Carson Hocevar’s aggressive move on Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at Nashville Superspeedway has set the NASCAR world abuzz, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. weighing in and both drivers hinting at unfinished business.
On Lap 106 of the Cracker Barrel 400, Hocevar bumped Stenhouse Jr.’s No. 47 car, sending it into the wall and ending Stenhouse’s race early—his first DNF of the 2025 season. Hocevar finished second, tying his career-best result, but Stenhouse dropped to 39th and made it clear post-race that payback could be coming, stating, “I will definitely address it at some point”.
The incident divided fans and drivers alike. Stenhouse Jr. accused Hocevar of “dive-bombing” him multiple times before the final contact, calling the move “overaggressive.” Hocevar defended his actions, admitting he could have avoided contact but felt justified in the moment.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. quickly entered the conversation, comparing Hocevar’s no-apologies style to his legendary father, Dale Earnhardt Sr. On his Dirty Mo Media show, Earnhardt Jr. said, “He’s fast, not scared to use the front bumper, doesn’t care if somebody gets mad about it—on the verge of becoming a star.” He encouraged Hocevar to stick with his bold approach, suggesting it could make him a Cup Series standout..
However, Earnhardt Jr. also acknowledged the tension, noting that Hocevar “could have given the 47 a break, and he opted not to do so,” and predicting that Stenhouse Jr. will likely respond on track soon..
With both drivers now separated by just one spot in the standings, all eyes are on the next race weekend to see if Stenhouse Jr. will make good on his hints of retaliation—or if Hocevar’s rising-star aggression will continue to shake up the Cup Series.
