A heated confrontation between NASCAR drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Carson Hocevar erupted on the track after Hocevar’s aggressive bumping of Stenhouse, sending the No. 47 car to the outside barrier.
The incident occurred during Stage 2 at Nashville Superspeedway, with Hocevar attempting a pass on Stenhouse but ending up in an altercation. Despite his team’s efforts to repair the damage, Stenhouse was forced to drop out of the race due to the severity of the issue.
Hocevar, the No. 77 Spire Motorsports driver, claimed he was in position to make the pass and felt he had earned the right to take the spot on Stenhouse’s inside line. However, Stenhouse disagreed, stating that Hocevar’s aggressive driving style was unacceptable.
The two drivers have a history of clashing on the track, with Stenhouse previously confronting Kyle Busch after a collision in 2024. Despite his initial reluctance to discuss the issue post-race, Hocevar welcomed any conversation and acknowledged that both drivers could be at fault for the incident.
Hocevar’s aggressive driving is partly attributed to the pressure of making the playoffs, as he feels that every opportunity to run up front is limited in the regular season. The result of the incident has Hocevar now four points below the elimination line, while Stenhouse finds himself on the outside of the playoff bracket by six points.
The rivalry between Hocevar and Stenhouse will likely continue to play out on the track, as both drivers look to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Source: https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2025/06/02/stenhouse-jr-frustrated-after-contact-with-hocevar-definitely-overaggressive