When Carson Hocevar flipped off Layne Riggs before taking the win at the Heart of Health Care 200, it was a massive moment. Despite all the drama, the controversial star had taken the win in the Truck Series. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series delivered another intense and unpredictable race this weekend, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most action-packed divisions in the sport.
From aggressive moves and tire issues to a controversial decision that left fans and insiders debating well after the checkered flag, the Kansas event was no short of drama. At the center of it all was the incident involving Carson Hocevar’s tires, which sparked discussion throughout the NASCAR community. Two-time Cup race winner Bubba Wallace’s insider Freddie Kraft—usually the sport’s unofficial chief of calling out chaos—gave race control a slow clap instead of a side-eye.
Following the event, the conversation heated up among NASCAR insiders during the Door Bumper Clear podcast, where veteran spotters Freddie Kraft and Tommy Baldwin joined Karsyn Elledge to break down the controversial call. Joined by Cup Series driver Austin Dillon, the group turned their attention to the Heart of Health Care 200. Kansas delivered worn tires, rising tension, and a surprising level of restraint from race officials in the final laps.
The late stages of the race saw tension rise as Hocevar’s car No. 77, deep into a long green-flag run, experienced significant tire wear. The tire didn’t blow out or throw debris, but it appeared unstable enough to raise concerns. And it was evident with just 10 laps to go, when Layne Riggs, 1.6 seconds down from the lead, began a late charge. By the final lap, he was less than 3 tenths of a second off Hocevar.
To his credit, Hocevar was enjoying the race. “That 34 truck (Riggs) was super, super good. This truck was really good on the short runs — I didn‘t think he would get to us for how far back he was, but he was super good. Yeah, it‘s been a while since I‘ve been in a finish like that where it‘s been all out there. So credit to him. I know he was going for everything there.”
Instead of halting the race, NASCAR instructed Hocevar to head to pit road, and the green flag stayed out. The decision allowed the race to continue without interruption and ultimately finish under green, avoiding a potential overtime scenario or restart-related incidents. While the track remained calm, the conversation around the decision was anything but.
Freddie Kraft, applauded the decision, saying, “Spot on. I was in the car at this point and they were getting Joey to get down there after the race is over. You know, I talked to Tyler this morning, Green, his spotter and he said that they just wore the tire out. It didn’t really explode; he didn’t feel like they really threw any debris out there. And we’ve kind of seen this trend with NASCAR.”
NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Brickyard 400 Qualifying Jul 20, 2024 Indianapolis, Indiana, USA NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar 77 during qualifying for the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Indianapolis Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indiana USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMikexDinovox 20240720_mcd_ad4_33
What Kraft is talking about takes us back to Texas, to the Wurth 400. At the end of Stage 2, Chris Buescher faced a massive crisis on Lap 162. His tires were fading fast, but there was no caution being waved. With just 4 laps to go in the stage, rubber literally began falling off his wheel and onto the track when the caution was waved. While Buescher suffered the consequences of an unplanned pit stop, Kraft’s point still stands.
“I feel like we saw it last week with the 17, the 17 cut his tire, he made a whole lap and they weren’t going to throw the yellow until the entire carcass came out and ended up on the racetrack. So, if like we always talked about as long as they’re consistent with that and you know if you’re waiting for either the carcass or a bigger piece of debris to be out there to warrant the caution, I’m good with staying green especially in that scenario where you got four to go because you throw that checker flag. You throw the yellow flag there and we might still be there trying to f— restart. So, I don’t have a problem with it here and I wasn’t obviously on the roof,” he added.
Kraft’s want for consistency is important for NASCAR. Just a few weeks ago, Brad Keselowski called out the sport for supposed biased caution calls. “It doesn’t bother me when yellows don’t get thrown for me or I get penalties that are questionable. IT MAKES ME MAD AS HELL when it’s not the same for others, which has been the case too many times over the last few years.”
Regardless, Austin Dillon summed up the driver’s mindset, acknowledging that racing calls are rarely one-size-fits-all. “No, you mean you want it to play out most of the time unless it benefits you,” he said with a laugh, cutting straight to the emotional tug-of-war every driver feels when a yellow flag—or the lack of one—shapes the finish.
Tommy Baldwin agreed, noting that officials were actively monitoring the No. 77. “They actually said, ‘77, get them down, get them on pit road.’ So, they were watching,” he added, reinforcing that NASCAR wasn’t asleep at the wheel. Sure, not everyone cheered the no-caution call, but Kraft’s defense gives us a peek into NASCAR’s evolving rulebook, where consistency and the integrity of the race finish seem to matter just as much as spectacle.
NASCAR Insiders praise Carson Hocevar’s theatricality
Carson Hocevar has become the name on everyone’s lips—not because he’s the loudest in the room, but because his driving does the talking (with a few fireworks for good measure). NASCAR insiders often describe him as the sport’s best-kept secret, tightly packed into a fire suit and truck number. He’s got the raw talent to go toe-to-toe with the best, mixed with just enough unpredictability to make every lap a potential highlight reel. Whether he’s slicing through the field like a hot knife through pit lane traffic or sealing the deal with a smirk that screams, ‘Yeah, I meant to do that,’ Hocevar has quickly won over veterans and analysts alike. Some say he’s the next big thing—others argue he already is, too busy making it happen to say so himself.
His presence was a hot topic following Sunday night’s race, where Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic broke down Hocevar’s latest on-track drama. “Whether you like it or not, you might look at that and be like, ‘I hate this guy.’ But you have the personality that everybody’s asking for,” Gluck said on The Teardown. “So, he ruffles all the veterans’ feathers. I don’t know, at least his personality, I’ll take that over bland, you know?”
Carson Hocevar, never one to dwell too long in the spotlight, keeps his accomplishments in perspective with a grounded sense of humor. Reflecting on his rise and growing respect in the garage, he summed it up with his signature mix of humility and edge: “I’m just doing what I love—if that turns heads, cool. If not, I’ll still be here racing like it does.” With a mindset like that, it’s clear Hocevar isn’t just chasing trophies—he’s carving out a legacy, one lap at a time.
Love him or hate him, isn’t NASCAR more fun with Carson Hocevar in it?
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