When Jeff Gordon arrived in NASCAR, he came in as a young hotshot. A polarizing figure, ready to change not just the existing era but the sport itself. Did the description ring a bell?

Today, we use the same adjectives for Carson Hocevar. They were alike in this aspect, and Gordon agrees. But there was a major difference between them, and Gordon agrees that too, something that could stop Hocevar from climbing the same ladder as NASCAR’s Wonder Boy.

Gordon recently appeared on the Racin’ with the Boys podcast, where he was asked who the next figure like him could be in the sport. “It's tricky,” was his immediate response, considering how the cars have changed over time.

“I think you've got to have the lightning in the bottle personality or connection to a fan base that kind of creates that. But you've got to back it up with the winning on the racetrack,” Gordon said.

For the wins part, Gordon gave an example of Denny Hamlin, the way the latter has been in shining form this season as well. For someone like him, Gordon explained how it’s easier to create rivalries or speak his heart out because he’s showing results.

But speaking of Hocevar, he continued on the podcast, “I know everybody's focused on Hocevar. I want him to be successful. I want him to win more because we need him.

“Like he's doing all the right things and NASCAR is helping to get him in the right places. But if he doesn't have more wins, then it's only going to take the sport so far. So to me it's a combination of the Hamlins, the Chase Elliotts, the Larsons, Hocevars.”

Hocevar has been very instrumental in creating a young fanbase for himself, due to everything he has been doing off-track too, whether it’s his presence at the MET Gala or the ESPYs. His personality and the off-track mainstream visibility have made him a holistic driver, a complete package.

But Gordon’s point is the same has to reflect in his results too. This year, Hocevar finally enjoyed his breakthrough Cup victory at Talladega. But it was one that came in his third full-time season, in his 91^st Cup start.

If he wants to back up his colorful personality, Gordon feels he needs to drive that way too. That’s the one condition, and perhaps the most important one, that will decide where and how far his stardom would take him in the sport.

Nonetheless, Hocevar’s graph is indeed on the rise, as this year has unarguably been his best, so far. Apart from five top-5s and nine top-10s already, Hocevar has led more laps (156) than his previous Cup seasons combined (138).

Meanwhile, as Gordon heaped praise on Hocevar on this podcast, the latter was busy answering questions on his latest rivalries on another.

Hocevar’s latest jab on his ‘rival’

Carson Hocevar has had two major rivalry conversations brewing since the past few weeks: with Corey Heim and Zane Smith. But regarding his feud with the latter, Hocevar doesn’t even consider it a rivalry.

On the Smart Girl Dumb Questions podcast, host Nayeema Raza asked Hocevar if his rivalry with Smith was motivating.

“I mean it's not really motivating. It's actually almost embarrassing when the guy that's 23rd in points is getting compared as your rival,” he responded.

Even in rivalries, Hocevar’s ambitions are high.

“I’d rather be with them (higher-ranked driver) or at least someone. His (Smith’s) comebacks are lame, and I really couldn’t bother. There’s some guys that I have gotten run-ins with, and it’s funny to mess with them, or funny sometimes they’ll clap back, and I love it,” he added.

Hocevar’s feud with Smith had started back in August last year when he sent the latter into the outside wall at Iowa, where the garage is heading next Sunday. The feud continued and got hot again at Chicagoland in July this year, where Smith seemed to have retaliated by spinning Hocevar.

NASCAR then called both drivers to the hauler before the Atlanta race to cool things down. It didn’t exactly go the best way, Smith eventually said, "I just don't like him as a human."

Written by

Suyashdeep Sason

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason