The NASCAR Cup Series has always been a stage for drama, but the 2025 season has already turned into a theater of controversies. From the chaotic finish at Daytona to the abrupt yellow at the end in Atlanta to the fresh controversies at the Circuit of The Americas, fans are wondering if the rules of NASCAR are written in disappearing ink. Inconsistency in the rules and questionable calls by officials have frustrated both fans and drivers.
Carson Hocevar has emerged as NASCAR’s most outspoken critic. At last month’s Ambetter Health 400 in Atlanta, he was involved in a controversial finish that robbed him of what could have been his maiden Cup Series victory. He finished second behind Christopher Bell under caution as he just overtook Larson for second place when the yellow flag was called for a wreck behind them. Hocevar was disappointed and pointed it out on X.
“I enjoyed all 399.5 miles! Although I am not sure if the race was produced by Michael Bay or not, but I would prefer to not have the finish cut off so abruptly next time. Hopefully the criticism is met with some adjustment in the future,” Hocevar posted, visibly frustrated after the race at Atlanta. The video was an iconic meme of the outro to the ‘Transformers’ movie being cut out just when the race was about to reach its climax at the yellow flag. Now, after the third race at COTA, Hocevar has a new jab at NASCAR officiating.
Carson Hocevar’s COTA critique ignites brand new controversy
NASCAR arrived at the Circuit of The Americas, and Carson Hocevar found himself again in the spotlight, this time calling out NASCAR’s inconsistent officiating regarding the enforcement of the track limits. In a recent post on X, Hocevar summarized his frustrations in just seven words: “Be sure to get everyone that memo.” But what was the memo?
Well, Kyle Busch was battling it out at the top of the grid for most of the race, leading 42 laps while dancing on the turns with Shane can Gisbergen. However, he noticed that the Kiwi speedster was continuously cutting Turn 6 during Stage 1. Busch, confused and annoyed, asked his team over the radio, “What is the rule here in Turn 6?”. Well, there was no track limit on that Turn, despite NASCAR earlier saying it would. Busch also said after the race, “I heard they were going to police turns 4, 5, and 6. Then it turned into 3,4,5, and yesterday it was only 4 and 5… They ain’t got a clue.”
hi jeff,
i missed the memo that we could just go ahead and cut corners. next time if they could be sure to get everyone that memo. that would be great. especially since we have to work on sunday.
thanks
— Carson Hocevar (@CarsonHocevar) March 3, 2025
Shifting focus back on Carson Hocevar, in a scathing post on X directed at NASCAR’s enforcement of track limits or lack thereof, the Spire Motorsports driver added, “I missed the memo that we could just go ahead and cut corners. Next time if they could be sure to get everyone that memo. That would be great. especially since we have to work on Sunday.”
For Hocevar, it’s not about personal grievances with NASCAR but about accountability and fairness in the rules, especially in a sport where every second counts. “We’re here to win races, not be a boy band and love each other, you know, and play on the playground together,” Carson Hocevar said after Atlanta. His unapologetic stance has earned him both admiration and criticism from the world of motorsports. However, his criticism of Sunday’s race has been echoed by the community, who are frustrated at NASCAR fumbling something every week.
As NASCAR struggles with these issues, one question is on everyone’s mind – how can they improve and prevent this from happening again?
Looking ahead: NASCAR and road courses
NASCAR’s controversy-free future depends on its ability to adapt and innovate. As NASCAR is struggling with the issue of enforcing track limits, other motorsports have too. Perhaps, NASCAR could learn from their experiences and resolve their problems. Busch pointed this out in a post-race interview, “We need to be a professional Racing League that knows how to handle it professionally…You look at Formula 1 and V8 Supercar… they all have track limits.”
Formula 1 approach to track limits is comprehensive and uniform for everyone; any driver found violating the track limits is tracked via GPS technology is punished instantly and equally. This can teach NASCAR the importance of clarity and uniformity. Strict enforcement of rules will ensure that the drivers are aware of the limits and risks of violating those limits.
NASCAR can learn from its open-wheel cousins on how they tackle the complex road courses. Road courses are an exciting venture for NASCAR, bringing in fans that were not previously aware of the sport. Optimizing the Next-Gen cars, which many drivers have criticized for their performance on road courses, can be the next step to bring in a more engaging racing experience, which will ultimately help with increasing the sport’s appeal.
As the season goes on – all eyes will be on NASCAR’s response to these controversies. Will they take steps to address their shortcomings or will more races be marred with controversies, just like Atlanta and COTA? Let us know in the comments!
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