Stenhouse Jr. Calls Hocevar’s Contact ‘Clearly Overaggressive’

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. left Nashville Superspeedway frustrated after an early exit in the Cracker Barrel 400. A bump from Carson Hocevar on lap 106 sent Stenhouse’s No. 47 Hyak Motorsports car into the outside wall, forcing a retirement from the race.

Despite efforts to make repairs, the damage was too severe and led to Stenhouse’s first DNF of the 2025 season. He finished last, taking the 39th spot and leaving the track disappointed with how the race turned out.

The contact happened just after Stage 2 began. Hocevar, driving the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, attempted a bold move entering Turn 3.

His aggressive approach sent Stenhouse spinning, and the incident became a central topic among fans and teams. Stenhouse spoke after being cleared at the infield care center, saying Hocevar had already tried a similar move twice before.

He felt the final attempt was “definitely overaggressive.” Hocevar would go on to finish second, tying his best result in the NASCAR Cup Series.

After the race, he gave his side of the story, explaining he thought he was close enough to justify the pass. Hocevar also said that he expected Stenhouse to move up and allow room, but admitted he almost spun himself while trying to back out of the situation.

While Hocevar described it as just part of racing, Stenhouse disagreed, noting that repeated “dive-bombs” are not acceptable in these close battles. It’s not the first time Stenhouse has dealt with on-track conflict.

In 2024, he was involved in an incident with Kyle Busch at the All-Star Race, which led to a heated exchange and a $75,000 penalty. This time, Stenhouse said he would speak with Hocevar about their Nashville run-in, but he was not willing to wait around after the checkered flag.

Hocevar responded that he was open to talking it out and believed it was just part of the competitive nature of racing near the playoff cut. This result had a notable effect on the season standings.

Hocevar moved up four spots in the playoff hunt, now sitting four points below the elimination line. Meanwhile, Stenhouse dropped out of the top 16, now six points behind the final playoff position and losing 16 points to the line.

Hocevar pointed out that the push for playoff points requires drivers to fight harder for every opportunity, especially as the regular season nears its conclusion. Both drivers know the pressure increases as the playoffs get closer.

Every spot on track can mean the difference between advancing or missing out, which can lead to more aggressive decisions. Similar to other high-stakes racing controversies like the Verstappen-Russell clash, tensions are heightened as competitors push limits on track.

While Hocevar nearly collected a win, Stenhouse’s hopes for a better finish faded after the lap 106 crash.

With emotions still running high after Nashville, both drivers may look for a chance to rebound as the season continues. The rest of the Cup Series field will keep an eye on their next encounters, with playoff hopes and reputations both on the line. Fans are reminded of the intense competition that defines the sport, reminiscent of moments like the Hamilton Spanish GP verdict.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.