TALLADEGA, AL - APRIL 26: Carson Hocevar 77 Spire Motorsports Chili s Ride the Dente Chevrolet celebrates after winning the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Jack Link s 500 on April 26, 2026 at Talladega SuperSpeedway in Talladega, AL. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: APR 26 NASCAR Cup Series Jack LinkÕs 500 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2604268808500
TALLADEGA, AL - APRIL 26: Carson Hocevar 77 Spire Motorsports Chili s Ride the Dente Chevrolet celebrates after winning the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Jack Link s 500 on April 26, 2026 at Talladega SuperSpeedway in Talladega, AL. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: APR 26 NASCAR Cup Series Jack LinkÕs 500 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2604268808500
Tommy Baldwin Jr. has been a very big critic of Carson Hocevar and his driving style in the Cup Series. However, Hocevar’s recent performance at EchoPark Speedway has seemingly earned Baldwin’s respect.
Discussing the same on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Baldwin Jr. felt Hocevar displayed unusual restraint early in the stage, opting to hold his position for roughly 7-8 laps, which allowed the aggressive pack to settle, giving him a clearer path to move toward the front at the right moment. This led to Baldwin’s softened stance on the Spire driver.
“If you look, he waited for about eight laps. 7-8 laps, then he went right. He let the field spread out a little bit, get comfortable a little bit, and then he was gone. I mean, oh god, I'm going to say it, but Hocevar, that kid deserves an A+ for this week.”
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 21: Carson Hocevar 77 Spire Motorsports Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet races off of turn four during the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Brickyard 400 on July 21, 2024, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire AUTO: JUL 21 NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon116240721139
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 21: Carson Hocevar 77 Spire Motorsports Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet races off of turn four during the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Brickyard 400 on July 21, 2024, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire AUTO: JUL 21 NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon116240721139
Baldwin continued to praise Hocevar on the podcast, stating that he had to respect the skill shown on the track, saying, “I hate to say it. I know everyone's going to…, but when you deserve your flowers...(nodded positively).”
Rajah Caruth, who was also on the show as a guest speaker, added that he has raced against Hocevar since their time together in trucks, emphasizing that the Spire driver is always bringing maximum intensity and awareness to every lap, which makes him difficult to race against but exciting to watch.
While Tommy Baldwin and Rajah Caruth have been appreciative of Hocevar, we all know exactly who doesn’t share the same feelings.
Zane Smith isn’t fond of Carson Hocevar
Speaking to Frontstretch hours before the race at EchoPark, Smith reiterated he is not fond of the Spire driver, referencing specific incidents at Chicagoland and Nashville where he felt Hocevar raced him overly aggressively. He also criticised him for his tendency to run into others and then adopt a dismissive attitude in the media.
“It's not necessarily just me. Just like every time I'm around him, you know, it's hard racing, and that's fine. What created a lot of anger at Chicagoland was, you know, our past run-ins together, and he's pointed me by a few times and then, like Nashville, just as soon as we're around each other, just runs into me and then points me by and then talks crap to the media, and I don't know. That's a goon in my opinion.”
Smith also explained that despite being teammates once, they rarely spoke because of his position, being on loan to Spire from Trackhouse Racing.
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Written by
Aaradhya Singh
Edited by
Suyashdeep Sason