Chasing redemption after last week’s setback, RFK Racing’s Ryan Preece battled all the way up to second and looked ready to bounce back—until lap 237. That’s when his hopes came crashing down after pole-sitter Carson Hocevar put him into the wall. Frustrated and fired up, Preece didn’t hold back, calling out the young Spire Motorsports driver for what he saw as blatant disrespect.
Ryan Preece Tears Into Carson Hocevar – ‘He Just Proved Me Right’
Preece wasn’t happy with how Hocevar raced. In his first Cup Series start from the pole, the 22-year-old had a wild day on the track. But everything changed on the restart at lap 235.
Coming out of Turn 2, Hocevar squeezed Preece into the outside wall, sending the No. 60 RFK Ford into the barrier. Both cars spun down the backstretch, and an unsuspecting Cody Ware from Rick Ware Racing ended up hitting Preece.
The wreck took out both Preece and Ware, who finished P29 and P30, respectively. Angry about how it went down, Preece spoke to reporters after the race. “I think it was the 77 (Carson Hocevar),” said the driver, wearing a grin and speaking in a flat tone.
“It’s alright, he just seems to be proving me right over and over again and so really fast racecar – unlucky on the pit cycle, we’re doing things right and coming back through, just got ran into the fence by somebody that has no respect for his equipment, anybody else’s equipment, any other driver out there, so, he’ll have his day,” added the 34-year-old before walking off toward his hauler.
Hocevar, in his first Cup season, already has a bit of a reputation. Back in February, he was confronted by 2023 Cup Series champions Ryan Blaney and Ross Chastain for overly aggressive driving.
After the Texas race, Hocevar addressed the wreck and said he apologized to Preece. He said, “I apologized to him and his guy, same with my guys, right? Just got in there and started to slide up, and he got to the right rear, and I was already crossing somebody’s wake and got tight from him on my door and the car in front.”
Despite the contact, the Michigan native finished 24th and earned 24 points.