Feud over? Carson Hocevar claims “productive” talks with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

At Nashville, Carson Hocevar‘s runner-up finish was overshadowed by a run-in with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., where contact from Hocevar sent Stenhouse spinning into the outside wall. The wreck was race-ending and Stenhouse has now fallen below the playoff cut-off line as a result.

Stenhouse indicated that payback was on the table immediately after the wreck, but things have since simmered down after discussions between the two drivers. In a Saturday press conference at Michigan, Hocevar said he doesn’t expect any further escalation.

“Yeah, I mean it was productive,” said Hocevar about talks with Stenhouse. “You know, me and him both have the reputation, I guess, of being aggressive at times and everything. So at that one point, we both reminded each other that even with those reputations, we’ve raced each other very well together, right? It clashes together. So, yeah, I mean we’ve had no issues before, as he had said, and I feel like we’ve had a decent relationship leading up to this.

“I thought it was productive and, based off his comments, I felt like it was received (as) productive.”

Talking it out

It’s fair to say that Hocevar has angered several drivers this year with his aggressive style, and this week, he admitted that he needs to “round the edges off” a little bit. Asked if it was hard to call a competitor after a situation like this, Hocevar really didn’t think so.

“I mean, no, it’s not, at least it wasn’t when me and him [Stenhouse] talked,” said Hocevar. “He owns a sprint car team, so he’s one of the first drivers I’ll go talk to just because I want to ask him about his sprint car team. So, you know, we’ve had that relationship, right? So, I mean, it’s not too hard to call. You just pick up the phone and call.

“I don’t get nervous a whole lot or awkward. Sometimes I am awkward, but I don’t get nervous or anything before those calls, especially when I feel like it’s warranted. You see these guys 38 weekends, so it’s either you call them or you see them here. It’s probably just easier if you just move that timeline up. That’s really the biggest thing.”

Where is the line between aggressive and reckless?

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Hocevar has also gotten in trouble in the past for intentionally wrecking rivals, especially in the lower divisions — but also in the Cup Series after a run-in with Harrison Burton last year. The 22-year-old agrees that there is a line between aggressive and reckless, drawing it at “blatantly intentional versus just racing” incidents.

“Obviously, we make a thousand decisions a race, right? And sometimes the only decisions you see, especially when you’re not leading, in front or on TV, the only decisions you see is the bad ones because that causes a yellow and that raises a lot of tension,” said Hocevar. “So, I think every race car driver kind of realizes that at times. Intensity will just pick up, especially with how hard it is to pass or whatever. The intensity just starts picking up at certain tracks. I think everybody can see the line, especially depending on how the race goes. That kind of dictates how aggressive everybody’s being, and that’s sometimes when you start seeing mistakes or, you know, too much aggression.”

“It’s cool to just be talked about”

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images

And while it’s not all positive, Hocevar certainly doesn’t mind being in the spotlight either. “Number one, it’s cool to just be talked about,” he said. “Obviously, you want to be talked about maybe in a different light. But I mean, at least they’re talking, right? And I think that’s big for me. And, you know, you consume it — you see it all. As Jeff Dickerson [Spire Motorsports team co-owner] had mentioned before, he’s like, we’re trying to like round the edges. And then you have your heroes texting you, just don’t change, right? He’s like, hold on, hold on — we need at least something a little different.

“But yes, I mean, ultimately, it’s fun to obviously be in the news. I mean, it’s what I’ve dreamt of my whole life, which is just at least being a topic of conversation. Yes, I mean, it’s cool from that aspect. But you know, obviously, you want to be it when you just dominate a Cup race, and they can’t stop talking about it. That’s probably ultimately the next goal. But, you know, it’s definitely fun to at least see it all or just see my face everywhere.”