Carson Hocevar knows a thing or two about drama on the track. Remember, just a few months ago in the Truck Series race at Kansas, a heated moment with Layne Riggs? Having finished a battle with Riggs, Hocevar gave him the bird. It didn’t surprise fans. Hocevar has been the guy who’s been the bane of drivers throughout the season. Now, it looks like another Hocevar moment has come up!
With the NASCAR weekend still a few days away, Hocevar, alongside Cup Series driver Erik Jones, competed for $40,000 at the TEKTON 250 battle. Known for pushing the limit and never backing down, the driver of the No. 71 car for the Battle at Berlin found himself in a heart-stopping moment when contact with Bubba Pollard nearly sent him into disaster. And seeing him save his car from ending his race early, the NASCAR community couldn’t hold back their praise.
The drama unfolded with 125 laps remaining. Hocevar, running third in his No. 71 car, found himself in a dicey exchange with Bubba Pollard, running fourth, that nearly ended his race. In a sudden shake-up, their cars made contact on the high side entering Turn 3, sending Hocevar’s car sideways. Miraculously, he saved it from catastrophic contact with the wall or another car, gaining control and resuming pursuit without losing significant ground while giving Bubba the finger.
WHAT A SAVE! Contact with @BubbaPollard26 sends @CarsonHocevar for a slide halfway in the #BattleAtBerlin!@BerlinRaceway pic.twitter.com/quhebr7A3D
— FloRacing (@FloRacing) August 14, 2025
Earlier in the week, Carson Hocevar posted the fastest time, only to be relegated to an eighth-place start due to the draw system. Still, he sliced through the field with 10 laps to take command, excavating a three-tire strategy that kept him in contention for the final stretch to win his first battle at Berlin raceway. Reflecting on the win, the Spire Motorsport youngster said, “This car was so fun to drive. Erik and Bubba are super talented, and those cars are really good. I thought I burned the right-rear [tire] completely off and didn’t think we were going to get a shot. If I could slide up and take [Erik’s] line away, I might be able to clear him, and that’s exactly what happened. It’s special to win here, and this was the biggest one of them all.”
However, when it came down to his final finish in the race, he came in at 16th place, finishing only 230 of the total 250 laps. However, fans are more in shock and in awe of his performance today.
NASCAR fans are amazed by Carson Hocevar’s driving skills
Carson’s night in Berlin wasn’t just a showcase of speed; it was another reminder of why he remains one of the most polarizing figures in short-track and NASCAR circles. His brush with Bubba Pollard and that heart-stopping car save social media almost instantly. Jeff Gluck summed it up perfectly: “He might drive his competitors crazy, but this dude sure is a wheelman.” Despite all of his antics on the track, Hocevar always manages to win the crowd. After a wreck-filled Truck Series race at Watkins Glen, he cheekily posted on X, “I am currently watching all these wrecks. So, I apologize. I feel guilty by association. Will do better moving forward.”
For many, the sideways moment and the lightning-fast recovery were one of the most jaw-dropping feats they have seen in years. As one fan put it, “One of the best saves in a long while.” It is a kind of move that turns skeptics into believers, even if only for a few laps. It’s as if Hocevar is channelling a retro version of Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin.
Still, the performance sparked a familiar debate. Several fans couldn’t help but wonder what Hocevar could achieve with the resources of NASCAR’s top-tier teams. “If he was driving for Hendrick, JGR, or Penske, he’d have multiple wins by now,” wrote one fan, tapping into the ongoing speculation about his potential future with powerhouse teams. It’s hard to argue with it. At Pocono, he went from 18th to 3rd. Later in Chicago, a miraculous 35th to 3rd. A win could be on the cards!
That blend of raw ability and brash personality is part of what makes a magnetic. “ I can’t not like this dude, he’s a bad ass driver and a man of the people,” admitted another fan, shrugging off the controversies that seem to follow him. It is as if Hocevar!: Willingness to mix it up, on and off the track, reinforces his everyman appeal to certain corners of the fan base.
Of course, not all feedback was drenched in praise. Even some of his supporters admitted his aggressive style can cross the line. One remark cut right to the point, saying, “He has the talent to not be driving every time he’s in a car like an asshole, btw.” It’s a sharp critique, but also comes from a place of wanting to see him reach his full potential without burning bridges. In the end, the Berlin crowd, both in the grandstands and online, reflected the full spectrum of the Carson Hocevar experience. Awe at his scale, curiosity about his ceiling, and frustration at self-inflicted drama. And yet, whether they love him or roll their eyes, they are still watching, which might be the biggest testament to his star power.
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