Fresh off a $50,000 fine and mandatory sensitivity training for his comments on Mexico City, Carson Hocevar is back in the headlines after another race day. This time, however, it isn’t because he had another clash with a driver on the grid but because of an unfortunate event that caused him a shot at victory in Pocono.
With 19 laps to go in the race, Hocevar was in third position on the outside lane, driving right behind race leader Corey Heim. But what happened next left Hocevar furious with the race authorities.
Carson Hocevar Unleashes on Race Authorities After Pocono Penalty
Just as the race was about to go green, Heim, who has had crazy luck this season, suffered a flat right-rear tire, sending him to the back of the grid. Given Hocevar was right behind him, the No. 7 driver assumed he would become the control driver and took the spot.
Meanwhile, Kevin Harvick had noted on the Fox Broadcast that it was Layne Riggs, who was in P2 at the time of the puncture, would assume the lead.
However, Hocevar remained unaware of the fact and ended up paying a heavy price. The race officials originally said that the restart was under review. Shortly after, they handed Hocevar a penalty that effectively ended his chance of taking the checkered flag home.
The 22-year-old strongly disagreed with the ruling and called for his team to challenge the same. Once it amounted to nothing, he went on the team radio to say, “What a joke!” His spotter immediately mirrored the sentiment as he also claimed that the NASCAR Truck series was “becoming a joke.”
“We should have won all because someone didn’t know the rule.”
Carson Hocevar taking the checkered flag
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) June 20, 2025
Notably, this wasn’t the end of Hocevar’s rant against the decision, who went back on the team radio to allegedly take a shot at Seth Kramlich.
The Managing Director of the Truck Series came under fire from Hocevar as the driver jibed “Good job, Seth,” on his team radio.
Serving the penalty, Hocevar drove the last 19 laps in P13 and took the checkered flag in the same position. However, as he was passing the flag, the No. 7 driver once again looked back at what could have been.
“We should have won,” remarked Hocevar. He added, “All because someone didn’t know the rule.”
His remarks have since given way to the start of a new debate among the fans on social media over what the rule exactly says. But most of them agree that Hocevar was wrong to assume he would be the control car, with Layne Riggs ahead of him.