Hocevar Draws Criticism After Wet-Lap Spin at New Hampshire
NXTbets Pro | Published On: August 26, 2026
Hocevar spin
Carson Hocevar set off the latest round of Cup Series criticism when he spun during wet pace laps at New Hampshire, an episode that sent the field back to pit road and delayed the start again after rain left the track slick and NASCAR required wet-weather tires. Hocevar slid in Turn 4 after passing the pace car while he checked grip, then defended the move on social media by saying he wanted to test the track before the race instead of learning on the fly once the green flag dropped. The moment drew a sharp reaction from Kyle Larson, who said on the Door Bumper Clear podcast that Hocevar’s pre-race spin was “1,000% just to get on TV.” Larson said Hocevar’s aggressive persona had started to feel forced and that he seemed to be going beyond who he really is. He also said Hocevar might be “the most talented out there,” but that his aggression often goes overboard. Larson tied the New Hampshire episode to an Iowa Speedway incident he said involved Hocevar trying to spear Christopher Bell after being lapped, adding another flashpoint to a stretch that kept Hocevar in the center of attention for all the wrong reasons.
Larson criticism
Larson did more than question the spin. He used the podcast to draw a broader line around Hocevar’s racing style and the way it plays out in the Cup Series. Larson’s view was that Hocevar has the speed to run at the front, but that he keeps pushing past the edge when the race or the situation does not call for it. That critique fit a growing pattern of pushback around Hocevar, who has spent his first Cup seasons under a brighter spotlight every time an aggressive move or rough exchange has followed him off the track. Denny Hamlin also took aim at Hocevar after the weekend, saying Hocevar appeared to move down before he was fully clear and questioning why he kept battling Connor Zilisch if he knew he was at fault. Hamlin suggested that spotters should tell drivers when they make mistakes, a comment that added a second veteran voice to the criticism. Taken together, the remarks from Larson and Hamlin painted a clear picture, Hocevar’s speed gets noticed, but his judgment keeps inviting scrutiny. Hocevar answered some of that criticism through his own posts, including a reflective message later in the weekend that praised how far he and his team had come in three Cup Series seasons ahead of the Chase.
Zilisch contact
The New Hampshire weekend also turned into a mess for Hocevar in the race itself, where Connor Zilisch said their clash started in practice after he lightly touched Hocevar’s left rear after Turn 4. Zilisch said Hocevar answered with a big slider on the next lap, then said he made light contact with Hocevar again in the race before Hocevar turned left across his car and spun on Lap 84. Joey Logano and Austin Dillon were also caught in that incident, and all four cars continued. The sequence added another layer to a weekend already shaped by Hocevar’s pre-race spin and the reaction that followed. Hocevar later tried to door-slam Zilisch in another incident at the one-mile track, keeping the confrontation alive even after the Lap 84 wreck. The on-track trouble did not prevent Hocevar from reaching the finish. He completed 300 of 301 laps and finished 19th at New Hampshire. He also left the race 11th in the Cup standings, a result that gave him a better points position than the tone around his weekend suggested. Still, the final numbers did little to calm the fallout. The same driver who had drawn attention for his speed and aggression left New Hampshire with a damaged reputation, a crowded list of frustrated rivals and another reminder that every move he makes now draws a response.
