Kyle Busch doesn’t hold back. When something irks him on the track, the entire world hears about it. That was the case a few weeks ago in Atlanta when Carson Hocevar sent Busch’s frustration into overdrive. Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, had started the Ambetter Health 400 in a solid sixth place. But his No. 8 Chevrolet was struggling. The car lacked the mechanical grip he needed, and each lap felt like a battle to hold position.
Then came Hocevar. The 2024 Cup Series Rookie of the Year, known for his aggressive driving, was racing hard on the inside when he drifted up the track—right into Busch’s Lane. It wasn’t the first time Hocevar had pulled a stunt like this. And Busch had had enough. The Rowdy, known for his fiery personality, let loose on the radio. “Go tell that 77 he’s done that same f—— move ten times. I don’t care. I’ll f—— wreck him,” he raged.
Notably, Busch’s frustration wasn’t just about that one incident. Hocevar’s driving style had been a growing concern, rubbing competitors the wrong way. Fast forward to Martinsville, and the controversy surrounding Hocevar hasn’t cooled down. If anything, it has only intensified. However, this time, it wasn’t an outsider like Busch calling him out—it was his own people from the Spire Motorsports.
Spire Motorsports fights for track position at Martinsville!
Martinsville Speedway, known for its tight corners and aggressive short-track racing, brought Spire Motorsports’ internal friction into the spotlight. The clash between Carson Hocevar and Justin Haley during the Cook Out 400 was the latest chapter in his growing reputation as a troublemaker on the track. During the race, Hocevar didn’t hesitate to shove his teammate out of the way.
The 22-year-old driver gave a big bump to Justin Haley’s No. 7 car, forcing his way around. Eddie D’Hondt, Haley’s spotter, had seen enough. Over the radio, he issued a stern warning: “Don’t let him do that to you. I know he’s a teammate, but it’s not right.” Haley retaliated with a few bumps of his own, but by then, Hocevar had already pulled away. That moment spoke volumes. Hocevar’s aggression wasn’t just affecting rivals like Busch—it was now a problem inside Spire Motorsports.
Carson Hocevar gives a big bump to teammate Justin Haley to get around him.
“Don’t let him do that to you, I know he’s a teammate but it’s not right,”
– No. 7 spotter Eddie D’Hondt tells Haley.
Haley returned a few bumps but Hocevar has pulled away. #NASCAR
— Noah Lewis (@Noah_Lewis1) March 30, 2025
A team that had expanded to three full-time Cup entries this season suddenly found itself with a chemistry issue between its drivers. Interestingly, this wasn’t a one-time incident. Hocevar’s on-track approach has been raising eyebrows all season. In Atlanta, his relentless driving earned him a second-place finish, but it also made him a target. Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Ross Chastain all voiced their frustrations with the 22-year-old’s tactics.
Despite the criticism, Hocevar refused to back down. “We’re here to win races, not be a boy band,” he said after Atlanta. His attitude made it clear—he wasn’t going to change. But while his aggression brought some success, it also came with a cost. His reckless moves have led to three DNFs this season. Before Martinsville he has shown flashes of speed, led five laps, and earned 20 stage points, but the wrecks have overshadowed those moments.
This is a developing story.
The post “It’s Not Right”: Cup Star Warned Against Notorious Teammate as Martinsville Exposes Internal Friction at Spire Motorsports appeared first on EssentiallySports.