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Carson Hocevar Elaborates On Post-Race Conversations From Atlanta

February 26, 2025  ·
  John Trent

Carson Hocevar elaborated on his post-race conversations that he had with both Ryan Blaney and Ross Chastain following the NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta.

Hocevar ruffled both drivers feathers as well as Kyle Busch during the race. With Blaney, Hocevar made an ill-positioned push that sent Blaney spinning down on to the apron where he did an excellent job of saving the car and eventually salvaged a fourth place run.

With Chastain, Hocevar muscled him out of the way during the final restart in order to position himself behind Christopher Bell to give himself a chance at winning the race and beating both Bell and Kyle Larson.

Hocevar addressed both conversations following the race telling Fox, “I’ll just leave those to myself.  … I normally ride in the back and run last and try to get a good, decent finish. And for how bad we were at Daytona I was no ride in. There’s some stuff I got to learn and clean up a little bit, but I feel like we put ourselves in the perfect opportunity to try and win a race. I’ve never really had that opportunity before especially on a super speedway.”

Hocevar indicated to other members of the media on pit road after the race that he apologized to Blaney, “I apologized to him and he finished fourth so he was able to rebound and luckily it didn’t tear anybody else up. There’s a few things that I probably need to clean up on, but normally I’m riding 38th and trying to put myself in a decent spot to finish in the teens. It was the first time I’ve ever really been up front especially at a super speedway, pushing and doing everything. I felt like I did some things right, but obviously not everything right.”

In regards to Chastain, he said, “Honestly, it was really about the Triple Dipper at Chili’s, honestly. Obviously, that’s not true, but that’s between me and him to discuss. If anything maybe I’ll invite him to Chili’s.”

“Sometimes you agree and disagree [with] things,” he also added. “Ultimately, I felt like I made the decision that was to win the race and I think we’ll be able to continue to talk about because, obviously, we have each others phone numbers.”

As reported by NASCAR.com, Hocevar spoke to the media at the NASCAR Production Facility in Concord, North Carolina on Tuesday and said, “There’s no better school of guys to talk to, right? You know, they’ve had the same progression as me. Ross especially, right? Of, you know, kind of had the same progression in trucks, even, right? So we’ve, you know, had a really good relationship from that point, and that’s why our economy, conversation was a lot longer than I think Ryan’s because we have that deep relationship.”

“So, you know for sure, I apologize to (Blaney) for hitting him,” he reiterated. “There was no excuse for spinning anybody, intentional or not, and I wish I, you know, just made a different move and lifted just a little bit more and just didn’t see it panning out that way, obviously. But you know, there’s no better school to hear from them and want to have the same progression as them as they had when they were my age or at this point in their career.”

Hocevar added, “I had to be aggressive and make some drivers uncomfortable. But at the same time, besides (Blaney), I’m not sure who we 100% hit, other than just, you know, just filling really tight holes and pinch and aero-block and play offense and defense, right? And this car rewards being aggressive. I mean, obviously, we had a shot to win the race, and I was, I think, the most aggressive. So the end result means, you know, if you play aggressively and you have a really fast car, you can take advantage of being aggressive.”

The young driver also indicated he does not intend to change how he drives moving forward, “I’ve never been intimidated or scared, right? And I always felt like I belonged. And if I had speed, it would show, and it would come across, and everything takes time.”

Hocevar also told Carla Metts that the only conversations he had following Atlanta that were not positive were the ones with Blaney and Chastain.

“Everything from team and Hendrick Motorsports, they seem all good. Chevy all good. Ultimately, that’s what I care the most about. But ultimately, I saw a trophy and I saw an opportunity and I think everybody else saw that especially within our group of how close we were.”

What do you make of Hocevar’s comments following the race at Atlanta?

NEXT: NASCAR Explains Throwing Caution During Final Lap Of Atlanta Cup Race

Author: John Trent