Michael Jordan's driver Tyler Reddick stole the spotlight in the San Diego race when he gave the lead back to teammate and race-winner Corey Heim. The move has sparked a debate across the garage, and Carson Hocevar has now weighed in on the incident. 

At the Aduril 250 at the Naval Base Coronado, the two teammates were battling it out for the win. At one point, the No. 45 driver was on the inside of the track, and he accidentally pushed the No. 67 driver wide. Realizing his mistake, Reddick lifted off the throttle and gave the lead back to Heim. 

While discussing this on the latest episode of the Dale Jr Download podcast with his spotter, Tyler Green, Hocevar questioned whether the championship leader sacrificed too much in the name of sportsmanship.

"If he spun him out, like half spun him and like waited on him a little bit but stayed in front of him, I'd be like all right, little respect there. But like you gave him six car lanes, you're slower than him, and you gave up any shot at the win, you're racing for the regular season championship," said Hocevar, assessing the situation from the fan perspective.

 The Spire Motorsports driver also argued that while the team co-owner, Michael Jordan, will appreciate the drivers keeping it clean, it deprived the fans of what could have been an amazing battle. 

"I don't know. Like, if you're a team owner, you don't want your cars running into each other, you know, the whole deal. I feel like racing for the win in this scenario. And everything that Reddick kind of has on the line, it's just so devaluing of like the sport, and that's now the narrative. Like you could have this awesome battle for the win that Heim does, but now it's just like, well, Reddick let him go," Hocevar added on the Dale Jr Download.

After the San Diego race, Reddick is just eight points ahead of the second-place Denny Hamlin in the standings. Though Reddick did go on to face a flat tire in the race after the Heim incident, Hocevar's point stresses how a driver should see the entire season collectively as opposed to individual race results.

Carson Hocevar’s take on the incident may have echoed across the NASCAR garage, but Ray Evernham had a whole different take. 

Ray Evernham backs Michael Jordan’s driver’s decision at San Diego 

Ray Evernham, the former Hendrick Motorsports crew chief, made an appearance on the Door, Bumper, Clear podcast on June 22. There, he praised Tyler Reddick’s sportsmanship as he handed the place back to Corey Heim. 

"But what Tyler Reddick did yesterday, giving that spot back, to me, says so much about what this sport needs. Like hard racing, stuff's going to happen, whatever. But it was like, okay, my bad, have it back. Tons tons of respect," Evernham said.

These contrasting reactions from Hocevar and Evernham pretty much summarize how divided the NASCAR fan base is about the incident.

The simple gesture of sportsmanship has slowly become one of the most talked-about aspects of the San Diego race weekend. 

You can read more on the Daytona Racing Digest!

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason