota, damaging the right front of the JGRdriver’s car. The contact effectively ruined Bell’s day and his playoff chances, turning what should have been a routine pit stop into a pivotal moment that could haunt Bell for weeks.
The JGR crew scrambled to get the No. 20 car back on track, but Bell had to settle for a 29th-place finish while watching Hocevar secure a ninth-place finish, his seventh top 10 of the season.
