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Kenny Wallace Reacts To Carson Hocevar’s First NASCAR Cup Series Win At Talladega: “A Star Is Born”

April 27, 2026  ·
  John Trent

Kenny Wallace shared his thoughts on Carson Hocevar winning his first NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday evening describing him as a “superstar.”

On the final lap of the race, Hocevar was in a neck and neck duel with Chris Buescher. As they were heading down the back stretch Buescher took the lead, but he chose not to head to the bottom and instead maintained his position in the top line. Unfortunately for him, as they exited turn four everyone started making moves. Buescher got squirrely after a push from Ricky Stenhouse Jr., which he did a whale of job of saving and keeping it straight. 

However, behind him they were four-wide with Zane Smith to the inside of Austin Dillon. Both of them were below Ryan Preece and Chase Elliott. Elliott was able to make a move to the middle while Preece got sideway after contact from Shan Van Gisbergern and Austin Dillon. Those three would end up wrecking and the momentum from the top line heavily deteriorated. Nevertheless, Buescher did attempt to use Elliott’s move to make a last moment challenge, but it was too little too late.

The bottom line with Alex Bowman, Smith, and Ross Chastain stayed in line behind Hocevar and pushed him to the victory and his first ever win. 

Following the win, Hocevar debuted a unique celebration, where he was able to sit on the door of the car facing the crowd and perform a victory lap. 

In the winner’s press conference, Hocevar shared, “It’s just unbelievable. [I’ve made] no secret, obviously, of being a Dale Jr. fan. Just watching him win so many races here. Obviously, feel like I’ve put a lot of emphasis on the super speedways. Ever since the 500 I felt like we were going to have a shot at this one. We had a shot at both of these last year. Felt like I was not owed, but I’ve had a lot get taken away. I feel like from out of my control that some point the racing gods were going to give me a little bit something. … I was so confident in our group.”

As for his celebration, Hocevar shared, “It wasn’t clean by any means. It took me awhile. I don’t know if the TV saw it, but I felt like I was really close to the inside wall and I did not have that steering wheel on. So, I was panicking for a second. But I’ve dreamt about that in the offseason. I just wanted to have something that was meaningful for me.”

“Obviously, being a Jr. fan I remember that iconic clip from — I think it was 2014 when he won the 500. I was there, but I remember he was inside the car, went helmet off and enjoying the fans going backwards. But the fans, they don’t really get to know if they hear him or see him and everything. So I had thought of — I  have really long legs. I wonder if I can hit the throttle and sit on the door and ride and just kind see everybody. I just wanted them got as loud as possible, and I felt like they would if they could see me seeing them. Ultimately, I just wanted to make sure I soaked every bit of it in. I think I could tell you what everybody was wearing, where every seat was, where every 77 shirt was. I think I could have pointed it all out to you because I remember it so clearly now. That means more than anything else to me is just that none of this has been a blur.”

Wallace reacted to the win during his Coffee with Kenny segment on X, “A star is born. There was a star in the making. We knew he would be a star: Carson Hocevar. Hurricane Hocevar.”

“I’ve always said that we were lacking drivers that have charisma. And I had some people respond to me, ‘Oh there’s drivers out there. Look at this guy. He talks.’ There’s a big difference between talking and entertaining. Years ago we had entertainers. We had Rusty and Earnhardt throwing water bottles at each other. We had Darrell Waltrip creating sayings and clichés. You had characters. You had Sterling Marlin. He’d look at you and he’d say, ‘Well, alright, Sterling how’d you qualify?’ ‘Well, me and the old lady going to bathe in the lake.’ You could imitate drivers from the past. Carson Hocevar and Cleetus McFarland what they did over the weekend is one for the ages.”

After discussing Hocevar’s victory celebration, Wallace declared, “Hurricane is Dale Sr. entertainment through the [roof]. He’s tugging at our heartstrings. He’s tugging our heartstrings. He’s got the #3 Sr. pickup truck. He’s sitting outside of his racecar waving to the fans like Earnhardt did at Richmond. He’s wearing the Earnhardt t-shirt. He’s got the big glasses. Earnhardt, Dale Sr. used to wear the Gargoyles. And last but not least he’s a little bit like Richard Petty. He’s wearing a cowboy hat. And, of course, that’s all part of the Chili’s promo. Ladies, and gentleman, just what the doctor ordered.”

“Hurricane Hocevar is the real deal. This is the beginning of a new era in NASCAR. You watch,” he added. “Hurricane Hocevar is a superstar. This will go through the roof. This will bring the fans back, more than they are now. … This was the biggest week in 25 years in NASCAR.”

NEXT: Ryan Blaney Shares What He Saw During The Huge Wreck That Ended His Day At Talladega

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Author: John Trent