It appears we live in a world in NASCAR, where drivers are nothing but hypocrites. Carson Hocevar has long been known as an aggressive driver. But that should be expected for the youngest driver in the NASCAR Cup Series. Hocevar has fought tooth and nail to make his name across the sport. The Portage, Michigan native has quickly caught the eye of some of NASCAR’s top drivers, but for the wrong reason.
He made a couple of Cup Champions mad during this past weekend’s race at Atlanta. That race also put him the closest he’s ever been to winning a race at the Sport’s top level. His runner-up finish was the best of his young career, and certainly is hinting at a win may be in his future. But to some of his fellow competitors, it appears he does too much rough stuff on the track.
Carson Hocevar was one of the drivers who did NASCAR's mid-week media availability. Hocevar on what it's been like since Sunday night:
"I'm not going to apologize for having a shot to win a race." pic.twitter.com/GoCsWleOeA
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) February 25, 2025
Why All the Hate for Carson Hocevar? He’s Just Like Every Other Young Driver
Why is this even a topic of discussion? Name me a driver that has been a little over-aggressive when they were young and coming up in the Cup Series. It’s the nature of this sport. Why does this have to be a problem every time? Carson’s just trying to put himself into the NASCAR Cup Series winner category. I mean you got some driver’s complaining that did similar stuff in their younger years.
"He's just a moron." Ryan Blaney is not happy with Carson Hocevar.
😳🏁 https://t.co/0IoweZ0Xts pic.twitter.com/F2KeRHexyb
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 23, 2025
I’m pretty sure Kyle Busch was hated for so long by most of the fans for doing similar things. I’m pretty sure he got on the nerves of his teammates at Hendrick Motorsports during his first four Cup seasons. So is Carson Hocevar any different than Busch? I see a lot of what Hocevar does on the track, and Busch is the first driver I think of.
Heck, didn’t Ross Chastain get on everybody’s nerves when he started bumping doors with the likes of Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson? Now look at him he’s won five Cup races to date. Heck Chastain went over to Hocevar following the Atlanta race, and it certainly looked like he was trying to give him some advice.
Again I’ll say this isn’t a new thing.
READ NEXT: NASCAR: Ross Chastain rides wall to Championship 4 spot
Aggressiveness Appears to Be Recipe for Success
You can go back throughout the 76-plus years of this sport, and find that being aggressive has resulted in success. Richard Petty doesn’t just win 200 races and seven championships without being tough and aggressive on the track. Dale Earnhardt wasn’t nicknamed “the intimidation” because he passed you without a bump. He was just rattling your cage.
Busch has two Cup titles, 60-plus wins, and even the defending Cup Champion Joey Logano. He’s always been aggressive, and he’s still that even to this day. At his age now, maybe he should ease back on some of the things he does primarily at the drafting tracks, but I digress, he didn’t get to his three titles without doing exactly what Carson Hocevar is doing right now.
.@CarsonHocevar is under no illusions. pic.twitter.com/D6eDaBHsha
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 25, 2025
Drivers have to be aggressive, you can’t do away with it. It’s natural in this sport. So for all the drivers moaning and groaning, grow up. Carson certainly said it best this week following the incidents on Sunday night. “We’re here to win races, not be a boy band and love each other and play on the playground together,” Hocevar said.
That’s what everyone on the track is trying to do, are drivers going to mess up yeah, it happens.
READ NEXT: Christopher Bell Wins Atlanta, Despite More Caution Controversy
Featured Image Credit: IMAGO, Icon Sportswire. 2/21/2025
